Table of contents:
- What is a follow-up event after immunization (AEFI)?
- Symptoms of AEFI based on the cause
- Things that should be done after getting immunization
Vaccines or a substance given during immunization are a type of medical intervention to generate immunity against certain disease-causing germs or viruses. Immunization efforts have been shown to be medically effective in preventing infection and death from infectious diseases. Immunization efforts are also important in efforts to control and eradicate disease so that disease transmission becomes rarer or is even eradicated from the community.
Even so, there is still little chance of a condition or bodily reaction after immunization that many people worry about. This is known as post-immunization follow-up (AEFI). AEFI is a series of reactions, usually inflammation in the body, after immunization. Fortunately, the incidence of AEFI tends to be mild and can get better on its own.
What is a follow-up event after immunization (AEFI)?
AEFI is one of the patient's unwanted reactions that occur after vaccination. AEFI can occur with different signs or conditions. Starting from the symptoms of mild side effects to serious body reactions such as anaphylactics (severe allergies) to the vaccine content.
Keep in mind, AEFI does not always happen to everyone who is immunized. The appearance of mild symptoms tends to occur more frequently than serious inflammatory or allergic reactions to vaccines.
Symptoms of AEFI based on the cause
Mild AEFI symptoms can be local or systemic. Mild local AEFI can be in the form of pain, redness and swelling in areas of the body that have become infected after being given immunization.
Meanwhile, the systemic response can be in the form of fever, headache, weakness, or feeling unwell. Mild AEFI usually occurs shortly after being given the vaccine and can improve very quickly with medication to reduce symptoms or not.
Meanwhile, symptoms of severe AEFI tend to be rare, but they can have serious consequences. Severe AEFI is generally caused by the immune system response to the vaccine and causes a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine material, lowering platelets, causing seizures, and hypotonia. All symptoms of severe AEFI can be completely resolved and recovered without any long-term effects.
Although they can occur very closely after immunization, administration of vaccine substances is not the only factor that causes AEFIs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), several sources of reactions that have also contributed to the emergence of AEFI are:
- AEFI due to product reactions - is a type of immune reaction to one or more vaccine ingredients. For example, muscle swelling after DPT vaccine administration.
- AEFI due to product defects - The emergence of AEFIs related to product quality that does not comply with the vaccine manufacturing standards by the company that makes it. For example, like the polio vaccine, which contains an active virus so that the vaccine does not have germs that are completely attenuated, this can cause paralysis of polio.
- AEFI due to errors in the immunization process - AEFI symptoms caused by errors in the handling, storage and use of vaccines. For example an infection caused by other germs which are mixed in and transmitted during the giving of the test.
- AEFI due to an anxiety response - occurs when someone who is going to be immunized is too anxious. In adults, anxiety has only very mild effects. However, the fear of immunization is becoming more serious in children. Anxiety when being immunized can cause a child to feel dizzy, hyperventilating, painful, feeling sensations in their mouth and hands, and suddenly fainting. This type of AEFI will get better on its own when the anxiety is under control.
- AEFI due to coincidental events - is an event that is suspected of being AEFI, but not related to the vaccine or the immunization process. These symptoms may have existed before a person received immunization but only caused symptoms at or near the time of administration of the vaccine.
Apart from the various risks that can be caused, the immunization process is a safe procedure. AEFI is a case that is influenced by various factors, such as the condition and health of a person and the immunization process itself. Symptoms of AEFIs that are really due to vaccine substances tend to be mild and can disappear in a short time.
Things that should be done after getting immunization
After being immunized, it's best to pay attention to and monitor several body conditions that cause discomfort or abnormality in certain body parts, whether it's signs of redness or pain. All AEFI symptoms can appear within minutes to hours after immunization.
The appearance of inflammation and pain after immunization can last up to a few days. If it does not get worse, then mild AEFI symptoms do not require further, more serious treatment. However, fever in children needs to be treated immediately by getting enough fluids and taking fever-reducing drugs such as paracetamol.
If someone has a serious AEFI, then handling AEFI may require medical supervision from health personnel. Immediately report and treat symptoms of AEFI with severe intensity at the health facility where you get immunization services or the nearest health service.
Again, AEFIs are rare and mostly harmless. The risk of developing AEFI is still less than the risk of contracting a serious disease which is certainly more life threatening. If you are still worried, you should discuss it directly with your doctor.
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