Example for collaboration among institutions: Canada

Canada's national regulatory authority (NRA) is Health Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) conducts pharmacovigilance for vaccines in collaboration with public health authorities in the provinces and territories, and maintains the national database of reports of adverse events following immunization (AEFI).

During the 2009 influenza pandemic, PHAC used the vaccine safety monitoring system to identify a higher than normal rate of anaphylaxis linked to one particular lot (Lot 7A) of a newly released adjuvanted H1N1 flu vaccine.

In close collaboration between PHAC and Health Canada, and following further investigation of serious adverse event reports linked to Lot 7A, unused vaccines from this lot were withdrawn from use during the investigation.