International drug monitoring
The Committee considered a presentation of the work of the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) in Sweden, a WHO Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring, given by the Director of the UMC. Although the UMC had made much progress in analysing drug-related adverse events, there are limitations in the UMC programme with respect to vaccine-related reports. These limitations include the comparatively small number of and generally limited information in the reports reaching the UMC, difficulties inherent in dealing with signals using tools developed to address non-vaccine drug-related issues, and the problems that have been experienced in communicating signals to national vaccine authorities.
GACVS proposed that WHO consider the need for improved monitoring and analysis of vaccine-related adverse events globally. The Committee suggested that WHO convene an in-depth consultation with a view to developing the current system further for detecting, reporting, analysing and communicating vaccine-related adverse events. The consultation would include international experts in drug safety, drug regulation and vaccine safety, including scientists from industry.