The Intensive Vaccines Monitoring Programme (IVMP): An electronic system to monitor vaccine safety in New Zealand

Summary New Zealand introduced a tailor-made vaccine (MeNZB™) for epidemic control of Group B meningococcal disease. The Intensives Vaccine Monitoring Programme (IVMP), which prospectively collected data electronically on a cohort of children receiving vaccinations in sentinel practices across NZ, was developed as part of a national multi-faceted safety strategy. The main aim of the IVMP was to identify the presence of unexpected adverse events occurring with MeNZB™ vaccination. We describe the methodology and success factors plus consider the limitations encountered in this system which shows potential as a means for post-marketing vaccine and medicine surveillance in the future.