Vaccines: Safety, Surveillance, and Impacts

Vaccines are a crucial public health tool which save millions of lives. Before a vaccine is licensed, FDA takes steps to make sure the vaccine is safe. FDA requires that a vaccine goes through extensive safety testing. The vaccine development process and FDA's stringent regulatory and scientific evaluation process and continued safety surveillance ensure that the health benefits of available approved and authorized vaccines far outweigh any risks. While adverse events are rare, they are not impossible. Monitoring and evaluating serious adverse events ensure the best quality vaccines reach the public. This book provides an overview of the vaccine safety and surveillance system.