b-CAPSA I Haemophilus
influenzae, type b, capsular polysaccharide vaccine safety.
The b-CAPSA I capsular polysaccharide vaccine for
Haemophilus influenzae type b was given to 87,541
children 2 through 5 years of age in
the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program...Phase 1 consisted of 24-hour recall of
immediate side effects which were recorded on questionnaires given to families of 13,500 children. Local side effects were found to be uncommon: 2.3% had a
temperature of greater than or equal to 38.3 degrees C (greater than or equal to 101
degrees F); 4.8% had local erythema, 2.9% local swelling, and 12.6% local tenderness; two
children had wheezing shortly after immunization. In Phase 2, 30 days after immunization,
questionnaires were mailed to parents of all 87,541 children, who were asked to respond to
questions about illnesses and health care. Phase 3 consisted of active surveillance of
patient health care use by physicians and nurses during the 30 days after immunization.
During the 30-day reporting periods, there were 40 hospitalizations, including one for
wheezing and one for febrile seizure...Three children had seizures within 30 days of
immunization.
