The 2009 A(H1N1) influenza pandemic in the French Armed Forces: evaluation of three surveillance systems.

Background: The French military forces had to modify their epidemiological surveillance systems at the time of the 2009 A(H1N1) influenza pandemic. The aim of this article was to present an evaluation of the different systems used.

Methods: Two influenza surveillance systems are usually used in the French forces: one permanent (Surveillance épidémiologique des armées or SEA) and one seasonal (Système militaire d'observation de la grippe or SMOG).

Adverse events following pandemic influenza vaccine Pandemrix® reported in the French military forces--2009-2010.

Background: In the face of the A(H1N1) 2009 influenza pandemic, in October 2009 the French military health service (SSA) initiated a large vaccination campaign with Pandemrix(®) vaccine in the military forces. The aim of this study was to describe vaccine adverse events (VAE) reported during this campaign.

Methods: VAE and the number of people vaccinated were surveyed by the SSA Epidemiological network across all military forces during the campaign, from October 2009 to April 2010.