By: Azadeh Shoaibi, Ph.D., M.H.S.
The word “prism” might make you think of a triangular piece of glass that separates white light into a rainbow of colors. But at FDA, it means a powerful, computer-based system that separates critical bits of information from vast streams of healthcare data in order to investigate adverse events and determine if there is a connection to a specific vaccine. And while the FDA prism--called Post-licensure Rapid Immunization Safety Monitoring System (PRISM)—might not have such a colorful name, it’s a bright light in the agency’s continual efforts to identify adverse effects in a timely manner. Continue reading
PRISM Identifies Vaccine Safety Issues
By: Azadeh Shoaibi, Ph.D., M.H.S.
The word “prism” might make you think of a triangular piece of glass that separates white light into a rainbow of colors.
But at FDA, it means a powerful, computer-based system that separates critical bits of information from vast streams of healthcare data in order to investigate adverse events and determine if there is a connection to a specific vaccine. And while the FDA prism–called Post-licensure Rapid Immunization Safety Monitoring System (PRISM)—might not have such a colorful name, it’s a bright light in the agency’s continual efforts to identify adverse effects in a timely manner.
PRISM is a cooperative effort between FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and its partners in the health care and medical insurance communities. It analyzes health insurance claims data from four national healthcare plans: Aetna, HealthCore (Wellpoint), Humana, and OptumInsight (United Healthcare).
PRISM is a computer-based vaccine safety monitoring system that separates out critical information from vast streams of healthcare data. A part of the Sentinel Initiative of FDA, PRISM broadens the agency’s ability to monitor critical healthcare products in support of its mission to protect and advance public health.
Since it was first inaugurated in 2010, PRISM has made valuable contributions to public safety.
For example, FDA was able to use the system to reassure the public that there was no link between an influenza vaccine and increased risk of febrile seizure in children (convulsion or seizure brought on by a fever). Another PRISM study comprising more than 1.4 million doses of Gardasil doses found no evidence of venous thromboembolism after vaccination among females 9 to 26 years old. FDA also used PRISM to identify a link between a rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) and an increased risk of intussusception in infants.
These case studies, along with other information, were discussed at a public meeting in December called to discuss what the system has accomplished and how it’s used in the regulatory process. The purpose of the workshop was to describe the Sentinel Initiative (a national electronic system for medical product safety surveillance) and the PRISM program, illustrate how FDA uses PRISM for regulatory responsibilities, and discuss the future direction of PRISM, including its further integration into the regulatory review process.
Stakeholders, including manufacturers, academics, the public, and other federal agencies, who participated in the workshop had an opportunity to weigh in with their opinions about the system, discuss its limitations, and offer ideas for improving it.
PRISM is one component of FDA’s Sentinel Initiative, which monitors the safety of a variety of FDA-regulated medical products by examining information in electronic healthcare databases.
Sentinel performs what is called “active” surveillance, as opposed to “passive” surveillance. Passive FDA surveillance systems depend on industry, consumers, patients, and healthcare professionals to recognize and report suspected adverse events to an FDA web site, such as the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). This means that FDA might not become aware of potential problems related to a licensed product for months.
Unlike passive surveillance, Sentinel’s active surveillance lets FDA initiate its own studies using existing electronic healthcare data in a timely manner. Sentinel also lets FDA evaluate safety issues in targeted groups, such as children, or to evaluate specific conditions (e.g., heart attacks) that are not usually reported as possible adverse events of medical products through passive reporting systems.
So by adding an active surveillance capability to FDA’s toolbox, Sentinel broadens FDA’s ability to monitor the safety of a spectrum of licensed medical products in support of the agency’s mission to protect and advance public health.
Azadeh Shoaibi, Ph.D., M.H.S., is the Sentinel Lead at FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario