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Vaccine research

Examining the evidence on vaccine safety

We are part of the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several large health care systems, including HealthPartners.

Since 2014, our Institute VSD team has led several large observational studies. Findings from this research have been presented at national conferences and to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP is a group of medical and public health experts that develop recommendations on use of vaccines for people in the United States.

Our team is currently leading a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study of the safety of influenza vaccine in children with asthma. We are also leading internally funded studies on effectiveness of pertussis vaccine in pregnant women and on disparities in vaccine coverage.

Investigators

Key projects

Safety of influenza and pertussis vaccines when given during pregnancy

The influenza and pertussis vaccines are recommended for all women during pregnancy. As part of the VSD, we led a series of studies to assess the safety of this practice. We examined mother and infant outcomes after vaccination in pregnancy. Overall, our research supports the safety of current vaccine recommendations to give pregnant women influenza and pertussis vaccines.

Safety of inadvertent exposures to HPV vaccine during pregnancy

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is not recommended in pregnancy. However, it is necessary for women of child bearing age and for those who are accidentally exposed to HPV during or around the time of pregnancy. As part of the VSD, we are currently studying whether accidental HPV exposures in pregnancy are associated with increased risk of fetal death.

Ethnic and racial disparities in immunization series completion

We found that ethnic and racial differences in immunization series completion rates were due to a lower number of visits, fewer months of insurance coverage and lower rate of well-child checks. Contacting parents to schedule well-child visits and structural changes in insurance to make continuous coverage easier may reduce these disparities.

Safety of live attenuated influenza vaccine in children with asthma

Children with asthma are at high risk for complications from influenza. The overall goal of this proposal is to compare rates of lower respiratory tract events in asthmatics following live versus inactivated influenza vaccination. This study is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, as part of the NIH.

Effectiveness of maternal pertussis vaccination

Maternal vaccination with Tdap is recommended in every pregnancy to prevent illness in newborns. This study examines the effectiveness of this practice.

Key publications