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Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine
C4591012 NON -INTERVENTIONAL STUDY INTERIM REPORT
22June 2021
PFIZER CONFIDENTIAL
 NON- INTERVENTIONAL ( NI)STUDY INTERIM REPORT 
PASS Information
Title Post-Emergency  Use Authorization Active 
Safety  Surveillance Study  among Individuals 
in the Veteran’s Affairs Health Sy stem 
Receiving Pfizer -BioNTech Coronavirus 
Disease 2019 (COVID -19) Vaccine
Protocol number C4591012
Version identifier for the interim study 
report1.0 
Date 22June 2021
EU Post Authorization Study (PAS) 
register numberEUPAS39779 
Active substance COVID -19 mRNA Vaccine is single -stranded, 
5’-capped messenger RNA (mRNA) produced 
using a cell -free in vitro transcription from the 
corresponding DNA templates, encoding the 
viral spike (S) protein of SARS -CoV -2.
Medicinal product Pfizer -BioNT ech COVID -19 Vaccine
Joint PASS No
Research question and objectives Research question: what are the incidence 
rates of safet y events of interest (based on 
adverse events of special interest [AESI ]) 
among individuals vaccinated with Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine within the US 
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) 
system overall and in sub -cohorts of interest, 
as compared to expected rates of those events?
Primary study objectives:
To assess whether individuals in the 
VHA s ystem experience increased risk 
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 of safet y events of interest following 
receipt of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 
vaccine; and
To assess whether sub- cohorts of 
interest (i.e., immunocompromised, 
elderl y, individuals with specific 
comorbidities, individuals receiving 
only one dose of Pfizer -BioN Tech 
COVID -19 vaccine, and individuals 
with prior SARS -CoV -2 infection) in 
the VHA s ystem experience increased 
risk of safet y events of interest 
following receipt of Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccine.
Secondary study objective:
To characterize utilization patterns of 
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine 
among individuals within the VHA, 
including estimating the proportion of 
individuals receiving vaccine, two-
dose vaccine completion rate, and 
distribution of time gaps between the 
first and second dose, demographics 
and health histories of recipients, 
overall and among the sub -cohorts of 
interest. 
Country of study United States
Authors Yinong Young- Xu, ScD, MA, MS
Director, Clinical Epidemiology  Program
Veteran s Affairs Medical Center
White River Junction, VT 
Cynthia de Luise, PhD, MPH
Senior Epidemiologist/ Safet y Surveillance 
Research Scientist; Risk Management and 
Safety  Surveillance Research
Pfizer, I nc.
New York, NY
Mei Sheng Duh, ScD, MPH 
Managing Principal and Chief Epidemiologist 
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PFIZER CONFIDENTIAL
 Analy sis Group, Inc.
Boston, MA
This document contains confidential information belonging to Pfizer. Except as otherw ise agreed to in 
writing, by accepting or reviewing this document, you agree to hold this in formation in confidence and not 
copy or disclose it to others (except where required by applicable law ) or use it for unauthorized purposes. In 
the event of any actual or suspected breach of this obligation, Pfizer must be promptly notified.
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PFIZER CONFIDENTIAL
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... 7
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... 7
1. ABSTRACT (STAND -ALONE DOCUMENT) ...................................................................9
2. LIST OF ABBREVIAT IONS .............................................................................................. 10
3. INVESTIGATORS .............................................................................................................. 12
4. OTHER RESPONSI BLE PARTIES .................................................................................... 13
5. MILESTONES ..................................................................................................................... 13
6. RATIONALE AND BAC KGROUND ................................................................................ 14
7. RES EARCH QUESTION AND O BJECTI VES ................................................................ .15
8. AMENDMENTS AND UP DATES ..................................................................................... 16
9. RESEARCH METHODS ....................................................................................................16
9.1. Study  Design ........................................................................................................... 16
9.2. Setting ...................................................................................................................... 17
9.3. Subjects ................................................................................................................... 18
Inclusion Criteria ............................................................................................. 18
9.3.1.1. Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine Sample ..................................18
9.3.1.2. Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Sample .................................................. 18
Exclusion Criteria ............................................................................................ 19
9.3.2.1. Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine Sample ..................................19
9.3.2.2. Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Sample .................................................. 19
Subgroups ........................................................................................................19
9.4. Variables .................................................................................................................. 19
Outcomes ......................................................................................................... 19
Exposures of I nterest ....................................................................................... 20
9.4.2.1. Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine Groups of Interest ................. 20
Baseline Characteristics ................................................................................... 20
9.5. Data Sources and Measurement .............................................................................. 21
VHA EMR Database ....................................................................................... 22
Measurement ...................................................................................................23
9.5.2.1. Outcomes ........................................................................................... 23
9.5.2.2. Exposures of I nterest .........................................................................23
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 9.5.2.3. Baseline Characteristics .....................................................................24
9.6. Bias .......................................................................................................................... 25
9.7. Study  Size ................................................................................................................ 26
Power............................................................................................................... 26
9.8. Data Transformation ............................................................................................... 27
9.9. Sta tistical Methods ..................................................................................................27
Main Summary  Measures ................................................................................ 27
9.9.1.1. Baseline Characteristics .....................................................................27
9.9.1.2. Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine Utilization Patterns ............... 27
9.9.1.3. Safet y Signal Analysis .......................................................................28
Main Statistical Methods ................................................................................. 29
9.9.2.1. Subgroup Analy ses............................................................................ 30
Missing Values ................................................................................................ 30
Sensi tivity  Analy ses........................................................................................ 31
Amendments to the Statistical Analy sis Plan .................................................. 31
9.10. Quality  Control ......................................................................................................31
9.11. Protection of Human Subjects ............................................................................... 31
10. RESUL TS.......................................................................................................................... 33
10.1. Descriptive Data ....................................................................................................38
Baseline Characteristics................................................................................. 38
10.1.1.1. Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine Sample ................................ 38
10.1.1.2. Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Sample ................................................ 38
10.2. Vaccination utilization patterns ............................................................................. 47
10.3. Safet y signal anal yses............................................................................................ 51
10.4. Main results ........................................................................................................... 51
10.5. Other an alyses.......................................................................................................51
10.6. Adverse events / adverse reactions ........................................................................51
11. DI SCUSSION .................................................................................................................... 51
11.1. Summary  of key  results ......................................................................................... 51
11.2. L imitations ............................................................................................................ 52
11.3. Generalizability .....................................................................................................54
11.4. I nterpretation ......................................................................................................... 54
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 12. OTHER INFORMATIO N ................................ ................................ ................................ .55
13. CONCL USIONS ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 55
14. REFERENCES ................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 56
15. LIST OF SOURCE T ABLES AND FIGURES ................................ ................................ .63
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 LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Calendar Time Distribution for the Receipt of Pfizer- BioNTech 
COVID -19 Vaccine (from December 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021) 
or Seasonal Influenza Vaccine (from 2014/2015 to 2018/ 2019 
influenza seasons) in the VHA Database ................................ .................. 35
Table 2. Basel ine Demographic Characteristics of Individuals who Received 
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 Vaccine or Seasonal I nfluenza 
Vaccine[1]................................ ................................ ................................ ..39
Table 3. Baseline Clinical Characteristics of Individuals who Received 
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 Vaccine or Seasonal I nfluenza 
Vaccine[1]................................ ................................ ................................ ..43
Table 4. Vaccine Utilization Patterns among Individuals who Received 
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 Vaccine ................................ ...................... 48
Table 5. Vaccine Dos es among Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 Vaccine ................................ ................................ .................. 49
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Sample Selection of Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 Vaccine (from December 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021) 
or Seasonal Influenza Vaccine (from October 1, 2014 to May  31, 
2019) in the VHA Database................................ ................................ ......34
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 Annex 1. List of stand -alone documents
Appendix 1.    SIGNATURES
Appendix 2.PROTOCOL
Appendix 3.    I NVESTIGATORS AND CORRESPONDI NG  IND EPENDENT  
ETHI CS COMMITTEES (I ECs) OR INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARDS (I RBs) 
Not applicable
Appendix 4.STATI STICAL ANALYSI S PL AN 
Not applicable
Appendix 5.SAMPLE CASE REPORT FORM (CRF) / DATA COLLECTION TOOL 
(DCT))
Not applicable
Appendix 6.SAMPLE STANDAR D SUBJECT INFORMATION SHEET AND 
INFORMED CONSENT DOCUMENT (I CD)
Not applicable
Appendix 7.LIST OF SUBJECT DATA LI STINGS
Not applicable
Appendix 8.  ADDI TIONAL DOCUMENTS 
Not applicable
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 1.ABSTRACT (STAND -ALONE DOCUMEN T)
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 2.LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation Definition
ACOS Associate Chief of Staff
ACIP Advisory  Committee on Immunization Practices
AESI Adverse event of special interest
BMI Body mass index
CAD Coronary  artery  disease
CI Confidence interval
CCI Charlson comorbidity  index
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDW Corporate Data Warehouse
CEP Clinical Epidemiology  Program
CHAMPVA Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs
CIOMS Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences
COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary  disease
COVID -19 Coronavirus disease 2019
CPT Current Procedural Terminology
CRADA Cooperative Research and Data Agreement
CRF Case report form
Tdap Diphtheria, tetanus and (acellular) pertussis
Td Diphtheria and tetanus
ED Emergency  department
EMA European Medicines Agency
EMR Electronic medical record
ENCePP European Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology  and 
Pharmacovigilance
EUA Emergency  Use Authorization
EU PAS European Union Post -Authorization Safety
FDA Food and Drug Administration
GEP Good Epidemiological Practice
GPP Good Pharmacoepidemiology  Practices
HBV Hepatitis B virus
HCPCS Healthcare Common Procedure Coding S ystem
HCV Hepatitis C virus
HIV Human immunodeficiency virus
HPV Human papillomavirus
HRU Healthcare resource utilization
ICD-9-CM International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical 
Modification
ICD-10-CM International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clini cal 
Modification
ICD-10-PCS International Classification of Diseases , Tenth Revision, Procedure 
Coding Sy stem
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 Abbreviation Definition
IEA International Epidemiological Association
IEC Independent Ethics Committee
IQR Interquartile range
IRB Institutional Review Board
IRR Incidence rate ratio
MaxSPRT Maximized sequential probability  ratio test
MenACWY Meningococcal conjugate
MenB Serogroup B meningococcal 
mRNA Messenger RiboNucleic Acid
NDC National Drug Code
NI Non-interventional 
NNERC VAMC Northern New England Research Consortium V eterans Affairs Medical 
Centers
OR Odds ratio
PASS Post-Authorization Safety  Study
PCAFC Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family  Caregivers
PHI Protected Health Information
R&D Research and Development
RCA Rapid cy cle analy sis
RPSS Research Protocol Safety Survey
RR Relative risk
SAP Statistical analy sis plan
SARS -CoV -2 Severe acute respiratory  syndrome coronavirus 2
SCRI Self-controlled risk interval
SD Standard deviation
SPEAC Safety  Platform for Emergency  vACcines
SRSS Subcommittee on Research Safet y and Securit y
US United States
VA Department of Veterans Affairs
VAIRRS Veterans Affairs Innovation and Research Review Sy stem
VHA Veterans Health Administration
VINCI VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure
VINNE Veteran’s I nstitutional Review Board of Northern New England
VISN Veterans Integrated Service Networks
VSD Vaccine Safet y Datalink
WHO World Health Organization
WOC Without compensation
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 3. INVESTIGATORS
Nam e, degree(s) Title Affiliation Address
Yinong Young -Xu, 
ScD, MA, MSPrincipal Investigator Veterans Affairs (VA) 
Medical Center163 Veterans Drive, 
White River Junction, 
VT 05009
Cynthia de Luise, 
PhD, MPHCo-Investigator Pfizer, Inc. 235 East 42nd Street, 
New  York, NY 10017
Mei Sheng Duh, 
ScD, MPHCo-Investigator Analysis Group, Inc. 111 Huntington Ave
14thFloor
Boston, MA 02199
Harvard T. H. Chan 
School of Public Health677 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
Maral DerSarkissian, 
PhD Co-Investigator Analysis Group, Inc. 333 South Hope Street
27th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 
90071
Fielding School of 
Public Health, 
University of California, 
Los Angeles650 Charles E Young 
Drive South
Los Angeles, CA 
90095
Rachel Bhak, 
MSCo-Investigator Analysis Group, Inc. 111 Huntington Ave
14thFloor
Boston, MA 02199
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 4.OTHER RESPONSIBLE PA RTIES
Not applicable .
5.MILESTONES
Milestone Planned date
VHA CRADA execution 8 January  2021
Determination of IRB exemption[1]10February 2021
Determination of Research Safet y and Securit y 
exemption[2]17 February  2021
Approval by Designated Member Review[3]26 February  2021
Registration in the EU PAS register 5 March 2021 
Start of data collection 11 March 2021[4]
Interim reports 22June 2021
31December 2021 
30June 2022 
31 December 2022 
End of data colle ction 10June 2023[5]
Final study  report 31December 2023 
Abbreviations: ACOS, Associate Chief of Staff; COVID -19, Coronavirus disease 2019; CRADA, 
Cooperative Research and Data Agreement; IRB, Institutional Revie w Board; EUA, E mergency Use 
Authorization; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; NNERC VAMC, Northern New England Research 
Consortium VA Medical Centers; R&D, Research and Development; SRSS, Subcommittee on Research 
Safety and Security; VA, Veterans Affairs; VAIRRS, VA Innovation and Research Review System; VINNE, 
Veteran’s IRB of Northern New England; VHA, Veterans Health Administration ; US, United States . 
Notes:
[1] IRB e xemption determination was granted in accordance w ith 38 CFR 16 bytheVeteran’s IRB of 
Northern New England (VINNE), White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT for 
the signal detection and signal evaluation phases. Prior to progressing to the signal verification phase for 
chart review, a second IRB rev iew application will be submitted for an expedited or full review. The tw o-
stage IRB application process is to expedite the initiation of the project.
[2]Research Safety and Security exemption determination was granted by the Subcommittee on Research 
Safety and Security (SRSS), VA Innovation and Research Revie w System (VAIRRS) .
[3] Approved by Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development (ACOS/R&D) and R&D 
Committee of the Northern New England Research Consortium VA Medical Centers (NNERC VAMC).
[4] Start of data collection is the date for starting data extraction for the purposes of the study analysis. The 
initial data analysis includes Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine exposures from December 11, 2020 (the 
EUA approval date by the US FDA) to Marc h 12, 2021 ( the data cutoff date).
[5] End of data collection is the planned date on which Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine exposure data 
reached 30 months post -EUA approval.
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 6.RATIONALE AND BACKGR OUND 
In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic for the 
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID -19) due to the severe acute respiratory  syndrome 
coronavirus 2 (SARS -CoV -2), which was first identified by  public health officials in China 
in December 2019.1The COVID -19 pandemic presents an unprecedented public health 
crisis. As of May  26, 2021 , over 33.1million COVID -19 cases and 590,000 deaths have been 
reported in the United States (US) alone.2To date, the cumulative incidence of COVID -19 
has continued to rise, largel y among the elderl y and middle -aged individuals, those with 
comorbid conditions, and in settings with high noncompliance with public health 
measures .3,4,5COVID -19is a well -adapted highly  infectious human pathogen that has 
evolved over time to develop multiple variants, including those associated with an increased 
risk of transmission and death that were first identified in late 2020 .3,6,7,8
On December 11, 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued itsfirst 
emergency  use authorization (EUA) for a vaccine for the prevention of COVID -19disease , 
indicated for individuals 16 y ears of age and older.9This vaccine, developed by  Pfizer and 
BioNTech (BNT162b2; COMI RNATY®),contains synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) that 
instructs cells in the body to produce the virus’ distinctive “spike” protein that triggers an 
immune response against SARS -CoV -2.9The EUA for Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19vaccine 
was based on safety and efficacy data from an ongoing Phase 1/2/3 trialsof approximately  
44,000 participants aged 12 y ears and older who were randomized 1:1 to receive Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine or saline control.10,11The FDA review edsafet y data from 
37,586 of the participants 16 y ears of age and older who were followed for a median of two 
months after receiving their second dose, andefficacy  data from 36,523 participants 12 y ears 
of age and older after Day  seven following vaccination with dose 2.12,13The efficacy  data 
reviewed b y the FDA indicated that Pfizer- BioN Tech COVID -19 vaccine was 95% effective 
in preventing sy mptomatic COVID -19 disease, while the safet y data indicated that the most 
commonly  reported side effects, which t ypicall y lasted several day s, were pain at the 
injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever .13No severe 
adverse events were reported that would preclude Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to 
meet the criteria for E UA.13Based on the se safety  and efficacy  data, as well as a review of 
manufacturing information regarding product quality  and consistency , the FDA determined 
that t he known and potential benefits of the vaccine outweighed the known and potential 
risks for the prevention of COVID -19 in individuals 16 y ears of age and older.14
As required b y the FDA EUA,13post-authorization observational studies using real -world 
data are needed in order to assess the association between Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 
vaccine and pre -determined safet y events of interest among individuals who received the 
vaccine in both the population at large and in populations of interest (e.g., 
immunocompromised individuals, elderly , and those with specific comorbidities).13Such 
post-authorization safety  evaluations are important for identify ing rare, unexpected, serious 
safet y events of interest in larger populations that may not have been detected during clinical 
trials (either due to sample size or selected study  populations), and monitoring that the 
favorable benefit -risk ratio of the vaccine is maintained post-trial. 
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 On January  27, 2021 ,Pfizer , in collaboration with the US Veterans Health Administration 
(VHA) and Anal ysis Gr oup, submitted a study  protocol (protocol C4591012 ;Appendix 2)
for post -EUA active safety  surveillance of safet y events of interest among individuals 16 
years of age and older in the VHA s ystem. Safet y events of interest for the current stud y 
include 42safet y outcomes that were selected based primaril yon the Priority  List of Adverse 
Events of Special Interest from the Brighton Collaboration’s Safet y Platform for Emergency 
vACcines (SPEAC) Project and from the preliminary  list of safet y events of intere st
presented at the September 22, 2020, meeting of Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention’s (CDC ’s) Advisory  Committee on Immunization Practices (ACI P)on the 
enhanced safety  monitoring of COVID -19 vaccines .15,16
The study  uses data from a large -scale electronic medical record (EMR) database from the 
VHA to identify and evaluate rapid -cycle, near real -time potential safet y signals associated 
with Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine. The Cooperative Research and Data Agreement 
(CRADA) was established betwee n Anal ysis Group and White River Junction VA Medical 
Center and Veterans Education and Research Association of Northern New England 
(VINNE) for this study  on January  8, 2021. Data included for this anal ysis commence d on 
December 11, 2020 and will continue through June 10, 2023 – i.e., 30 months following the 
issuance of the EUA for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine. Four interim reports are 
planned on June 30, 2021; December 31, 2021; June 30, 2022; and December 31, 2022 , with 
a final report to be issued on December 31, 2023.
In this first interim report, the data included for analy sis spans from December 11, 2020 to
March 12, 2021, and the data were locked on April 26, 2021 . This first interim report 
describes the selection of two samples of individuals within the VHA: individuals who 
received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine between December 11, 2020 ( EUA approval 
date b y the US FDA) and March 12, 2021 (data cutoff date), and recipients of seasonal 
influenza vaccine(s) during the five prior influenza seasons (2014/2015 through 2018/2019). 
The demographic characteristics and vaccine utilization patterns among the two samples of 
individuals are described pursuant to the secondary  study  objective. Due to the short time 
between the data lock date and the first interim report issuance date, this report does not 
include results from the safet y signal analyses pursuant to the primary  study  objectives. All 
references to the study protocol in this first interim report pertain to the study  protocol 
Version 1.0 dated January 27, 2021 (see Appendix 2). Meanwhile, a protocol amendment is 
currentl y under development to address the FDA’s comments on the study protocol Version 
1.0, communicated electronically  to Pfizer on May 12, 2021. 
This non- interventio nal study  was designated as a Post -Authori zation Safety Study  (PASS) 
and isa commitment to the FDA.
7.RESEARCH QUESTION AN D OBJECTIVES
Research question: what are the incidence rates of safet y events of interest (based on adverse 
events of special interest [AESI ]) among individuals vaccinated with Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccine within the US VHA system overall and in sub -cohorts of interest a s 
compared to expected rates of those events?
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 Primary study objectives:
To assess whether individuals in the VHA s ystem experience increased risk of safet y events 
of interest following receipt of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine ;
To assess whether sub- cohorts of interest (i.e., immunocompromised, e lderly , with specific 
comorbidities, individuals receiving onl y one dose of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine, 
and individuals with prior SARS -CoV -2 infection) in the VHA s ystem experience increased 
risk of safet y events of interest following receipt of Pfi zer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Secondary study objective :
To characterize utilization patterns of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine among 
individuals within the VHA including estimating the proportion of individuals receiving 
vaccine , two-dose vaccine completion rate, and distribution of time gaps between the first 
and second dose , demographics and health histories of recipients, overall and among the sub -
cohorts of interest. 
This first interim report pertains to the secondary  study  objective. 
8.AMENDME NTS AND UPDATES
None.
9. RESEARCH METHODS 
9.1.Study Design 
The methodology  to address the primary  study  objectives has not yet been implemented and 
thus is not covered in this first interim report. As described in greater detail in the study  
protocol ( Appendix 2), this post-EUA active safety  surveillance program will employ  a 
rapid -cycle, longitudinal, observational cohort study  design to provide early  real- world safet y 
information . 
The self -controlled risk interval (SCRI) design will be used to sequentially  monitor 
the occurrence of safet y events of interest while controlling for time -invariant
confounders. The SCRI  design uses data from cases (i.e., individuals who experience 
safet y events of interest following vaccination) to compare the risk interval followi ng 
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination t o pre -or post -vaccination non -risk 
intervals (“pre -vaccination control interval” and “post- vaccination control interval” , 
respectivel y) in the same individual.
An active comparator design will be used to sequentia lly monitor the occurrence of 
safet y events of interest among individuals who receive Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 
vaccinations as compared to recipients of influenza vaccine in the VHA during 
October 2014 - May 2015 through October 2018 - May 2019 influenza s easons. Data 
in peri -COVID time periods from January  2020 to present are excluded because of 
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 pandemic -associated under -utilization of health resources and under -reporting of 
medical events. 
Thus, anal yses to address the study  primary  objectives will rely on two samples : 
1. R ecipients of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine after December 11 ,2020 , which 
will be included in both the SCRI  and active comparator design s; and
2. R ecipients of influenza vaccine(s) between the 2014/2015 influenza season and the
2018/2019 influenza season, which will be only included in the active comparator 
design .
With both designs, safet y events of interest will be monitored sequentially  every  two weeks,
and an y signal that is detected will be further evaluated and verified (e.g., by  conducting 
multivariate adjustment using Poisson regression, assessing temporal clusters, conducting 
medical records review). The rapid cy cle analy sis (RCA) has not y et been initiated and thus 
is not included in the current interim report .
The study  will b e conducted for a period of 30 months, starting on December 11, 2020 
onward, with data collection concluding on June 10, 2023.
9.2. Setting
The study  population consists of VHA enrollees, which largel y include veterans, and iskept 
asbroad as possible under inclusion and exclusion criteria to be representative of the real -
world population at the VHA receiving Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine. 
The study  relies on secondary  data from the Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW) in the 
National V eterans Affairs Health Care Network. The CDW data, which are updated dail y,
include standard EMR for all medical encounter information in the V HA s ystem . Information 
is also available on date of death, COVID -19 infection status, and COVID- 19 and seasonal 
influenza vaccinat ion status.  
The VHA oversees the rollout of both COVI D-19 and seasonal influenza vaccination among
individuals enrolled in the VHA. The VHA delivers vaccines through VHA health care 
facilities, community  urgent care providers in the VHA’s network, and co mmunity  
pharmacies in the VHA’s network.17For seasonal influenza, the VHA vaccination rollout 
overlaps with the influenza season, which t ypically starts in October and ends in May of the 
following year.18For COVID -19, the VHA vaccination rollout started on December 15, 2020 
and is still ongoing in a phased approach, as follows:17
Phase 1a includes the following eligible VHA enrollees: individuals who work or live in 
VA community  living centers and spinal cord units; who live or work in other long-
term care or congregate (group living) settings and do n ot have access to COVID -19 
vaccines in those settings ;who work in cemeteries , and who work as health care 
personnel ;
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 Phase 1b include sthe following eligible VHA enrollees : veterans who a re at least 75 
yearsold; individuals who are essential frontline workers ; who experience
homelessness; who receive hemodial ysis care ; who have had a solid organ transplant 
or who are being considered for transplant ; who have spinal cord injuries and 
disorders ; and who receive chemotherap y treatment in a clinic or hospital ;
Phase 1c includes the following eligible VHA enrollees : veterans who are 65 to 74 years 
old; who are younger than 65 years old and have certain health conditions that are 
deemed b y the CDC to be associated with a high risk of severe illness from COVID-
19
; and individuals who are considered essential workers by the CDC and were not 
included in Phase 1b ;
After Phase 1c is completed , COVID- 19 vaccin ation will be offered free of charge to all 
veterans enrolled in the VHA, caregivers of eligible veterans under the Program of 
Comprehensive Assistance for Famil y Caregivers (PCAFC ), and other eligible 
individuals (e.g., veteran spouses and dependents) under the Civilian Health and 
Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA )17
As theVHA’s health care delivery  system is organized regionall y around 18 Veterans 
Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) across the US ,with each VISN responsible for health 
care planning and resource allocation in a particular geographical r egion,17regional 
variations may impact the timing of vaccine distribution, particularl y for COVID -19 vaccines 
where suppl y was not pre -planned. 
9.3.Subjects
Inclusion Criteria
9.3.1.1. Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 V accine Sample
Individuals with at least one record of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine during the period 
December 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021; and 
Individuals with a t least oneyear of continuous enrol lment in VHA benefits (i.e., the baseline 
period) prior to their firstPfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccination date .
9.3.1.2. Seasonal Influenza V accine Sample
Individuals with records of one or more seasonal influenza vaccin e from the 2014/2015
influenza season to the 2018/2019 influenza season, where the influenza season was defined 
as the period from October 1 of one year until May 31 of the following year;and
Individuals with at least one year of continuous enrollment in VHA benefits (i.e., the baseline 
period) prior to at least one seasonal influenza vaccination date .
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Exclusion C riteria
9.3.2.1. Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 V accine Sample
Individuals who received at least one dose of COVID -19 vaccine from a manufacturer other 
than Pfizer -BioNTech .
While excluded from the study  sample, these individuals were described when characteriz ing 
the vaccine utilization patterns of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine (secondary  
objective) .
9.3.2.2. Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Sample
Individuals who have records for more than one seasonal influen za vaccine in the same 
influenza season were excluded from that influenza season . 
Subgroups
Safety  surveillance, which is not included in this first interim report ,willbe conducted for 
subgroups of interest (i.e.,immunocompromised individuals , different age groups with a 
focus on elderl y, individuals with specific comorbidities, individuals receiving onl y one dose 
of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine, individuals with prior SARS -CoV -2 infection, and 
individuals likely  to receive all their care from VA facilities [i.e., individuals with regular use 
of VHA medical care, VA priority  group 1 veterans ])as outlined in Section 9.2.3 of the study  
protocol ( Appendix 2).
9.4. Variables 
This section includes a listing of the key  variables for the current stud y, including outcomes, 
exposures, and baseline characteristics. For details on the measurement of these variables in 
the CDW data ,please see Section 9.5.2.  
Outcomes
Outcomes include 42 safety  events of interest (Table 15.2 ). The list of outcome safet y events 
may be modified over time as new safet y information about the COVID -19 vaccines 
emerges. 
Safety event sof interest will only  be counted as outcom es when observed during a pre-
specified risk interval (e.g., within two days of vaccination for anaph ylaxis; within 42 day s of 
vaccination for Bell’s palsy  or thrombocy topenia ) without any other diagnosis codes for the 
same safet y event of interest in a pr e-specified clean window (e.g., six months before that 
date for anaph ylaxis; one y ear before that date for Bell’s pals y or t hrombocy topenia ). The 
duration of the risk interval and the duration of the clean window for a given safet y event of 
interest were determined based on biological plausibility  and precedents in the literature
when the safet y event of interest is vaccine -related (Section 9.3.3 of the study protocol ; 
Appendix 2). D etails on the measurement of outcomes in the CDW data are presented in 
Section 9.5.2 below.  
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 Due to the short time between the data lock date and the first interim report issuance date, 
this report does not include results from the safet y signal analyses pursuant to the primary 
study  objectives .
Exposure sof Interest
Vaccination with Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine is the main exposure of interest. Risk 
of safet y events of interest during the pre -specified risk window post -Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID- 19 vaccine will be compared with risk during pre -defined pre-and/or post -
vaccination control interval s within the same individuals (SCRI  design) or compared to 
similar risk intervals post -influenza vaccination among r ecipients of influenza vaccine(s) 
between the 2014/2015 through 2018/2019 influenza seasons (active comparator design). 
Details on the measurement of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 and seasonal influenza vaccine
receipt in the CDW data are presented in Section 9.5.2 .
9.4.2.1. Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine Groups of Interest
Some recipients of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine may have received seasonal 
influenza vaccine in the 2020/2021 influenza season , which may impact their observed rates 
of safet y events of interest. As described in Section 9.3.1.1 of the study  protocol ( Appendix 
2),additional analyses will be conducted among subsets of the study  population based on (1) 
whether they  received the influenza vaccine in the 2020/2021 influenza season, and (2) the 
timing of the influenza vaccine relative to Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19vaccine in the 
2020/2021 season .
Baseline Characteristics
The following baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed based on a 
one-year baseline period prior to the date of vaccination with Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 
vaccin e and prior to the date of seasonal influenza vaccination for active comparators (unless 
otherwise specified) . Operational definitions for baseline characteristics variables listed in 
this section are provided in Table 15.1 , while measurement details are provided in 
Section 9.5.2.3 . 
Demographics:
Age (<16, 16 -64, 65- 74, >74years)
Sex
Race/ethnicit y
VHA service area - US region
Clinical characteristics:
Smoking status
Body mass index (BMI ; measured based on a two -year baseline period , for reasons 
described in Section 11.1)
History  of anaph ylaxis/allergic reactions
Previous anaph ylaxis of vaccine component 
History  of hospitalizations
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 Charlson comorbidity  index (CCI)
Selected comorbidities 
Autoimmune disease
Asthma
Bleeding diathesis or condition associated with prolonged bleeding
Cancer
Cardiovascular conditions ( e.g., heart failure, coronary  artery  disease [CAD] , 
cardiom yopathies)
Chronic kid ney disease/dialy sis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary  disease (C OPD )/interstitial lung disease
Diabetes mellitus (i.e., Ty pe 1 or Ty pe 2 diabetes)
Down sy ndrome
Sickle cell disease
Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV)
Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV)
Human immu nodeficiency virus infection (HIV)
Hyperlipidemia
Hypertension
Liver disease
Neurological disease
Other immune deficiencies
Solid organ transplant
Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
Immunization history
Seasonal influenza (during the 2020/2021 influenza season; reported for 
recipients of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine)
Tetanus diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap or Td)
Chickenpox (V aricella)
Shingles (H erpes zoster recombinant and/or live)
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Pneumococ cal conjugate
Pneumococcal pol ysaccharide
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) and serogroup B meningococcal 
(MenB)
Haemophilus influenza type b
9.5. Data Sources and M easurement 
The study  relies on secondary EMR data from the VHA CDW , which is a centralized data 
warehouse that is updated daily . For this first interim report, the study  used data from the 
CDW that were available at the time of data cut -off on March 12, 2021. 
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VHA EMR Database
The VHA is the largest integrated health care s ystem in the US, providing comprehensive 
healthcare services, including primary , specialt y and inpatient care, rehabilitation, long -term 
and home care, and other services to over nine million veterans th rough 1,293 health care 
facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1, 112outpatient sites of vary ing care 
complexity .19In addition to v eterans, VHA enrollees may  also include employ ees and certain 
categories of famil y members of the veterans, but these are a minority  among all VHA 
enrollees.  
The CDW consolidates data from the VHA’s EMR sy stem and contains information on all 
outpatient visits, hospital stays, treatments, dispensed prescriptions, immunizations, and lab 
results. Although the VHA may  have financ ially covered/reimbursed care provided at non -
VHA facilities, the EMR sy stem (and thus the CDW) does not capture information on visits 
at non- VHA facilities. The CDW stores data in separate databases based on ty pe of clinical 
information (e.g., inpatient medication, inpatient admission, outpatient medication, outpatient 
visit). The VHA also maintains its own mortality  data , in which 99% of enrollees’ deaths are 
reported within one month of occurrence and which are based on information collected from 
multiple sources: family  members, VHA hospitals, the National Cemetery  Administration, 
Medicare vital status file, and the Social Securit y Administration. Death ascertainment from 
these sources in the VH A data has be en shown to have 98% sensitivit y.20
Each VHA enrollee is assigned a unique identification number in the CDW, to allow for 
longitudinal follow -up as well as for cross- reference across the various separate databases. 
For example, in each inpatient admission r ecord, information on the primary discharge 
diagnosis (and as man y as 15 secondary diagnoses), date of admission, date of discharge, and 
length of stay  is available. This record can then be linked to other information pertaining to 
that inpatient stay  loca ted in other files, including procedures that t he individual underwent 
during hospitalization, medical specialty  of the provider, and prescriptions dispensed 
(inpatient and outpatient). Other files are structured similarly , and therefore can be linked 
together to provide comprehensive information about the individual and his/her medical 
encounters. 
The VHA database is an appropriate data source to provide early  data on potential rare safety 
events of interest associated with Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine. First, given that 
some groups of veterans were prioritized in the first wave of vaccinations,17VHA enrollees 
were among the first Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine recipients in the US ,enabling 
early safet y anal yses. Second, t he VHA dat a are refreshed daily , and thus enable rapid data 
analysis. Third, the VHA population isolder and has more comorbid conditions21than the 
general population, thus maximizing the chance of capturing rare safet y events of interest in 
early analyses ,following the initial phases of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 va ccine 
distribution. Finally , subgroup anal yses will be performed among individuals who are in the 
VA priority  group 1 (i.e., individuals who have the highest levels of service connected 
disability22and are categorized as the highest priority for VHA care ),which will ensure that 
the individual is more likely to receive all their care from a VA facility , hence minimizing 
the potential for missing data .
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 To the extent that the individuals in the VHA population are different from individuals 
outside of the VHA, the results may  not be generalizable to the broader US population. For 
example, the VHA includes predominantl y men (approximately  90%), findings from this 
study  may  not be generalizable to women in the US. 
Measurement
9.5.2.1. Outcomes
Operational definitions of the 42 safet y events of interest, based on International 
Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM)and 
Internation al Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM)
diagnosis codes ,are detailed in Table 15.2 .23,24,25,26,27The list of outcome safet y events may  
be modified over time as new safety information about the COVID- 19 vaccines emerges.
Outpatient (including emergency  department [ ED]) and/or inpatient settings will be used to 
identify  safet y events of interest, depending on the type of event , as described in Section 
9.3.3 of the protocol ( Appendix 2). Any record of death will be captured, regardless of 
whether the individual died in a healthcare or non- healthcare setting. 
9.5.2.2. Exposures of Interest
Administration of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine post -EUA approval and date of 
immunization for each dose were identified in the CDW data based on an y of the following 
codes:
Current Procedural Terminology  (CPT) code s; or
91300, corresponding to severe acute respiratory  syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS -
CoV -2) (coronavirus disease [COVID -19]) vaccine, mRNALNP, spike protein, 
preservative free, 30 mcg/0.3mL  dosage, diluent reconstituted, for intramuscu lar 
use)or
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding S ystem (HCPCS) codes ; or
0001A , corresponding to administration of first dose (ADM SARS -CoV -2 30 
mcg/0.3mL 1st)
0002A , corresponding to administration of second dose (ADM SARS -CoV -2 30 
mcg/0.3mL 2nd)28,29or
National Drug Codes (NDCs) codes ; or
10-digit NDCs: 59267 -1000 -1, 59267 -1000- 2, 59267 -1000-3)
11-digit NDCs: 59267 -1000 -01, 59267 -1000- 02, 59267- 1000- 0330
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 Immunization records that contain data on vaccine code descriptor, vaccine 
manufacturer (i.e., Pfizer ), lot number, injection site, and date(s) of immunization.28
Administration of the seasonal influenza vaccine during 2014/2015 through 2018/2019 
influenza seasons and date of immunization were identified in the CDW data based on an y of 
the following (seeTable 15.3 for additional details) :
CPT codes; or
HCP CS codes; or 
10 and 11- digit NDCs; or
Immunization records that contain data on vaccine code descriptor, vaccine 
manufacturer, lot number, injection site, and date(s) of immunization. 
9.5.2.3. Baseline Characteristics
Operational definitions for all diagnoses, procedures, and immunizations are p rovide d in 
Table 15.1. In short, diagnoses were identified b y ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, procedures 
were identified b y ICD-10-PCS (procedure coding sy stem) codes, CPT, or HCPCS procedure 
codes, while vaccines were identified by  NDC , CPT, and HCPCS codes , and immunization 
records .Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics reported in this first interim report 
were based on a one -year baseline period ( with two exceptions, specified below ) and 
included the following:
Demographic variables included age, sex, race/ethnicity , and VHA service area. 
Demographic variables were extracted from the CDW data at the time of the receipt 
of the first dose of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine (for Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccine sample) and at the time of the receipt of the seasonal influenza 
vaccine (for the seasonal influenza vaccine sample) , and were well- populated. 
BMI was extracted from the CDW based on the most recent BMI record for the 
individual in the y ear before the receipt of the first dose of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-
19 vaccine and/orreceipt of the seasonal influenza vaccine. Given the high proportion 
of missing values for BMI in Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine sample, which 
was likely  due to a higher utilization of telemedicine encounters during the COVID -
19 pandemic ,31BMI was therefore reported based on the two y ears prior to the receipt 
of the first dose of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine and/orreceipt of the seasonal 
influenza vaccine. 
History  of hospitalizations included the number of hospitalizations recorded in the 
CDW in the y ear before the receipt of the first dose of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 
vaccine and/orreceipt of the seasonal influenza vaccine. 
Smoking status, h istory  of anaph ylaxis/allergic reactions , previous anaph ylaxis of 
vaccine component, comorbidities included in the CCI ,32and other relevant 
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 comorbidities were identified in the CDW data ( based on diagnosis codes that 
conform with the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 -CM codes) in the y ear before the receipt of 
the first dose of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine and/orreceipt of the seasonal 
influenza vaccine ( seeTable 15.1 formore details on the specific codes used).
Other immunizations were identified in the immunization file from the CDW based 
on CPT codes, HCPCS codes, NDC codes, and other immunization records (please 
see Table 15.1 for more details on the specific codes used).
Non-seasonal immunizations (i.e., all immunizations other than seasonal 
influenza) were measured in the y ear preceding the vaccination; seasonal 
influenza was measured only  among individuals who received Pfizer- BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccine during the influenz a season (i.e., from October 1 to May  31) 
that overlaps or precedes the date when the individual received Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccine.
9.6.Bias
Several approaches were incorporated in the stud y design and will be implemented in 
forthcoming safet y signal analyses to reduce bias in this study . 
First, the SCRI  and active comparator designs complement each other in mitigat ingbiasin 
the current study . Speci fically , the SCRI  design will use individuals as their own controls, 
thus removing an y potential confounding bias due to factors that do not change over short 
periods of time within an individual (e.g., age, sex , chronic conditions). While the SCRI  
design that uses a pre-vaccination control interval may be subject to detection bias because 
individuals pay more attention to possible safety  events post-vaccination compared to pre -
vaccination , the SCRI  design that uses a post -vaccination control interval is not subject to 
this bias because both the risk and control intervals are defined post -vaccination .33Despite 
the ability to adjust for time -invariant confounders, the SCRI  design may  have limited power 
to estimate expected rates for very  rare safety  events of interest .34Thus, the SCRI  design will 
be complemented by an active comparator design that will derive expected rates of safet y 
events of interest from historical controls vac cinated for seasonal influenza . To mitigate 
potential confounding bias in the active comparator design , historical controls will only  
include individuals vaccinated for seasonal influenza (individuals who are open to 
vaccination are expected to share similarities) and additional Poisson multivariate adjusted 
regression models will be implemented for safet y events of interest that are detected and 
persist after conducting quality  assurance.
Second, when a signal is detected in the signal detection phase, additional analy ses will be 
performed to evaluate the signal and identify  other possible sources of bias. For example, the 
impact of seasonal variations in the rates of the safety events of interest (e.g., mortalit y rates 
vary during the year, with higher rates in winter months and lower rates in summer months34)
will be assessed using a seasonality -adjusted case- centered anal ysis that focuses on the subset 
of individuals in Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine sample who experienced a safet y 
event of interest (i.e., cases) .Temporal scan statistics will be calculated to empirically  
identify  temporal clusters of safet y events of interest during the risk interval.
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 Third, for both the SCRI  and active comparator designs, biasmay result from the 
misclassification or imprecision of the time interval during which rates of safet y events of 
interest are measured. I t is possible that some safety  events of interest do not have a precise 
time interval for which to evaluate risk –for example ,if biological plausibility  is not well 
known or the diagnostic time window is more dela yed than anticipated. In these cases, 
misspecification of the risk (and control) intervals could result in outcome misclassification 
and introduce bias, often toward the null. For instance, the assumption of a longer risk 
interval than is true may  result i n “washing out” the signal, and an erroneously  short risk 
interval may  similarly  result in underestimation of the effect when using post -vaccination 
time intervals for self -control. To address this, the length of the risk intervals may be varied 
in sensiti vity anal ysestoincrease the likelihood that the safet y risk is detected accuratel y. 
Finally , if individuals receive Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine or the seasonal influenza 
vaccine outside of a VHA facility , this information will not be captured in th e VHA EMR 
system , resulting in exposure misclassifi cation . Veterans with secondary  insurance and
veterans who are 65 y ears of age or older who have Medicare may  be more likely  to receive 
services outside VHA . One study  on VHA enrollees in seven different s tates found that 
among all individuals admitted to VHA hospitals in 2007, one -fifth also had a non- VHA 
hospitalization during that y ear.35To mitigate this limitation , subgroups of individuals who 
receive care regularl y at VHA facilities, as well as those w ith priority  group 1 status (i.e., 
veterans with service -connected disability  that is >50% disabling, veterans who are unable to 
work, or veterans who have received the Medal of Honor)22, will be examined to ensure that 
their healthcare data are complete to the extent possible in the CDW. 
Further discussion of potential sources of bias in the study, including exposure 
misclassification, is provided in Section 11.2.
9.7.Study Size
A total of 750,999 individuals received at least one dose of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 
vaccine from December 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021 in the VHA database . The active 
comparator group includes a fix ed cohort of 4,277,220 historical seasonal influenza vaccine 
recipients who received a total of 10,529,071 seasonal influenza vaccines across successive 
influenza seasons between 2014/2015 through 2018/2019. 
Power
Power calculations for the safet y signal analyses (study  primary  objective )will be conducted 
for each safet y event of interest using the power calculation feature in the sequential R 
package for RCA developed by Kulldorff et al.36The power calculations are not included in 
this first interim repo rt as they  require the calculation of the background incidence of each 
safet y event of interest among the historical seasonal influenza active comparator group as an 
input and this analy sishas not y et been performed , and will be included in the second interim 
report . 
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 9.8.Data Transformation
Not applicable.
9.9.Statistical M ethods
Main Summary M easures 
9.9.1.1. Baseline Characteristics
Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were summarized using mean, standard 
deviation (SD) ,and median (interquartile range [IQR]) values for continuous variables and 
frequency distributions for categorical variables . Baseline demographics and clinical 
characteristics were summarized and compared between Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 
vaccine re cipients (at the time of the first dose of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine) and 
for active comparators who received seasonal influenza vaccination (at the time of the most 
recent seasonal influenza vaccine received from the 201 4/2015 to the 2018/2019 influenza 
season to facilitate comparison with Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine recipients). 
Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were also summarized at the time of each
seasonal influenza vaccine observed in the seasonal influenza sample from the 201 4/2015 to 
the 2018/2019 influenza season (i.e., allowing multiple measurements per individual) as the 
background incidence of the safet y events of interest will be assessed in the risk intervals 
following all observed seasonal influenza vaccines (to increase the chance of capturing rare 
safet y events of interest).
Standardized differences were used to compare baseline demographics and clinical 
characteristics between individuals vaccinated with Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vacci ne (at 
the time of the first Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine dose) and those vaccinated for 
seasonal influenza (at the time of the most recent seasonal influenza vaccine ). For a given 
covariate, the standardized difference scales the difference inmeans between the sa mples (if 
the covariate is continuous) or the difference in proportions ( ifthe covariate is binary ) by the 
standard deviation of that covariate in both samples combined. Because the standardized 
difference is a measure of the magnitude of di fference in means/proportions between two 
groups that does not depend on sample size ,37it is a more appropriate estimate than statistics
that rely  on statistical significance (e.g., t -test for continuous variables or chi -square tests for 
binary  variables) for studies with very  large samples ,such as the current study .
In the current study , a standardized difference >10% was used to identify an imbalance 
between charac teristics of recipients of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine and seasonal 
influenza vaccine .38,39The study  useda conservative threshold to indicate covariate 
imbalance (other authors proposed thresholds ranging from > 10% to > 25%40,41,42,43) to 
capture an y possible differences between the study samples that need to be accounted for in 
the signal evaluation phase. 
9.9.1.2. Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine Utilization Patterns
Descriptive statistics were used to summarize Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vacc ine
utilization patterns, including the proportion of individuals who received the vaccine, two-
dose completion rate, distribution of time gaps between the first and second vaccine dose, 
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 and description of care setting where immunization was received (e.g. , outpatient clinic, 
pharmacy , inpatient ward, other). These utilization patterns were summarized using the mean 
(SD) and median (IQR) values for continuous variables ,and frequency  distributions for 
categorical variables. Individuals with at least one hea lthcare encounter in the VHA from 
December 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021 served as the expected number of individuals who 
would be eligible for Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine, as they  had been activel y 
receiving care through the VHA during the time period w hen Pfizer -BioNTech C OVID -19 
vaccine was available. The count and proportion of individuals who received COVID -19 
vaccine (s) from different manufacturer sin addition to Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine 
were also reported.
9.9.1.3. Safety Signal Analysis
Safety  signal anal ysis was not performed in this first interim report . As described in greater 
detail in Section 9.7 of the study  protocol ( Appendix 2), the safety  signal analy sis will rel y on 
the following key  measures, as appropriate for each study  phase :
The s ignal detection phase will be conducted every two weeks for all safety  events of 
interest , and will include the following anal yses: 
For analy ses based on the SCRI  design using pre- vaccination control intervals , 
relative risks (RR s) and corresponding confi dence intervals (CIs) will be estimated to 
compare the risks of safety  events of interest during the risk interval immediately  
following Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccination and the risks of safet y events of 
interest during pre -specified control intervals before Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 
vaccination . Please see Section 9.9.2 for additional methodological details.
For analy ses based on the active comparator design, RRs and corresponding CIs will 
be estimated to com pare the risks of safet y events of interest during the risk interval 
immediately  following Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccin ation among Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine recipients andthe risk interval immediately  following 
seasonal influenza vaccine among historical seasonal influenza vaccine recipients .
The signal evaluation phase will be conducted after a signal is detected (if the signal 
persists following post -signal quality  assurance ), and will include the following analyses:
For analy ses based on the SCRI  design, RRs and corresponding CIs will also be 
calculated using post -vaccination control intervals in order to account for potential 
detection bias that may  impact SCRI  anal yses using pre -vaccination control intervals 
(due to enhanced vigilance for sa fety events after vaccination compared to the pre-
vaccination period).
For analy ses based on the active comparator design, incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 
corresponding CIs will be calculated using a multivariate adjusted Poisson regression 
model to accou nt for baseline differences between Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 and 
seasonal influenza vaccinees .
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 Temporal scan statistics for each safet y event of interest will be estimated to 
determine whether temporal clusters are present in the occurrence of the safety e vents 
of interest post -vaccination .
Kaplan -Meier (KM) methods will be used to analy ze time -to-safet y event of interest , 
with censoring at the end of the risk interva l for individuals who did not experience 
the safet y event of interest by  the end of the ri sk interval .
If a defined COVID- 19 season is established,44additional analy ses will be performed 
to address seasonality : 
A seasonalit y-adjusted case -centered anal ysis may be conducted to account for 
bias caused b y seasonality  of safet y events of interest and vaccination.45,46From
this analy sis, odds ratio s(ORs) and corresponding CIs will be reported.
If it is determined in the literature that the COVID -19 pandemic exhibits 
seasonality , anal yses may be conducted at the end of the defined COVID- 19 
season. This end -of-season anal ysis will use data from the SCRI  design with post-
vaccination control intervals, from which RR and corresponding CIs will be 
reported . An end-of-season anal ysis using data from the active comparator design 
with historical seasonal influenza vaccination recipients may also be conducted , 
from which RRs and corresponding C Iswill be reported.
Finally , the end-of-surveillance safet y analysiswill be a one -time anal ysis conducted
after the final data lock at the study  end (July 14, 2023), for safety events of interest with 
signals detected, and will include the following analy ses:
Using data from the SCRI design, t he RR for safety events of interest with signals 
detected during the risk interval compared to the control interval and corresponding 
CIs will be estimated .In addition, 
using data from the active comparator design, 
safet y events of interest with signals detected in the risk interval among individuals
that received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine will be compared to sa fety events 
of interest observed in the risk intervals among individuals that received seasonal 
influenza vaccination in the five prior seasons to estimate RRs and corresponding 
CIs.
Main Statistical M ethods 
Statistical methods for the safet y signal anal ysishave not been implemented in this first 
interim report . As described in greater detail in the study  protocol (Appendix 2), the safety 
signal analy sis will be performed for signal detection, evaluation, and verification . 
In the signal detection phase, the SCRI  anal ysis will only  include pre -vaccination control 
intervals as the post -vaccination control intervals will require a longer time to accumulate 
and will be used in the signal evaluation phase. To account for multiple testing and bi- weekl y 
review o f the data, the maximized sequential probability  ratio test (MaxSPRT) using a 
binomial probability  model will be applied. For comparison with individuals who received 
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 seasonal influenza vaccination (active comparator design), the Poisson -based MaxSPRT will
be applied. 
For each safet y event of interest, the safet y signal anal ysis will commence once at least 3 
events occur. This approach is consistent with the FDA’s COVID- 19 Vaccine Safet y 
Surveillance Project to avoid spurious signals from a few earl y event s.47Critical values will 
be determined for each safety event of interest based on the historical incidence rate, 
expected upper limit of the number of events under the null hypothesis, and pre -specified 
significance level and power. Signals will be detecte d if the critical values are reached via the 
SCRI  or active comparator anal ysis. Incidence rates will also be calculated, and K Mmethods 
will be used to anal yze time to safet y event of interest.
If signals are detected for safety events of interest based on the analysis described above, 
signal evaluation will be conducted to refine and confirm such detections. This will include 
comprehensive quality  assurance ( e.g., checking for possible duplicati ons of claims or 
medical records, checking for unusual clustering in claim or medical record accrual b y 
service date for potential coding issues, check ingfor geographical distribution of cases that 
may be related to lot numbers or diagnostic practice) ,and multivariate adjustment using 
Poisson regression to account for baseline differences between Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 
vaccinated and the active comparator cohort . SCRI anal yses using the post -vaccination 
control intervals will be conducted as an addition al inferential analysis once enough post-
vaccination time has accumulated. Lastly , the assessment of temporal clustering will also be 
conducted.
The signal verification phase will include the d iagnostic validation of the safet y events of 
interest detected in the signal evaluation phase ,and will rely  on adjudication of medical 
records in a representative sample of cases by VHA clinicians for outcome verification. For 
rare events, potentiall y all cases may be adjudicated.
End- of-season anal yses (over the cou rse of the 30 -month period, pending if COVID- 19 
seasonality is established ) and an end -of-surveillance analy sis (i.e., at 30 months) will also be 
conducted. 
9.9.2.1. Subgroup Analyses
Separate anal yses of baseline characteristics, vaccine utilization patterns, sig nal detection, 
signal evaluation, and signal verification in subgroups of interest (defined in Section 9.3.3) 
will be conducted in subseque nt interim reports pending feasibility , sample size, and data 
availability .
Missing Values 
No VHA members had missing date of birth or sex data. A very  small minority  of individual s 
had both sexes documented. Those members were categorized as “unknown” ( Table 2 ).
Individuals with m issing race/ethnicity or BMI data w erealso categorized as “ unknown ”
(Table 3 ).
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Sensitivity A nalyses 
No sensitivity  anal yses were performed in this interim report. 
Amendments to the Statistical Analysis P lan 
Not applicable.
9.10. Quality C ontrol
For this first interim report, data for the stud y wereextracted from EMR databases in the 
CDW of the VHA. Each data content area in the CDW wassubjected to similar checks, from 
high-level variable name/ty pe checks, to detailed trending comparisons. As an example, the 
diagnostic data was subject to the following checks:
Checked that variables referenced in the data dictionary  exist and are of appropriate 
length and t ype
Checked the diagnosis code type (i.e., ICD -9-CM, ICD -10-CM)wascorrectly  
matched with the codes defining specific diagnoses of interest ;
Assessed p ercent ages andrates in the light of literature and substantive knowledge ;
Checked percentages and rates of missing data;
Checked that both inpatient and outpatient (which include emergency  room visits)
diagnosis codes were captured .
Data retrieval wascoordinated b y twoexperienced programmer s/anal ysts. The anal yst wrote
programming for retrieval of each data element from the electronic databases. Double 
programming w asperformed; results/datasets w erecompared, and discrepancies were 
resolved. All tables w ere reviewed b y the project manager and the principal investigator and
evaluate dfor internal consistency  of counts and totals. All calculated variables w erechecked 
against the component variables (cross tabs) to ensure accuracy. For example, categor ical age 
wascompared with continuous age to confirm that each category  of age contained only  
individuals of the expected age ranges within that category.
9.11. Protection of Human S ubjects
Patient I nformation and Consent
Protected health information (PHI) will not be reused or disclosed to an y other person or 
entity  except as required by  law, for authorized oversight of the research, or for other 
research for which the use or disclosure of PHI would be permitted by  applicable regulation. 
The PHI obtained were th e minimum necessary  to conduct the research. Information 
regarding Institutional Review Board (IRB) exemption is provided in the below section. 
The project isled by the VHA, with Dr. Yinong Young -Xu, Director of the Clinical 
Epidemiology  Program ( CEP), serving as the Principal Investigator. The CEP at White River 
Junction VA Medical Center will conduct this safety  surveillance stud y with sponsorship 
from Pfizer and ass istance from Anal ysis Group . Analy sis Group employ ees underwent 
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 background checks b y the VHA and received without compensation employ ee (WOC) status 
to access the CDW VHA data files hosted on the VA servers through the VA Informatics and 
Computing I nfrastructure (VINCI) platform. CDW VHA data will not be transferred off from 
the VA serve rs, to either Pfizer or Anal ysis Group. Only  Analy sis Group WOC employ ees 
have access to de- identified patient- level data on the VINCI platform and they  will only  
share summary  statistics based on these data with study  investigators who are not WOC 
employ ees.
All parties complied and will comply  with all applicable laws, including laws regarding the 
implementation of organizational and technical measures to ensure personal data protection .
Given the sensitive nature of healthcare data, comprehensive securit ymeasures are 
implemented to ensure the confidentialit y, integrity , and protection of individuals enrolled in 
the VHA ’sprivacy  and healthcare data. Only  VA employ ees, including those with WOC 
employ ee status, who have completed necessary  VA training and h ave proper clearance will 
access and analyze data on secure VA servers and behind necessary  firewalls, under the 
direction and supervision of Dr. Young- Xu. Other measures will include omitting individual
names or other directl y identifiable data in an yreports, publications, or other disclosures, 
except where required b y applicable laws.
To protect the rights and freedoms of natural individuals with regard to the processing of
personal data, when study  data are compiled for transfer to Pfizer and other authorized
parties, an y individual names will be removed and will be replaced b y a single, specific,
numerical code. All other identifiable data transferred to Pfizer or other authorized parties
will be identified by  this single, individual -specific code. In case of data transfer, Pfizer will
maintain high standards of confidentialit y and protection of individuals’ personal data
consistent with the vendor contract, and applicable privacy  laws.
Independent Ethics Committee (IEC)/Institutional Review Board ( IRB)
The study  protocol that outlined the plan for the signal detection and signal evaluation phases 
of the study , which includes the anal yses presented in thi s interim study report, was 
determined on February  10, 2021 to be exempt from IRB review by  the V INNE, White River 
Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT in accordance with 38 CFR 16. Prior 
to progressing to the signal verification phase for chart review a second IRB review 
application will be submitted for an expedited or full review. The two- stage I RB application 
process was implemented to expedite the initiation of the project. On February  17, 2021 the 
study  protocol was reviewed and determined to be exempt from future r esearch safet y and 
securit y review by theSubcommittee on Research Safety  and Security  (SRSS), VA 
Innovation and Research Review Sy stem (VAIRRS) .Finally , on February  26, 2021, the 
study  protocol was granted approv al by Designated M ember Review of the Northern New 
England Research Consortium VA M edical Centers (NNERC VAMC) Research and 
Development Committee and the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development 
(ACOS/R&D) .All correspondence with the IRB was retained and forwarded to Pfizer .
Research Standards of the Study  Conduct
The study  was conducted in accordance with legal and regulatory  requirements, as well as 
with scientific purpose, value and rigor and follow generall y accepted research practices 
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 described in Guidelines for Good Pharmacoepidemiology  Practices (GPP) issued by  the 
International Societ y for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE) ,48Good Epidemiological Practice 
(GEP) guidelines issued by  the International Epidemiological Association (IEA),49
International Ethical Guidelines for Epidemiological Research issued b y the Counci l for
International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CI OMS), European Medicines Agency
(EMA) European Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology  and Pharmacovigilance
(ENCePP) Guide on Methodological Standards in Pharmacoepidemiology , and FDA
Guidance for Industry : Good Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiologic Assessment,
FDA Guidance for Industry  and FDA Staff: Best Practices for Conducting and Reporting of
Pharmacoepidemiologic Safety  Studies Using Electronic Healthcare Data Sets.50
10.RESULTS
Figure 1presents a summary  of the sample selection for this interim report. After appl ying all 
eligibility  criteria, the Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine sample consist ed of a total of 
750,999 eligible individuals who received their first Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccination 
from December 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021. The seasonal influenza vaccine sample 
consisted of a total of 4,277,220 eligible individuals who received up to five seasonal 
influenza vaccines from the 2014/2015 influenza season to the 2018/2019 influenza season
(i.e., one vaccine per influenza season). Among the individuals in the seasonal influenza 
sample that satisf iedthe study  eligibility  criteria , a total of 10,529,071 seasonal influenza 
vaccines were observed (for an average of 2.46 seasonal influenza vaccines per individual).
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 Figure 1. Sample Selection of Individuals who R eceived Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 
Vaccine (from Decembe r 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021) or Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine (from October 1, 2014 to May 31, 2019) in the VHA Databas e
Abbreviations: COVID -19, Coronavirus Disease 2019; EUA, Emergency Use Authorization; FDA, Food and 
Drug Administration; VHA, Veterans Health Administration.
Notes:
[1] December 11, 2020 is the date w hen the F DAissued the EUA for Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine; 
March 12, 2021 is the date of data cutoff .
[2] All data records (including vaccination records) observed prior to an individu al's date of birth and after an 
individual's date of death were considered erroneous and w ere not included.
[3] Influenza seasons started on October 1 of one year and ended on May 31 of the next year (e.g., the 
2014/2015 influenza season spanned October 1, 2014 - May 31, 2015).
[4] Individuals who received influenza vaccines in different seasons contributed multiple times to the seasonal 
influenza sample. For each individual, eligible influenza vaccines included those from influenza seasons in 
which the ind ividual had only a single influenza vaccine record.
[5] Baseline period w as defined as the one year prior to (and not including) the vaccination date.
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 Table 1 describes the month and y ear when the first Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine s were administered in Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccine sample and when the seasonal influenza vaccine s were administered in the seasonal influenza vaccine sample. In 
the Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-1 9 vaccine sample, most individuals had their first dose of the vaccine in January and February  2021 
(39.3% and 37.8%, respectively ). In the seasonal influenza sample, the vaccines were distributed similarly  across all influen za 
seasons, but with considerab le variation with respect to the month of administration within each influenza season. Specifically, 
seasonal influenza vaccines administered in October and November accounted for approximately  three quarters of all observed 
seasonal influenza vaccines, wh ile the remaining months (December to May ) accounted for only  one q uarter of all observed vaccines .
Table 1.Calendar Time Distribution for the Receipt o f Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 V accine (from December 11, 2020 
to March 12, 2021) or Seasonal Influenza V accine (from 2014/2015 to 2018/ 2019 influenza seasons) in the VHA 
Database
Calendar timePfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 Vaccine 
Sample
N = 750,999Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample
N = 4,277,220
First Pfizer-BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccine 
dose from December 
11, 2020 to March 12, 
2021
N = 750,999Most recent seasonal 
influenza vaccine 
from 2014/2015 to 
2018/2019 influenza 
seasons
N = 4,277,220All seasonal 
influenza vaccine s
from 2014/2015 to 
2018/2019 influenza 
seasons[1]
N = 10,529,071
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine
Month when vaccine was received, n (%)
December 2020 (from December 11; 21 day s) 12,880 (1.7) - -
Average number of individuals vaccinated per day[2]613 - -
January  2021 (31 day s) 295,028 (39.3) - -
Average number of individuals vaccinated per day[2]9,517 - -
February  2021 (28 day s) 283,780 (37.8) - -
Average number of individuals vaccinated per day[2]10,135 - -
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 Table 1.Calendar Time Distribution for the Receipt o f Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 V accine (from December 11, 2020 
to March 12, 2021) or Seasonal Influenza V accine (from 2014/2015 to 2018/ 2019 influenza seasons) in the VHA 
Database
Calendar timePfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 Vaccine 
Sample
N = 750,999Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample
N = 4,277,220
First Pfizer-BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccine 
dose from December 
11, 2020 to March 12, 
2021
N = 750,999Most recent seasonal 
influenza vaccine 
from 2014/2015 to 
2018/2019 influenza 
seasons
N = 4,277,220All seasonal 
influenza vaccine s
from 2014/2015 to 
2018/2019 influenza 
seasons[1]
N = 10,529,071
March 2021 (until March 12; 12 day s) 159,311 (21.2) - -
Average number of individuals vaccinated per day[2]13,276 - -
Seasonal influenza vaccine
Month when vaccine was received (regardless of 
year/influenza season)[3], n (%)
October - 2,419,380 (56.6) 5,898,719 (56.0)
November - 886,076 (20.7) 2,269,903 (21.6)
December - 381,404 (8.9) 1,005,034 (9.5)
January - 285,623 (6.7) 672,769 (6.4)
February - 159,617 (3.7) 373,925 (3.6)
March - 94,714 (2.2) 208,398 (2.0)
April - 36,244 (0.8) 73,480 (0.7)
May - 14,162 (0.3) 26,843 (0.3)
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 Table 1.Calendar Time Distribution for the Receipt o f Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 V accine (from December 11, 2020 
to March 12, 2021) or Seasonal Influenza V accine (from 2014/2015 to 2018/ 2019 influenza seasons) in the VHA 
Database
Calendar timePfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 Vaccine 
Sample
N = 750,999Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample
N = 4,277,220
First Pfizer-BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccine 
dose from December 
11, 2020 to March 12, 
2021
N = 750,999Most recent seasonal 
influenza vaccine 
from 2014/2015 to 
2018/2019 influenza 
seasons
N = 4,277,220All seasonal 
influenza vaccine s
from 2014/2015 to 
2018/2019 influenza 
seasons[1]
N = 10,529,071
Influenza season when vaccine was received[3], n (%)
2014 /2015 - 328,509 (7.7) 2,005,782 (19.0)
2015 /2016 - 391,729 (9.2) 2,066,378 (19.6)
2016 /2017 - 478,070 (11.2) 2,018,667 (19.2)
2017 /2018 - 796,513 (18.6) 2,155,845 (20.5)
2018 /2019 - 2,282,399 (53.4) 2,282,399 (21.7)
Abbreviations: COVID -19, Coronavirus Disease 2019; SD, standard deviation.
Notes:
[1] Individuals who received influenza vaccines in different seasons contributed multiple times to the seasonal influenza sam ple. For each individual, 
eligible influenza vaccines included those from influenza seasons in which the individual had only a single influenza vaccine record.
[2] The average number of individuals vaccinated per day was based on all first dose Pfizer- BioNTech COVID -19 vaccinations received in a specific month 
divided by the total number of days in the specific month, irrespective of holidays and weekends.
[3] Influenza seasons started on October 1 of one year and ended on May 31 of the next year (e.g., the 2014/2015 influenza se ason spanned O ctober 1, 2014 
-May 31, 2015).
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 10.1. Descriptive D ata
Baseline Characteristics
10.1.1.1. Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine Sample
Table 2 and Table 3describe the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, 
respectivel y, of individuals who received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine andseasonal 
influenza vaccine s. The mean age of the r ecipients o f Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine 
from Dece mber 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021 was69.8 y ears (median: 72.0 years) and the 
sample included 93.2% males and 64.2% White ,non-Hispanics, with the largest proportion 
of individuals residing in the South (Table 2 ). Previous and existing s moking status was 
documented in the EMR records for 11.4% of individuals and 33.6% ha d a BMI ≥ 30 (obese 
and severe obesit y) (Table 2). History  of anaph ylaxis/allergic reactions was rare (<1%) . The 
mean CCI  score was1.0 (median :0.0),and 8.9% individuals were hospitalized in the y ear 
preceding Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine. Como rbidities affecting >10% of the sample 
included hy pertension (57.8%), hy perlipidemia (49.1%), diabetes (30.8%), cardiovascular 
conditions (16.3%; excludes hy pertension), cancer (12.5%), COPD/interstitial lung disease 
(12.0%), and chronic kidney  disease/dia lysis (11.7%). Approximately  one-third of the 
individuals in the Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine sample were immunized for seasonal 
influenza between October 1, 2020 and the date of their first Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 
vaccination. Non- seasonal immunizations were rare (<5% users) in the year before Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine ,except for the S hingles vaccine which was received b y 14.2% 
of the individuals in this sample ( Table 3 ).
10.1.1.2. Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Sample
Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of recipients of the seasonal influenza 
vaccine ( atthe time of their most recent seasonal influenza vaccine during the 2014/2015 
through 2018/2019 influenza seasons) were generally  similar to those of recipients of Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine sample at the time of their first dose (standardized difference 
<10%). However, a few exceptions with standardized differences ≥10% were noted, as 
summarized below. With respect to demographic characteristics, compared to the Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine sample, the seasonal influenza vaccine sample (assessed at the 
time of their most recent seasonal influenza vaccine) had a lower proportion of individuals 
between 65 and 74 y ears of age (33.8% vs. 41.2%; standardized difference 15.3%) and 75 
years of age or older (25.9% vs. 31.6 %; standardized difference 12.5%), a lower proportion 
of Blacks (15.4% v s. 20.7%; standardized difference 14.0%), and a higher proportion of 
individuals received care in the “Other” (i.e., Puerto Rico) VHA service area (1.1% vs. 0.2%; 
standardized difference 10.6%) ( Table 2).Differences were also observed in the history  of 
other immunizations. The Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine sample had comparable 
proportions of comorbidities compared to the seasonal influenza vaccine sample, with the 
exception of HBV, which was higher among seasonal influenza vaccine recipients (1.5% vs. 
0.2% ; standardized difference 13.6%). As compared to the Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 
vaccine sample, the seasonal influenza vaccine sample had a higher proportion of individuals
immunized with Tdap or Td, pneumococcal conjugate and pneumococcal
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 polysaccharide vaccines (7.5% vs. 3.5%, 7.7% vs. 0.8% and 6.7% vs. 4.3%, respectivel y; standardized differences 17.5%, 35.2% and 
10.4%, respectively ) and a lower proportion immunized for Shingles (4.8% vs. 14.2%; standardized difference 32.6%) ( Table 3).
The baseline demographic and clinical characteristics assessed across all seasonal in fluenza vaccinations observed in the seasonal 
influenza vaccine sample, (i.e., N = 10,529,071 vaccinations) were numerically  similar to those assessed at the time of the m ost recent 
seasonal influenza vaccine for individuals in this sample (e.g., mean age: 65.7 y ears vs. 65.4 y ears; males 93.1% vs. 92.6%; White, 
non-Hispanics: 70.6% vs. 69.6%; South VHA service area: 43.2 vs. 43.6% [ Table 2]; smoking status: 13.1% vs. 12 .4%; mean BMI: 
30.1 vs. 29.9;  history  of anaph ylaxis/allergic reactions: 0.7% vs. 0.6%; hospitalization in prior y ear: 8.9% vs 9.6%, mean C CI: 0.8 vs. 
0.9, respectivel y [Table 3 ]).  
Table 2.Baseline Demographic Characteristics of Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine or 
Seasonal Influenza Vaccine[1]
Characteristics Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]Std. Diff. (%)
Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19  vs. 
Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]
N = 750,999 
individualsN = 4,277,220 
individualsN = 10,529,071 
vaccines 
(average 2.46 
vaccines/individual[3])
At first dose At most recent 
vaccine observed At each vaccine 
observed
Age (years), mean ± SD [median][4]69.8 ± 12.3 [72.0] 65.4 ± 15.9 [68.4] 31.1%* 65.7 ± 14.5 [67.9]
Categorical, n (%)
<16 0 (0.0) 1 (0.0) 0.1% 2 (0.0)
16–64 204,189 (27.2) 1,719,739 (40.2) 27.8%* 4,102,639 (39.0)
    65–74 309,699 (41.2) 1,447,722 (33.8) 15.3%* 3,926,315 (37.3)
≥75 237,111 (31.6) 1,109,758 (25.9) 12.5%* 2,500,115 (23.7)
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 Table 2.Baseline Demographic Characteristics of Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine or 
Seasonal Influenza Vaccine[1]
Characteristics Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]Std. Diff. (%)
Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19  vs. 
Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]
N = 750,999 
individualsN = 4,277,220 
individualsN = 10,529,071 
vaccines 
(average 2.46 
vaccines/individual[3])
At first dose At most recent 
vaccine observed At each vaccine 
observed
Sex, n (%)
Male 700,029 (93.2) 3,959,260 (92.6) 2.5% 9,803,257 (93.1)
Female 50,969 (6.8) 317,955 (7.4) 2.5% 725,802 (6.9)
Unknown 1 (0.0) 5 (0.0) 0.0% 12 (0.0)
Race/ethnicity[5], n (%)
White, non -Hispanic 481,895 (64.2) 2,975,670 (69.6) 11.5%* 7,434,793 (70.6)
Black 155,552 (20.7) 656,649 (15.4) 14.0%* 1,571,550 (14.9)
Hispanic ethnicity , any  race 43,650 (5.8) 274,025 (6.4) 2.5% 662,903 (6.3)
Asian 7,212 (1.0) 44,223 (1.0) 0.7% 98,871 (0.9)
Native Hawaiian or Pacific  
Islander5,196 (0.7) 32,487 (0.8) 0.8% 80,001 (0.8)
American Indian or Alaskan 
Native3,903 (0.5) 28,289 (0.7) 1.8% 67,039 (0.6)
Two or more races 5,122 (0.7) 31,388 (0.7) 0.6% 74,922 (0.7)
Unknown 48,469 (6.5) 234,489 (5.5) 4.1% 538,992 (5.1)
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 Table 2.Baseline Demographic Characteristics of Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine or 
Seasonal Influenza Vaccine[1]
Characteristics Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]Std. Diff. (%)
Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19  vs. 
Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]
N = 750,999 
individualsN = 4,277,220 
individualsN = 10,529,071 
vaccines 
(average 2.46 
vaccines/individual[3])
At first dose At most recent 
vaccine observed At each vaccine 
observed
VHA service area -US region[6], n 
(%)
South 321,699 (42.8) 1,864,584 (43.6) 1.5% 4,551,767 (43.2)
Midwest 174,882 (23.3) 941,190 (22.0) 3.1% 2,418,497 (23.0)
West 149,526 (19.9) 867,589 (20.3) 0.9% 2,090,837 (19.9)
Northeast 103,061 (13.7) 551,532 (12.9) 2.4% 1,318,221 (12.5)
Other (i.e., Puerto Rico) 1,831 (0.2) 47,366 (1.1) 10.6%* 142,471 (1.4)
Unknown 0 (0.0) 4,959 (0.1) 4.8% 7,278 (0.1)
Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; Std. Diff., standardized difference; US, United States; VHA, Veterans Health Administration.
Notes:
[1] Baseline period w as defined as the one year prior to (and not including) the vaccination date.
[2] The findings presented for the seasonal influenza vaccine sample for all vaccines observed is informative given that this is the unit of analysis that will be 
used in the rapid -cycle safety signal analyses. Standardized differences between the seasonal inf luenza vaccine sample for all vaccines observed and the 
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine sample were not calculated given that they rely on two separate units of analysis (i.e., at the vaccine level vs. at the 
individual level).  Tw o individuals in the seasonal influenza vaccine sample did not have all information fully extracted at the time of the data lock. These tw o 
individuals are currently classified as “Unknown”, “Missing”, or “No” (i.e., as not having the specific characteristic) when data w as unavai lable. Their 
information will be updated in subsequent analyses.
[3] Individuals who received influenza vaccines in different seasons contributed multiple times to the seasonal influenza sam ple. For each individual, eligible 
influenza vaccines included tho se from influenza seasons in which the individual had only a single influenza vaccine record.
[4] Age on the date of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccination (for Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine recipients) or date of seasonal influenza vaccination 
(for activ e com parators), w as reported.
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 Table 2.Baseline Demographic Characteristics of Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine or 
Seasonal Influenza Vaccine[1]
Characteristics Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]Std. Diff. (%)
Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19  vs. 
Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]
N = 750,999 
individualsN = 4,277,220 
individualsN = 10,529,071 
vaccines 
(average 2.46 
vaccines/individual[3])
At first dose At most recent 
vaccine observed At each vaccine 
observed
[5] If multiple categories were noted in the data, individuals were classified as two or more races, w ith the exception of Hi spanic ethnicity. If Hispanic 
ethnicity was recorded for any individual, they were classified as Hisp anic. Individuals with both known and unknown race categories recorded in the data 
were classified into their known category.
[6] The region information associated w ith the most recent healthcare encounte r prior to index date w as used. Midwest included IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, 
NE, ND, OH, SD, WI; Northeast included CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT; South included AL, AR, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, 
SC, TN, TX, VA, WV; West included AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY; Other i ncluded Puerto Rico.
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 Table 3.Baseline Clinical Characteristics of Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 Vaccine or Seasonal 
Influenza Vaccine[1]
Characteristics Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 Vaccine 
SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]Std. Diff. (%)
Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19  vs. 
Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]
N = 750,999 
individualsN = 4,277,220 
individualsN = 10,529,071 
vaccines 
(average 2.46 
vaccines/individual[3])
At first dose At most recent 
vaccine observedAt each vaccine 
observed
Smoking, n (%) 85,251 (11.4) 532,001 (12.4) 3.4% 1,379,342 (13.1)
BMI[4]
BMI known within one -year 
baseline period, n (%)296,073 (39.4) 3,018,783 (70.6) 65.9%* 7,571,414 (71.9)
BMI known within two -year  
baseline period, n (%)558,911 (74.4) 3,548,170 (83.0) 21.0%* 8,865,904 (84.2)
BMI (kg/m2), mean ± SD 
[median]30.0 ± 5.9 [29.3] 29.9 ± 6.0 [29.2] 2.7% 30.1 ± 6.0 [29.4]
BMI category within two -year 
baseline period, n (%)
Underweight (<18.5) 4,352 (0.6) 37,046 (0.9) 3.4% 71,330 (0.7)
Normal weight (18.5 –<25) 98,857 (13.2) 681,747 (15.9) 7.9% 1,571,978 (14.9)
Overweight (25– <30) 203,416 (27.1) 1,269,378 (29.7) 5.8% 3,206,893 (30.5)
Obese (30 –<40) 219,554 (29.2) 1,346,430 (31.5) 4.9% 3,464,843 (32.9)
Severe obesit y (≥40) 32,732 (4.4) 213,569 (5.0) 3.0% 550,860 (5.2)
Unknown 192,088 (25.6) 729,050 (17.0) 21.0%* 1,663,167 (15.8)
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 Table 3.Baseline Clinical Characteristics of Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 Vaccine or Seasonal 
Influenza Vaccine[1]
Characteristics Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 Vaccine 
SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]Std. Diff. (%)
Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19  vs. 
Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]
N = 750,999 
individualsN = 4,277,220 
individualsN = 10,529,071 
vaccines 
(average 2.46 
vaccines/individual[3])
At first dose At most recent 
vaccine observedAt each vaccine 
observed
History of 
anaphylaxis/allergic 
reactions, n (%)6,755 (0.9) 24,739 (0.6) 3.7% 76,642 (0.7)
Previous anaphylaxis to 
vaccine component, n (%)95 (0.0) 233 (0.0) 0.8% 430 (0.0)
History of hospitalizations
Individuals with at least one 
hospitalization, n (%)67,009 (8.9) 412,028 (9.6) 2.4% 934,257 (8.9)
Number of hospitalizations, 
mean ± SD [median]0.2 ± 0.7 [0.0] 0.2 ± 0.7 [0.0] 2.1% 0.2 ± 0.6 [0.0]
CCI, mean ± SD [median] 1.0 ± 1.6 [0.0] 0.9 ± 1.5 [0.0] 8.3% 0.8 ± 1.4 [0.0]
Comorbidities, n (%)
    Hypertension 433,785 (57.8) 2,302,502 (53.8) 7.9% 5,941,440 (56.4)
    Hyperlipidemia 368,981 (49.1) 2,037,504 (47.6) 3.0% 5,376,106 (51.1)
Diabetes mellitus (i.e., Ty pe 1 
    or 2 diabetes)231,010 (30.8) 1,200,288 (28.1) 5.9% 3,125,904 (29.7)
Cardiovascular conditions 122,304 (16.3) 618,950 (14.5) 5.0% 1,395,072 (13.2)
    Cancer 93,790 (12.5) 418,659 (9.8) 8.6% 1,078,501 (10.2)
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 Table 3.Baseline Clinical Characteristics of Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 Vaccine or Seasonal 
Influenza Vaccine[1]
Characteristics Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 Vaccine 
SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]Std. Diff. (%)
Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19  vs. 
Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]
N = 750,999 
individualsN = 4,277,220 
individualsN = 10,529,071 
vaccines 
(average 2.46 
vaccines/individual[3])
At first dose At most recent 
vaccine observedAt each vaccine 
observed
    COPD/interstitial lung disease 90,343 (12.0) 543,528 (12.7) 2.1% 1,320,902 (12.5)
    Chronic kidney  disease/dialy sis 87,644 (11.7) 427,083 (10.0) 5.4% 1,012,975 (9.6)
    Neurological disease 51,180 (6.8) 298,956 (7.0) 0.7% 740,193 (7.0)
    Liver disease 31,965 (4.3) 133,576 (3.1) 6.0% 297,481 (2.8)
    Asthma 28,173 (3.8) 143,231 (3.3) 2.2% 372,693 (3.5)
    Autoimmune disease 24,858 (3.3) 134,384 (3.1) 1.0% 401,245 (3.8)
    VTE 15,927 (2.1) 70,287 (1.6) 3.5% 167,542 (1.6)
Bleeding diathesis or condition 
associated with prolonged 
    bleeding14,647 (2.0) 76,822 (1.8) 1.1% 181,649 (1.7)
    HCV 11,925 (1.6) 91,774 (2.1) 4.1% 212,734 (2.0)
    HIV 4,936 (0.7) 22,635 (0.5) 1.7% 63,363 (0.6)
   Other immune deficiencies 3,955 (0.5) 18,354 (0.4) 1.4% 52,978 (0.5)
   HBV 1,793 (0.2) 63,746 (1.5) 13.6%* 439,674 (4.2)
   Sickle cell disease 592 (0.1) 3,356 (0.1) 0.0% 11,220 (0.1)
   Solid organ transplant 124 (0.0) 289 (0.0) 0.9% 716 (0.0)
   Down sy ndrome 0 (0.0) 88 (0.0) 0.6% 619 (0.0)
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 Table 3.Baseline Clinical Characteristics of Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 Vaccine or Seasonal 
Influenza Vaccine[1]
Characteristics Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 Vaccine 
SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]Std. Diff. (%)
Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19  vs. 
Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]
N = 750,999 
individualsN = 4,277,220 
individualsN = 10,529,071 
vaccines 
(average 2.46 
vaccines/individual[3])
At first dose At most recent 
vaccine observedAt each vaccine 
observed
Immunization history, n (%)
Seasonal influenza vaccine  
   (2020/2021 influenza season )[5]283,162 (37.7) - - -
Shingles ( Herpes zoster 
   recombinant and/or live)106,441 (14.2) 203,315 (4.8) 32.6%* 486,479 (4.6)
   Pneumococcal pol ysaccharide 32,542 (4.3) 286,451 (6.7) 10.4%* 759,757 (7.2)
   Tdap or Td 26,338 (3.5) 319,721 (7.5) 17.5%* 878,651 (8.3)
   Hepatitis B 6,522 (0.9) 35,223 (0.8) 0.5% 85,445 (0.8)
   Pneumococcal conjugate 5,682 (0.8) 331,447 (7.7) 35.2%* 1,156,793 (11.0)
   Hepatitis A 4,059 (0.5) 25,874 (0.6) 0.9% 58,301 (0.6)
   MenACWY and MenB 676 (0.1) 5,230 (0.1) 1.0% 9,189 (0.1)
   HPV 442 (0.1) 3,300 (0.1) 0.7% 5,437 (0.1)
   Haemophilus influenza ty pe b 194 (0.0) 890 (0.0) 0.3% 2,016 (0.0)
   Chickenpox ( Varicella) 134 (0.0) 1,567 (0.0) 1.1% 5,581 (0.1)
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; CAD, coronary artery disease; CCI, Charlson Comorbidity Index; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary dise ase; 
HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; HPV, human papillomavirus; ICD-9/10-CM: International 
Classification of Diseases, Ninth/Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification; MenACWY, meningococcal conjugate; MenB, serogroup B meningococcal ;SD,
standard deviation; Std. Diff., standardized difference; Td ap, diphtheria, tetanus and (acellular) pertussis; Td, diphtheria and tetanus; VHA, Veterans Health 
Administration; VTE, venous thromboembolism.
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 Table 3.Baseline Clinical Characteristics of Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 Vaccine or Seasonal 
Influenza Vaccine[1]
Characteristics Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 Vaccine 
SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]Std. Diff. (%)
Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19  vs. 
Seasonal Influenza 
Vaccine SampleSeasonal Influenza 
Vaccine Sample[2]
N = 750,999 
individualsN = 4,277,220 
individualsN = 10,529,071 
vaccines 
(average 2.46 
vaccines/individual[3])
At first dose At most recent 
vaccine observedAt each vaccine 
observed
Notes:
[1] Baseline period w as defined as the one year prior to (and not including) the vaccination date.
[2] Tw o individuals in the seasonal influenza vaccine sample did not have all information fully extracted at the time of the data lock. These tw o individuals are 
currently classified as “Unknown”, “Mi ssing”, or “No” (i.e., as not having the specific characteristic) when data was unavailable. Their information will be 
updated in subsequent analyses.
[3] Individuals who received influenza vaccines in different seasons contributed multiple times to the se asonal influenza sample. For each individual, eligible 
influenza vaccines included those from influenza seasons in which the individual had only a single influenza vaccine record.
[4] Most recent BMI record during the baseline period prior to vaccination d ate w as included and w as calculated based on individuals height and weight data 
as dividing weight in kilograms (kg) by height in meters (m) squared. Individuals with missing BMI or those with BMI <15 or > 60 w ere categorized as 
"Unknown".
[5] Vaccinations that were received during the 2020/2021 influenza season between October 1, 2020 and the date of individuals' first Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccination were included.
10.2. Vaccination utilization patterns
The month and y ear of first Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination from December 11 2020 to March 12 2021 were described in 
Table 1 inSection 10.1.  
Table 4 presents additional details on Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine utilization. Individuals with at least one healthcare 
encounter in the VHA from December 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021 served as the expected number of individuals w ho would be 
eligible for Pfizer- BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine, as they  had been activel y receiving care through the VHA during the time period 
when Pfizer-BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine was available. Among 4,648,524 individuals with at least one healthcare encoun ter during 
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 the period when administration of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccines was assessed for this first interim report (i.e., December 11, 
2020 to March 12, 2021 assessment period), 793,264 individuals (17.1%) received at least one Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine 
dose.Among the latter, 752,904 (94.9%) individuals satisfied the one year of continuous enrollment in VHA healthcare benefits 
eligibility  criteria , of which most (N = 750,999; 99.7%) only  received COVID -19 vaccine(s) from Pfizer -BioNTech and a minority  (N 
= 1,905; 0.3%) received COVID-19 vaccine (s)from both Pfizer -BioNTech and other manufacturer (s)(96.8% Moderna; 2.9% Johnson 
& Johnson; and 0.5% AstraZeneca [ Table 4]) .
Table 4.Vaccine Utilization Patterns among Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 Vaccine
Individuals with at least one healthcare encounter in the VHA from December 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021 N = 4,648,524
Individuals who received at least one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine, n (%) 793,264 (17.1)
Individuals who satisfy  the one y ear of continuous enrollment in VHA healthcare benefits sample eligibility  
criteria, n (% with at least one dose )752,904 (94.9)
Individuals who received COVID -19 vaccine from Pfizer -BioNTech onl y, n(%with continuous enrollment ) 750,999 (99.7)
Individuals who received COVID -19 vaccine from both Pfizer -BioNTech and another manufacturer[1], n 
(%with continuous enrollment )1,905 (0.3)
Moderna , n (% with COVID -19 vaccine from multiple manufacturers ) 1,844 (96.8)
Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) , n (% with COVID -19 vaccine from multiple manufacturers ) 55 (2.9)
AstraZeneca , n (% with COVID -19 vaccine from multiple manufacturers ) 10 (0.5)
Abbreviations: COVID -19, Coronavirus Disease 2019; VHA, Veterans Health Administration .
Note:
[1] Individuals may have had multiple records of COVID -19 vaccines from other manufacturers , which could have been administered either before or after 
vaccination with Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine .
Table 5describes the care setting whe rePfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine doses were received ,as well as the two -dose 
completion rate and timing of doses among Pfizer -BioNTe ch COVID -19 vaccine recipients. T he most common care setting where the 
first and second doses of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine were received was in outpatient clinics (85.3% and 84.8%, 
respectivel y). While onl y 64.6% individuals in the Pfizer -BioNTech C OVID -19 vaccine sample received both doses during the 
December 11, 2020 to March 12 , 2021 assessment period, most (94.1%) of those without a second dose had <21 day s follow -up after 
the first dose (i.e., less than manufacturer recommended gap between doses) and are therefore considered censored .The two- dose 
completion rate among individuals who had ≥21 day s of observation after the first dose was 95.3 %. Of the 485,410 individuals who 
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 completed two Pfizer-BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine doses, 70.2% received the second dose exactly 21 day s after the first dose, as 
recommended per the product label. Extreme values for the gaps between the two doses (i.e., ≤16 day s or ≥43 day s) were observed for 
fewer than 1% of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine recipients. 
Table 5. Vaccine Doses among Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine Dose 1[1]N = 750,999
Care setting where first Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine was received, n (%)
Outpatient clinic 640,526 (85.3)
Inpatient ward 1,647 (0.2)
Pharmacy 2 (0.0)
Unknown[2]108,824 (14.5)
Two-dose completion rate[3]
   All individuals with first dose, n 750,999
       Individuals with two doses observed, n (%) 485,410 (64.6)
       Individuals without two doses observed, n (%) 265,589 (35.4)
   Individuals with first dose and >21 day s of follow -up between the first dose and data cut -off, 
n507,438
     Individuals with two doses observed, n (%) 483,555 (95.3)
     Individuals without two doses observed, n (%) 23,883 (4.7)
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine Dose 2[1]N = 485,410
Care setting where second Pfizer- BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine was received, n (%)
Care setting t ype for second dose
Outpatient clinic 411,644 (84.8)
Inpatient ward 867 (0.2)
Pharmacy 0 (0.0)
Unknown[2]72,899 (15.0)
Different settings for first and second doses, n (%)[4]671 (0.1)
Time gap between first and second Pfizer- BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine doses (day s)
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 Table 5. Vaccine Doses among Individuals who Received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 Vaccine Dose 1[1]N = 750,999
Mean ± SD 21.3 ± 2.7
Median [I QR] 21.0 [21.0, 21.0]
Categorical, n (%)[5]
≤16 day s 2,494 (0.5)
17-20 day s 63,809 (13.1)
21 day s 340,789 (70.2)
22-27 day s 62,161 (12.8)
28 day s 4,833 (1.0)
29-35 day s 8,657 (1.8)
36-42 day s 1,878 (0.4)
≥43 day s 789 (0.2)
Abbreviations: CDC: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; COVID -19, Coronavirus Disease 2019; IQR, interquartile range; SD, standard 
deviation.
Notes:
[1] Individuals' first record of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccination was categorized as the first dose. Among individuals with only two Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccination records, the second vaccination record w as categorized as the second dose. Among individuals with more than tw o records of Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccination, the vaccination date closest to 21 days after the first vaccination dose was categorized as the second dose. Among the 
750,999 individuals in the Pfizer -BioNTec h COVID -19 vaccine sample, 1,111 (0.1%) individuals had more than tw o records of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 
vaccinations.
[2] This category included individuals with vaccination records w ithout care setting information available or indi viduals who had documentation of receiving 
one vaccination dose in several different care settings so the care setting could not be determined.
[3] Individuals who received their first COVID -19 vaccine dose in the three weeks prior to March 12, 2021 may no t have had sufficient follow -up time for 
their second vaccine dose to be observed.
[4] Individuals who received one of their tw o vaccine doses in an unknown setting were excluded from this count.
[5] According to the CDC's Interim Clinical Considerations f or Use of COVID- 19 Vaccines, the second dose of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine should 
be administered as close to the recommended 21 days after the first dose as possible, but not earlier than 21 days. How ever, second doses administered within 
a grace pe riod of 4 days earlier than the recommended date for the second dose are still considered valid. If it is not feasible to adh ere to the recommended 
interval and a delay in vaccination is unavoidable, the second dose of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine may be administered up to 6 w eeks (42 days) after 
the first dose .51
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 10.3. Safety signal analyses
This interim report focused on baseline demographic and clinical characteristics among 
individuals who received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine or seasonal influenza vaccine , 
and vaccine utilization patterns among individuals who received Pfizer- BioNTech COVID -
19 vaccine. Results obtained from the real -time, rapid -cycle safet y signal analy ses for Pfizer-
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine have not y et been initiated and thus are not included in this 
first interim report.
10.4. Main results
This interim report focused on baseline demographic and clinical characteristics among 
individuals who received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine or seasonal influenza vaccine , 
and vaccine utilization patterns among individuals who received Pfizer- BioNTech COVID -
19 vaccine. Results obtained from the real -time, rapid -cycle safet y signal analy sesfor Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vac cine have not y et been initiated due to the short time interval 
between the data receipt date and the interim report date, and thus are not included in this 
first interim report.
10.5. Other analyses
None. 
10.6. Adverse events / adverse reactions 
This interim report relies solely  on structured data. Thus, the minimum criteria for reporting 
an adverse event (i.e., identifiable patient, identifiable reporter, a suspect product, and event) 
cannot be met. For additional information regarding adverse event management and 
reporting, please see Section 11 of the study  protocol ( Appendix 2). 
11.DISCUSSION
11.1. Summary of key results
This interim report based on the first three months of the post- EUA experience of Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine in VHA included 750,999 individuals who received Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine from December 11, 2020 through March 12, 2021 .  The 
comparator cohort included 4,277,2 20individuals who received the seasonal influenza 
vaccine from the 2014/2015 influenza season to the 2018/2019 influenza seas on. In the 
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine sample, 72.8% were at least 65 years of age, 93.2% 
were males and 64.2% were white, non -Hispanics. While the distribution of sex was 
comparable between the two samples (standardized difference 2.5%), individuals in the 
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine sample were older than those in the seasonal influenza 
vaccine sample (standardized difference 31.1%). These results are consistent with the CDC 
COVID -19 vaccine distribution recommendations, given that the current r eport covers onl y 
the first three months of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine roll out in the VHA, when 
older individuals were prioritized for vaccination. The proportion of individuals who were at 
least 65 y ears of age in the seasonal influenza vaccine sam ple (59.7 %) is consistent with that 
reported b y Luo et al. (2021) in the overall VHA population (59.7%).52As the COVID -19 
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 vaccination continues to be expanded to y ounger individuals, it is expected that the age gap 
will narrow between the Pfizer -BioNTech C OVID -19 vaccine sample and seasonal influenza 
sample. Nevertheless, ifdifferences in ages between samples persist, they  will be accounted 
for in the safety  signal analy ses (e.g., by  conducting age -stratified safety  analy ses or using 
standardization method s to age -adjust the expected rates for the adverse events of interest 
extracted from the seasonal influenza sample). 
While standardized differences for white non- Hispanic and Black categories indicated 
imbalance for race/ethnicity  between the Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine sample and 
the seasonal influenza vaccine sample, the overall race/ethnicity  breakdown was largel y 
similar in the two samples (W hite, non -Hispanic: 64.2% vs 69.6%, standardized difference 
11.5%; Black: 20.7% vs 15.4%, standardized difference 14.0%; all other race/ethnicit y 
categories: standardized differences <10%).
A recently  published s ystematic review reported that the COVID -19 pand emic decreased 
healthcare resource utilization (HRU) b y approximately one -third.53Thereduction in HRU 
and enhanced use of telehealth in the US during the COVID- 19 pandemic could have 
contributed to the higher proportion of individuals with unknown BMI in the Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine sample in the one -year period prior to vaccination compared 
to the seasonal influenza vaccine sample (standardized difference: 65. 9%), as weight and 
height cannot be measured in telehealth settings.54Therefore, a two -year baseline period was 
implemented for BM I, which y ielded comparable proportions of obese and severe obesity  
categorizations for the two samples (29.2% and 4.4% for the Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 
vaccine sample and 31.5% and 5.0% for the seasonal influenza samples, respectively ). 
Among the estimated 4.6 million individuals with at least one healthcare encounter during 
the December 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021 assessment period, the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID -
19 vaccination rate (at least one dose) was 17.1%. While this proportion is lower than the 
CDC -reported proportion of individuals greater than 18 y ears of age in the US who received 
at least one dose of an y COVID -19 vaccine up until March 12, 2021 in the US (25.5%),55in 
the current study  only Pfizer -BioNTech CO VID-19 was considered whereas the US statistics 
included any COVID -19 vaccine. The two -dose completion rate among individuals who had 
≥21 day s of observation after the first dose was 95.3 %.The majorit y of individuals in the 
VHA s ystem received Pfizer -BioN Tech COVID -19 vaccination in the outpatient setting 
(84.8%). Most individuals in the VHA sy stem who received two doses of Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccine (70.2%) received the second dose precisel y 21 day s following the first 
dose, which is consistent with the manufacturer’s guidelines for the Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccine schedule.
11.2. Limitations 
While the VHA CDW provides a range of benefits, including its comprehensive structure, 
large number of variables, and electronic accessibility , there may be ga ps in the data since 
individuals may  receive healthcare services outside of VHA facilities that are not recorded in 
the CDW . For example, veterans with secondary insurance (e.g., TRICARE t hrough 
Department of Defense ,Medicare for those aged 65years of ag e or older ,or Medicaid for 
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 low socioeconomic group ) may receive health care services outside of VHA facilities . One 
study  on VHA enrollees in seven states found that of all individuals admitted to VHA 
hospitals in 2007, one fifth also had a non -VHA hospit alization during that y ear.35Another 
study  reported that about 53% of Veterans 65 years of age and older who were duall y eligible 
for VHA and Medicare services in 2003 -2004 used both.56As such, if individuals received
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine outside of a VHA facility , this information would not 
be captured in the data . Similarly , individuals might have also received past seasonal 
influenza vaccinations outside of the VHA s ystem, and thus would be misclassified as not 
having received vaccine in the current descriptive analysis. Hence, data on vaccination status 
may be incomplete. However, this limita tion will be addressed in future study  reports by  
examining subgroups of individuals who receive care regularl y at VHA fac ilities, as well as 
those with VA p riority  group 1 status, to minimize healthcare services rendered outside of 
the VHA s ystem. Results from the overall VHA group will be compared to these subgroups 
with more complete data to examine the extent to which missingness may  bias the study  
findings. Linkage to Medicare claims data may be sought or the base study  population may  
be further restri cted to the subgroup of individuals who utilized VHA services regularl y.
The reduction in HRU during the COVID -19 pandemic may  also impact the detection of 
safet y events of interest and comorbidities identified in the outpatient setting. Given that 
none of the safet y events of interest examined in this study  will be identified only  in the 
outpatient setting, the potential for underestimating outcomes in the Pfizer -BioNTech 
COVID -19 sample is limited. However, prevalence of some underly ing comorbidities 
identified in the outpatient setting may  be underestimated in the Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 
sample.
As with any  large EMR or claims database, occasional data entry  errors may  result in 
misclassification of exposures, outcomes, or covariates for some individu als. However, these 
are expected to onl y affect a minority of individuals . Furthermore, intensive quality  checks 
will be performed in the signal evaluation phase for safet yevents of interest for which a 
signal is detected in the signal detection phase.
The active comparator study  design requires the selection of a historical comparator sample 
to calculate the expected rates for each of the safety events of interest. Similar to prior studies 
that conducted post -vaccination safet y surveillance (e.g., for H 1N1), this study  will use 
seasonal influenza recipients a s historical active comparators.46,57The current study  will rely 
on individuals who received the seasonal influenza vaccine in the five prior seasons in the 
VHA s ystem to calculate the expected rates for each of the safet y events of interest. While 
seasonal influenza vaccine recipients were deemed to be an appropri ate comparison group 
due to similarities in preventative healthcare behaviors and the large number of vaccine 
recipients each year,differences in secular trends, coding practices or diagnostic techniques 
could lead to potential bias.46To address this, a multivariate Poisson regression analysis will 
be conducted as part of signal evaluation to account for potential baseline differences 
between Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-1 9 and seasonal influenza vaccinees. Stratified analy ses 
will also be used to address confounding and possible heterogeneity in the risk of adverse 
events across specific populations of interest. 
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 11.3. Generali zability
The VHA population included in this interim report is largely  male and elderly . Therefore, 
this population may not be generalizable to younger men or to women and children in the 
US. These findings may  also not be generalizable bey ond individuals enrolled in the VHA, 
who were eligible to receive t he initial distribution of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine.17
Further, the results of this study  are specific to Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine and are 
not generalizable to COVID -19 vaccines from a manufacturer other than Pfizer -BioNTech.
11.4. Interpretation
This interim report describes sample selection, baseline characteristics and vaccine utilization 
patterns among individuals who received P fizer-BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine within the 
VHA s ystem and a historical sample of individuals who received seasonal influenza vaccine 
before the COVID -19 pandemic. M ost baseline characteristics were well -balanced between 
the study  sample s, suggesting that seasonal influenza vaccine from the five prior seasons is 
an appropriate active comparator for the safet y surveillance of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 
vaccine . 
Since CDC’s COVID -19 vaccine rollout recommendations gave priority to individuals 65 
years and olde r in phases 1a through 1c, the higher proportion of older individuals with 
Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the current sample was expected.58This distribution 
of age will likely  change in subsequent interim reports as y ounger individuals become 
eligibl e to be vaccinated in the VH A. The higher proportion of men in this study  was also 
expected, as the VHA population is predominantly  male (approximately  90%). The lower 
proportion of individuals from Puerto Rico in the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
sampl e can be attributed to delay s in vaccine distribution to Puerto Rico, which was delay ed 
by onemonth as compared to o ther VHA service areas, with access to COVID-19 
vaccinations starting in January  2021 rather than December 2020.59
Recipients of Pfizer- BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine from December 11, 2020 to March 12, 
2021 had a higher prevalence of the Shingles vaccine during the one -year prior to Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccination, as compared to the seasonal influenza comparator 
sample. Given the higher pr oportion of older individuals in the Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 
vaccine sample, the higher proportion of individuals with concurrent S hingles immuniza tion 
is not surprising, as the S hingles vaccine is recommended for adults 50 y ears of age or 
older.60Conversel y, seasonal influenza vaccinees had a higher prevalence of Tdap or Td and 
pneumococcal conjugate vaccines during the one -year prior to seasonal influenza 
vaccination, as compared to the Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 sample. These differences are 
likely explained by  changes over time in immunization guidel ines for the elderly .61,62
The demographic and clinical characteristics of the Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine 
sample were consistent with existing data in the US population, which suggests that vaccine
administration within the VHA s ystem aligned with CDC’s vaccine rollout recommendations 
to prioritize the elderly  population and individuals with underly ing medical conditions.58
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 12.OTHER INFORMATION 
While this interim report focused on baseline demographic and clinical characteristics among 
individuals who received Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine or seasonal influenza vaccine , 
and vaccine utilization patterns among individuals who received Pfizer- BioNTech COVID -
19 vaccine , results for the real -time, rapid -cycle safet y signal analyses are forthcoming in the 
next report. The second interim report, to be submitted in December 2021, w ill include 
updated baseline descriptive data (with the additionally  accrued data) , updated vaccination 
utilization pattern s, and results from the safet y signal anal ysis, which will come from both 
the signal detection and safet y evaluation anal yses. Additionally , findings from the sig nal
verification phase are expected to be included in the third interim report, to be submitted in 
June 2022.
13.CONCLUSIONS
Among the 750,999 eligible VHA enrollees who received at least one dose of Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine from December 11, 2020 to March 12, 2021, 64.6% were 
administered two doses , with the two-dose vaccination completion rate among individuals 
with ≥21 day s of observation after the first dose was 9 5.3%. Most individuals in the VHA 
received Pfizer-BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine in the ou tpatient setting (84.8%). The majorit y 
of individuals who received two doses of the vaccine received the second dose precisel y 21 
days following the first dose (70.2%) .Very  few individuals (N = 1,905; 0.3%) of VHA 
enrollees received mixed doses of COVID -19 vaccines - receiving a different vaccine brand
as a second dose from the first dose of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID- 19 vaccine . Overall, Pfizer -
BioNTech COVID -19 and seasonal influenza vaccinees within the VHA s ystem were 
comparable based on both baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, supporting the 
use of seasonal influenza vaccinees from the five prior seasons as an appropriate active 
comparator group for the safet y surveillance of Pfizer -BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine. 
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45Baker MA, Lieu TA, Li L, Hua W, Qiang Y, Kawai AT ,et al. A vaccine study  design 
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 52Luo J, Jey apalina S, Stoddard GJ, Kwok AC, Agarwal JP. Coronavirus disease 2019 
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56Petersen LA, By rne MM, Daw CN, Hasche J, Reis B, Pietz K. Relationship between 
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57Yih WK, L ee GM, Lieu T A, Ball R, Kulldorff M, Rett M, et al. Surveillance for 
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58Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . CDC’s COVID -19 Vaccine 
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61Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . Updated Recomm endations for 
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in Adults Aged 65 Years and Older — Advisory  Committee on I mmunization Practices 
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62American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) . Recommendation for Pneumonia 
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 https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions -treatments/info -2019/pneumonia -vaccine -
recommendation.html
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 15.LIST OF SOURCE TABLES AND FI GURES
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
Demographic Characteristics
Age Continuous variable;
Categorical variable:
<16
16–64
65–74
≥75Age on the date of Pfizer- BioNTech 
COVID -19 vaccination (and/or date of 
seasonal influenza vaccination for 
active comparators)
Sex Categorical variable: 
Male
Female
Unknown
Race/ethnicit yCategorical variable:
White, non -Hispanic
Black
Hispanic ethnicity , any  
race
Asian
Native Hawaiian or 
Pacific Islander
American Indian or 
Alaskan native
Two or more races
Unknown
VHA service 
areaGeographic regions in the US ;
Categorical variable:
South
Midwest
West
Northeast
Other
UnknownRegion associated with the most recent 
healthcare encounter prior to index date 
Clinical Characteristics
Smoking Status Dichotomous variable ICD-9-CM codes:
305.1, Tobacco use disorder
V15.82, History  of tobacco use
ICD-10-CM codes:
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
F17.200, Nicotine dependence, 
unspecified, uncomplicated
Z7.20, Tobacco use
Z87.891, Personal history of 
nicotine dependence
Body mass 
index (BMI)*Continuous variable; 
Categorical variable:
Underweight (<18.5) 
Normal weight (18.5 –<25) 
Overweight (25– <30)
Obese (30 –<40)
Severe obesit y (≥40)
UnknownCalculated from height and weight data 
(kg/m2) 
History  of 
anaph ylaxis/
allergic 
reactionsDichotomous variable ICD-9-CM code:
V13.81, Personal history  of 
anaph ylaxis
V14.0–V14.6, V14.8, V14.9, 
Personal history  of allergy  to 
drugs, medications and 
biological substances, excluding 
serum and vaccine
V15.0x, Other allergy
525.66, Allergy  to existing 
dental restorative material
995, Other anaph ylactic shock, 
not elsewhere classified
995.1, Ang ioneurotic edema, 
not elsewhere classified
995.21, Arthus phenomenon
999.27, Other drug allergy
995.3, Allergy , unspecified, not 
elsewhere classified
995.6x, Anaphy lactic shock due 
to food
999.41, Anaph ylactic reaction 
due to administration of blood 
and bl ood products
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
999.49, Anaph ylactic reaction 
due to other serum 
ICD-10-CM code:
Z87.892  Personal history of 
anaph ylaxis
Z88.0 –Z88.6, Z88.8, Z88.9, 
Allergy  status to drugs, 
medications and biological 
substances, excluding serum and 
vaccine
T78.00xx –T78.09xx, 
Anaph ylactic reaction due to 
food, initial encounter, 
subsequent encounter and 
sequela
T78.2xxx, Anaphy lactic shock, 
initial encounter, subsequent 
encounter and sequela
T78.3xxx, Angioneurotic 
edema, initial encounter, 
subsequent encount er and 
sequela
T78.41xx, Arthus phenomenon
T80.51xx, Anaphy lactic 
reaction due to administration of 
blood and blood products, initial 
encounter, subsequent encounter 
and sequela
T80.59xx, Anaphy lactic 
reaction due to other serum,  
initial encounter, subseq uent 
encounter and sequela
T88.6xxx, Anaphy lactic 
reaction due to adverse effect of 
correct drug or medicament 
properl y administered, initial 
encounter, subsequent encounter 
and sequela
Previous 
anaph ylaxis of Dichotomous variable ICD-9-CM code:
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
vaccine 
component999.42, Anaph ylactic reaction 
due to vaccination
V14.7, Personal history  of 
allergy  to serum or vaccine
ICD-10-CM codes:
T80.52xx, Anaphy lactic 
reaction due to vaccination, 
initial encounter, subsequent 
encounter and sequela
Z28.04, Immuniza tion not 
carried out because of patient 
allergy  to vaccine or component
Z88.7, Allergy  status to serum 
and vaccine
History  of 
hospitalizations Dichotomous variable;
Continuous variableDefined b y having any  hospitalizations
(dichotomous) and number of 
hospitalizations (continuous)
Charlson 
Comorbidity  
Index (CCI )32Continuous variable ICD-9-CM codes:
410.x, 412.x, My ocardial 
infarction
398.91, 402.01, 402.11, 402.91, 
404.01, 404.03, 404.11, 404.13, 
404.91, 404.93, 425.4 –425.9, 
428.x, Congestive heart failure
093.0, 437.3, 440.x, 441.x, 
443.1 –443.9, 447.1, 557.1, 
557.9, V43.4, Peripheral 
vascular disease
362.34, 430.x– 438.x, 
Cerebrovascular disease
290.x, 294.1, 331.2, Dementia
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
416.8, 416.9, 490.x– 505.x, 
506.4, 508.1, 508.8, Chronic 
pulmonary  disease
446.5, 710.0 –710.4, 714.0 –
714.2, 714.8, 725.x, Rheumatic 
disease
531.x– 534.x, Peptic ulcer 
disease
070.22, 070.23, 070.32, 070.33, 
070.44, 070.54, 070.6, 070.9, 
570.x, 571.x, 573.3, 573.4, 
573.8, 573.9, V42.7, Mild liver 
disease
250.0 –250.3, 250.8, 250.9, 
Diabetes without chronic 
complication
250.4 –250.7, Diabetes with 
chronic complication
334.1, 342.x, 343.x, 344.0 –
344.6, 344.9, Hemiplegia or 
paraplegia
403.01, 403.11, 403.91, 404.02, 
404.03, 404.12, 404.13, 404.92, 
404.93, 582.x, 583.0–583.7, 
585.x, 586.x , 588.0, V42.0, 
V45.1, V56.x, Renal disease
140.x– 172.x, 174.x –195.8, 
200.x– 208.x, 238.6, Any  
malignancy , including 
lymphoma and leukemia, except 
malignant neoplasm of skin
456.0 –456.2, 572.2 –572.8, 
Moderate or severe liver disease
196.x– 199.x, Metastatic solid 
tumor
042.x– 044.x, Acquired 
immunodeficiency  syndrome 
(AIDS)/Human 
immunodeficiency  virus (HIV)
ICD-10-CM codes:
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
I21.x, I21.xx, I 22.x, I 25.2, 
Myocardial infarction
I09.9, I11.0, I13.0, I13.2, I25.5, 
I42.0, I42.5 –I42.9, I43, I43.x, 
I50.x, I50.xx, Cong estive heart 
failure
I70.x, I71.x, I 73.1, I73.8, I 73.9, 
I77.1, I79.0, I79.2, K55.1, 
K55.8, K55.9, Z95.8, Z95.9, 
Peripheral vascular disease
G45, G45.x, G46.x, H34.0, 
I60.x –I63.x, I 60.xx –I63.xx, 
I60.xxx –I63.xxx, I 65.x– I69.x, 
I65.xx –I69.xx, I 65.xxx –I69.xxx, 
Cerebrovascular disease
F00.x –F03.x, F00.xx –F03.xx, 
F05, F05.1, G30.x, G31.1, 
Dementia
I27.8, I27.9, J40.x –J47.x, 
J40.xx –J47.xx, J40.xxx –
J47.xxx, J60.x –J67.x, J68.4, 
J70.1, J70.3, Chronic pulmonary  
disease
M05, M05.x, M05.xx, M05.xxx, 
M06, M06.x, M06.xx, M06.xxx, 
M31.5, M32.x –M34.x, M32.xx –
M34.xx, M35.1, M35.3, M36.0, 
Rheumatic disease
K25.x –K28.x, Peptic ulcer 
disease
B18.x, K70.0– K70.3, K70.9, 
K71.3–K71.5, K71.7, K73.x, 
K74.x, K74.xx, K76.0, K76.2–
K76.4, K76.8, K76.9, Z94.4, 
Mild liver disease
E10.0, E10.1x, E10.6x, 
E10.6xx, E10.8, E10.9, E11.0x, 
E11.1x, E11.6x, E11.6xx, 
E11.8, E11.9, E12.0, E12.1, 
E12.6, E12.8, E12.9, E13.0x, 
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PFIZER CONFIDENTIAL
 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
E13.1x, E13.6x, E13.6xx, 
E13.8, E13.9, E14.0, E14.1, 
E14.6, E14.8, E14.9, Diabetes 
without chronic complication
E10.2x –E10.5x, E10.2xx –
E10.5xx, E10.7, E11.2x –
E11.5x, E11.2xx –E11.5xx, 
E11.7, E12.2 –E12.5, E12.7, 
E13.2–E13.5x, E13.7, E14.2 –
E14.5, E14.7, Diabetes with 
chronic complication
G04.1, G11.4, G80.1, G80.2, 
G81.x, G81.xx, G82.x, G82.xx, 
G83.0, G83.1–G83.3, G83.1x –
G83.3x, G83.4, G83.9, 
Hemiplegia or paraplegia
I12.0, I13.1x, N03.2–N03.7, 
N05.2–N05.7, N18.x, N19, 
N25.0, Z49.0x –Z49.3x, Z94.0, 
Z99.2, Renal disease
C00–C75, C00.x –C75.x, 
C00.xx –C75.xx (excluding C44, 
C44.x and C44.xx), C7A., 
C7A.x, C7A.xx, C7B., C7B.x, 
C7B.xx, C76–C80, C76.x –
C80.x, C76.xx –C80.xx, C81–
C96, C81.x –C96.x, C81.xx –
C96.xx, Any  malignancy, 
including l ymphoma and 
leukemia, except malignant 
neoplasm of skin
I85.0, I85.9, I86.4, I98.2, 
K70.4x, K71.1x, K72.1x, 
K72.9x, K76.5, K76.6, K76.7, 
Moderate or severe liver d isease
C77.x –C80.x, C77.xx –C80.xx, 
Metastatic solid tumor
B20, B97.35, AIDS/HIV
Comorbidities Categorical variable:
Autoimmune disease Autoimmune disease 
(immunocompromised state [weakened 
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
Asthma
Bleeding diathesis or 
condition associated 
with prolonged 
bleeding
Cancer
Cardiovascular 
conditions (e.g., 
heart failure, CAD, 
cardiom yopathies)
Chronic kidney  
disease/dial ysis
COPD/interstitial 
lung disease
Diabetes mellitus 
Down sy ndrome
Sickle cell disease
HBV
HCV
HIV
Hyperlipidemia
Hypertension
Liver disease
Neurological disease
Other immune 
deficiencies
Solid organ 
transplant
VTEimmune sy stem] from solid organ 
transplant):
ICD-9-CM  codes:
245.2, Chronic ly mphocytic 
thyroiditis
340, Multiple sclerosis
357, Acute infective 
polyneuritis
357.4, Polyneuropathy  in 
other diseases classified 
elsewhere
696.1, Other psoriasis
694.3, I mpetigo 
herpetiformis
696.1, Other psoriasis
696, Psoriatic arthropathy
695.4, L upus ery thematosus
714, 714.x, 714.xx, 
Rheumatoid arthritis and 
other inflammatory  
polyarthropathies
359.6, Sy mptomatic 
inflammatory  myopathy in 
diseases classified elsewhere
357.1, Poly neuropathy  in 
collagen vascular disease
714.89, Other specified 
inflammatory  
polyarthropathies
714.9, Unspecified 
inflammatory  
polyarthropathy
446.5, Giant cell arteritis
710.2, Sicca s yndrome
ICD-10-CM codes:
D69.3, I mmune 
thrombocy topenic purpura
E06.3, Autoimmune 
thyroiditis
G35, MS
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PFIZER CONFIDENTIAL
 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
G61.0 and G65.0, GBS and 
sequelae of GBS
L40.x, L 40.5x, Psoriasis
L93.x, L upus ery thematosus
M05.x, M05.xx, M05.xxx, 
Rheumatoid arthritis with 
rheumatoid factor
M06.x, M06.xx, M06.xxx, 
Other rheumatoid arthritis
M31.5, M31.6, Giant cell 
arteritis
M35.0x, Sicca (Sjogren’s) 
syndrome 
N05.9, Glomerulonephritis
D84.9, I mmunodeficiency , 
unspecified
Asthma: 
ICD-9-CM codes:
o493.xx, Asthm a
ICD-10-CM codes:
oJ45.2x –J45.3x, Mild 
intermittent asthma
oJ45.4x, Moderate 
persistent asthma
oJ45.5x, Severe 
persistent asthma
oJ45.9x , Other and 
unspecified asthma
Bleeding diathesis or condition 
associated with prolonged bleeding:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o286.x, Coagulation 
defects
o289.8x, Other 
specified diseases of 
blood and blood -
forming organs
o287, 287.x, 287.xx,  
Purpura and other 
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
hemorrhagic 
conditions
ICD-10-CM codes:
oD65, Disseminated 
intravascular 
coagulation
oD66, Hereditary  
factor VIII 
deficiency
oD67, He reditary  
factor IX deficiency
oD68, D68.x, D68.xx, 
Other coagulation 
defects
oD69, D69.x, D69.xx, 
Purpura and other 
hemorrhagic 
conditions
Cancer:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o140.x– 149.x, 
Malignant neoplasm 
of lip, oral cavit y, 
and phary nx
o150.x– 159.x, 
Malignant neoplasm 
of digestive organs 
and peritoneum
o160.x– 165.x, 
Malignant neoplasm 
of respiratory  and 
intrathoracic organs
o170.x– 176.x, 
Malignant neoplasm 
of bone, connective 
tissue, skin, and 
breast
o179.x– 189.x, 
Malignant neoplasm 
of genitourinary  
organs 
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
o190.x– 199.x, 
Malignant neoplasm 
of other unspecified 
sites
o200.xx– 208.xx, 
Malignant neoplasm 
of lymphatic and 
hematopoietic tissue
o209.0x– 209.3x, 
Malignant 
neuroendocrine 
tumors
o230.x– 234.x, 
Carcinoma in situ of 
digestive organs
ICD-10-CM codes:
oC00–C75, C00.x –
C75.x, C00.xx –
C75.xx, C7A., 
C7A.x, C7A.xx, 
C7B., C7B.x, 
C7B.xx, Malignant 
neoplasms, stated or 
presumed to be 
primary  (of specified 
sites), and certain 
specified histologies, 
except 
neuroendocrine, and 
of lymphoid, 
hematopoietic and 
related tissue 
oC76–C80, C76.x –
C80.x, C76.xx –
C80.xx, Malignant 
neoplasms of ill-
defined, other 
secondary  and 
unspecified sites
oC81–-C96, C81.x –
C96.x, C81.xx –
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
C96.xx, Malignant 
neoplasms of 
lymphoid, 
hematopoietic and 
related tissue 
Cardiovascular conditions (e.g., heart 
failure, coronary  artery  disease [CAD], 
cardiom yopathies):
ICD-9-CM codes:
o428.xx, Heart failure
o414.01, 429.2, 411.1, 
413.9, 414.11, 
414.12, 414.05, 
414.02, 414.0 3, 
414.0 4, 414.06, 
414.07, 414.2, 
411.81, 411.89, CAD
o425.xx, 
Cardiomy opath y
ICD-10-CM codes:
o150.x, 1 50.xx,  Heart 
failure
oI24.0, I24.8, I24.9, 
I25.10, I25.110, 
I25.111, I25.118, 
I25.119, I25.41, 
I25.42, I25.700, 
I25.701, I25.708, 
I25.709, I25.710, 
I25.711, I25.718, 
I25.719, I25.720, 
I25.721, I25.728, 
I25.729, I25.730, 
I25.731, I25.738, 
I25.739, I25.750, 
I25.751, I25.758, 
I25.759, I25.760, 
I25.761, I25.768, 
I25.769, I25.790, 
I25.791, I25.798, 
I25.799, I25.810, 
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
I25.811, I25.812, 
CAD
oI42.x, 
Cardiomy opath y
Chronic kidney  disease/dialy sis:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o283.11, Hemoly tic-
uremic s yndrome
o403, 403.x, 403.xx, 
Hypertensive chronic 
kidney  disease
o404, 404.x, 404.xx, 
Hypertensive heart 
and chronic kidney  
disease
o440.1, 
Atherosclerosis of 
renal artery
o442.1, Aneury sm of 
renal artery
o572.4, Hepatorenal 
syndrome
o274.1, Gouty  
nephropath y, 
unspecified
o710, Sy stemic lupus 
erythematosus
o710.2, Sicca 
syndrome
o580, 580.x, 580.xx, 
Acute 
glomerulonephritis
o581.x, 581.xx, 
Nephrotic s yndrome
o582, 582.x, 582.xx, 
Chronic 
glomerulonephritis
o583, 583.x, 583. xx, 
Nephritis and 
nephropath y, not 
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
specified as acute or 
chronic
o591, Hy dronephrosis
o593.3, Stricture or 
kinking of ureter
o592, Calculus of 
kidney
o592.1, Calculus of 
ureter
o590.9, I nfection of 
kidney , unspecified
o584.x, Acute kidney  
failure
o585.x, Chronic 
kidney  disease
o588.x, 588.xx, 
Disorders resulting 
from impaired renal 
function
o587, Renal sclerosis, 
unspecified
o753.1x, Cy stic 
kidney  disease
o753.2, 753.2x, 
Obstructive defects 
of renal pelvis and 
ureter
ICD-10-CM codes:
oD59.3, Hemoly tic-
uremic s yndrome
oI12.x, Hy pertensive 
chronic kidney  
disease
oI13.x, I13.xx, 
Hypertensive heart 
and chronic kidney  
disease
oI70.1, 
Atherosclerosis of 
renal artery
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
oI72.2 Aneury sm of 
renal artery
oK76.7, Hepatorenal 
syndrome
oM10.30–M10.39, 
M10.30x –M10.37x, 
Gout due to renal 
impairment
oM32.14, Glomerular 
disease in s ystemic 
lupus ery thematosus
oM32.15, Tubulo-
interstitial 
nephropath y in 
systemic lupus 
erythematosus
oM35.04, Sicca 
syndrome with 
tubulo -interstitial 
nephropath y
oN00.x –N07.x, N08, 
Glomerular diseases
oN13.1, N13.2, 
N13.3x, Obstructive 
and reflux uropath y
oN14.x, Nephropathy
oN15.x, Other renal
tubulo -interstitial 
diseases
oN16, Renal tubulo-
interstitial disorders 
in diseases classified 
elsewhere
oN17.x, N18.x, N19, 
Acute kidney  failure 
and chronic kidney  
disease
oN25.x, N26.x, 
N25.xx, Other 
disorders of kidney  
and ureter
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PFIZER CONFIDENTIAL
 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
oQ61.02, Q61.11x, 
Q61.2–Q61 .9, Cy stic 
kidney  disease
oQ62.x, Q62.xx, 
Congenital 
obstructive defects of 
renal pelvis and 
congenital 
malformation of 
ureter
COPD/interstitial lung disease:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o491.9, Unspecified 
chronic bronchitis
o492.8, Other 
emphy sema
o491.x, 491.xx, 
Chronic bronchitis
o493.2, Chronic 
obstructive asthma, 
unspecified
o496, Chronic airway  
obstruction, not 
elsewhere classified
o516, 516.x, 516.xx, 
Other alveolar and 
parietoalveolar 
pneumonopathy
o515, 
Postinflammatory  
pulmonary  fibrosis
o518.x, 518.xx, Other 
diseases of lung
o714.81, Rheumatoid 
lung
ICD-10-CM codes:
oJ41.x Simple and 
mucopurulent 
chronic bronchitis
oJ42, Unspecified 
chronic bronchitis
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PFIZER CONFIDENTIAL
 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
oJ43.x, Emphy sema
oJ44.x, Other COPD
oJ80, J81.x, J82.xx, 
J84.xx, J84.xxx, 
Other respiratory  
diseases principall y 
affecting the 
interstitium 
oM05.10, Rheumatoid 
lung disease with 
rheumatoid arthritis 
of unspecified site
Diabetes mellitus: 
ICD-9-CM codes:
o250.xx, Diabetes 
mellitus
ICD-10-CM codes:
oE10.x, E10.xx, 
E10.xxx, Ty pe 1 
diabetes mellitus
oE11.x, E11.xx, 
E11.xxx, Type 2 
diabetes mellitus
Down sy ndrome:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o758.x, Down 
syndrome
ICD-10-CM codes:
oQ90.x, Down 
syndrome
Sickle cell disease:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o282.xx, Sickle -cell 
disease
ICD-10-CM codes:
oD57, D57.x, D57.xx, 
D57.xxx, Sickle -cell 
disorders
HBV:
ICD-9-CM codes:
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
o70.33, Chronic viral 
hepatitis B without 
mention of hepatic 
coma with hepatitis 
delta
o70.32, Chronic viral 
hepatitis B without 
mention of hepatic 
coma without 
mention of hepatitis 
delta
o70.3, Viral hepatitis 
B without mention of 
hepatic coma, acute 
or unspecified, 
without mention of 
hepatitis delta
o70.2, Viral hepatitis 
B with hepatic coma, 
acute or unspecified, 
without mention of 
hepatitis delta
ICD-10-CM codes:
oB18.0, B18.1, 
Chronic viral 
hepatitis B
oB19.1, B19.1x, 
Unspecified viral 
hepatitis B
HCV:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o70.7, Unspecified 
viral hepatitis C 
without hepatic coma
o70.71, Unspecified 
viral hepatitis C with 
hepatic coma
o70.54, Chronic 
hepatitis C without 
mention of hepatic 
coma
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
ICD-10-CM codes:
oB18.2, Chronic viral 
hepatitis C
oB19.2 x, Unspecified 
viral hepatitis C
HIV:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o42, HIV disease
o79.53, HIV t ype 2 
ICD-10-CM codes:
oB20, HIV disease
oB97.35, HIV t ype 2 
as the cause of 
diseases classified 
elsewhere
Hyperlipidemia
ICD-9-CM codes:
o272.0x, Pure 
hypercholesterolemia
o272.1x, Pure 
hypergly ceridemia
o272.2x, Mixed 
hyperlipidemia
o272.4x, 
Hyperlipidemia, 
NOS
ICD-10-CM codes:
oE78.0–E78.5, 
E78.0x, E78.4x, 
Hyperlipidemia
Hypertension:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o401.1, Benign 
essential 
hypertension
o401.9, Essential 
hypertension, NOS
o405.1, Benign 
secondary  
hypertension
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PFIZER CONFIDENTIAL
 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
o405.9, Secondary  
hypertension, NOS
o997.91, 
Hypertension, NOS
ICD-10-CM codes:
oH35.03x, 
Hypertensive 
retinopathy
oI10, I11.x –I16.x, 
I13.xx, Hy pertensive 
diseases
oI67.4, Hy pertensive 
encephalopath y 
diseases
Liver disease:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o571, 571.x, 
Alcoholic fatt y liver
o572, 572.x, Hepatic 
encephalopath y
o573.x, Other disorder 
of liver
o570, Acute and 
subacute necrosis of 
liver
ICD-10-CM codes:
oK70.x, K70.xx, 
Alcoholic fatt y liver
oK71.x, K71.xx, 
Toxic liver disease
oK72.xx, Hepatic 
failure, not 
elsewhere classified
oK73.x, Chronic 
hepatitis, not 
elsewhere specified
oK74.x, K74.xx, 
Fibrosis and cirrhosis 
of liver
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
oK75.x, K75.xx, 
Other inflammatory  
liver diseases
oK76.x, K76.xx, 
Other diseases of 
liver
oK77, L iver disorders 
in disea ses classified 
elsewhere
Neurological disease:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o780.97, Altered 
mental status
o780.93, Memory  loss
o781.8, Neurologic 
neglect s yndrome
o797, Senility  without 
mention of psy chosis
oV62.89, Other 
psychological or 
physical stress, not 
elsewhere cla ssified
o799.5x, Signs and 
symptoms involving 
cognition
o780.99, Other 
general s ymptoms
o780.4, Dizziness and 
giddiness
o781.1, Disturbances 
of sensation of smell 
and taste
oV41.5, Problems 
with smell and taste
o368.16, 
Psychoph ysical 
visual disturbances
o307.9, Other and 
unspecified special 
symptoms or 
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
syndromes, not 
elsewhere classified
o300.9, Unspecified 
nonpsy chotic mental 
disorder
o308.9, Unspecified 
acute reaction to 
stress
o307.9, Other and 
unspecified special 
symptoms or 
syndromes, not 
elsewhere classified
oV62.85, Homicidal 
ideation
oV62.84, Suicidal 
ideation
o799.24, Emotional 
lability
o799.23, 
Impulsiveness
o799.29, Other signs 
and sy mptoms 
involving emotional 
state
oV40.39, Other 
specified behavioral 
problem
ICD-10-CM codes:
oR41, R41.x, R41.xx, 
Other s ymptoms and 
signs involving 
cognitive functions 
and awareness
oR42, Dizziness and 
giddiness
oR43, R43.x, 
Disturbances of 
smell and taste
oR44, R44.x, Other 
symptoms and signs 
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
involving general 
sensations and 
perceptions
oR45, R45.x, R45.xx, 
Symptoms and signs 
involving emotional 
state
oR46, R46.x, R46.xx, 
Symptoms and signs 
involving appearance 
and behavior
Other immune deficiencies:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o279.x, 279.xx, 
Deficiency  of 
humoral immunity
o135, Sarcoidosis
o273.x, Disorders of 
plasma protein 
metabolism
ICD-10-CM codes:
oD80, D80.x, 
Immunodeficiency  
with predominantly  
antibody  defects
oD81, D81.x, D81.xx, 
Combined 
immunodeficiencies
oD82, D82.x, 
Immunodeficiency  
associated with other 
major defects
oD83, D83.x, 
Common variable 
immunodeficiency
oD84, D84.x, D84. xx, 
Other 
immunodeficiencies
oD86, D86.x, D86.xx, 
Sarcoidosis
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
oD89, D89.x, D89.xx, 
Other disorders 
involving the 
immune mechanism, 
not elsewhere 
classified
Solid organ transplant:
CPT codes: 
o32850 –32856, 
Transplantation of 
lung
o33930 –33945, 
Transplantation of 
heart
o44132, 44133, 
47133, 47135, 
47140 –47147, 
Transplantation of 
liver
o44135 –44137, 
44715, 44720, 
44721, 
Transplantation of 
intestine
o48160, 48550 –
48552, 48554, 
48556, 
Transplantation of 
pancreas
o50300, 50320, 
50323, 50325, 
50327, 50328, 
50329, 50340, 
50360, 50365, 
50370, 50380, Renal 
transplantation
ICD-9-PCS codes:
o00.91 –00.93, 
Transplant from 
donor or cadaver
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
o37.51, Heart 
transplantation
o33.51, Unilateral 
lung transplantation
o33.52, Bilateral lung 
transplantation
o46.97, Transplant of 
intestine
o50.59, Other 
transplant of 
intestine
o52.82, 
Homotransplant of 
pancreas
o55.69, Other kidney  
transplant
ICD-10-PCS codes:
o02YA0Z0, 
02YA0Z1, 
Transplantation of 
heart
o0BYC0Z0, 
0BYC0Z1, 
0BYD0Z0, 
0BYD0Z1, 
0BYF0Z0, 
0BYF0Z1, 
0BYG0Z0, 
0BYG0Z1, 
0BYH0Z0, 
0BYH0Z1, 
0BYJ0Z0, 
0BYJ0Z1,  
0BYK0Z0,  
0BYK0Z1,  
0BYL0Z0, 
0BYL0Z1, 
0BYM0Z0, 
0BYM0Z1, 
Transplantation of 
lung
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
o0DY60Z0, 
0DY60Z1, 
Transplantation of 
stomach
o0DY80Z0, 
0DY80Z1, 
Transplantation of 
small intestine
o0DYE0Z0, 
0DYE0Z1, 
Transplantation of 
large intestine
o0FY00Z0, 0FY00 Z1, 
Transplantation of 
liver
o0FYG0Z0, 
0FYG0Z1, 
Transplantation of 
pancreas
o0TY00Z0, 
0TY00Z1, 
0TY10Z0, 
0TY10Z1, 
Transplantation of 
kidney
VTE:
ICD-9-CM codes:
o415.1x, Pulmonary  
embolism and 
infarction
o451.x, 451.xx, 
Phlebitis and 
thrombophlebitis
o452, Portal vein 
thrombosis
o453.x, 453.xx, Other 
venous embolism 
and thrombosis
ICD-10-CM codes:
oI26, I26.x, I 26.xx, 
Pulmonary  embolism
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PFIZER CONFIDENTIAL
 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
oI80, I80.x, I 80.xx, 
I80.xxx, Phlebitis 
and thrombophlebitis
oI81, Portal vein 
thrombosis
oI82, I82.x, I 82.xx, 
I82.xxx Other 
venous embolism 
and thrombosis
Immunization 
history  Categorical variable:
Seasonal influenza 
Tetanus diphtheria and 
pertussis (Tdap or Td)
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Shingles (Herpes Zoster 
recombinant and/or live)
Human papillomavirus 
(HPV)  
Pneumococcal conjugate
Pneumococcal 
polysaccharide
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Meningococcal 
conjugate (MenACWY) 
and serogroup B 
meningococcal (MenB)
Haemophilus influenza 
type bSeasonal influenza:
See Table 15.3
Tetanus diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap 
or Td):
CPT codes:
o90714, Tetanus and diphtheria 
toxoids adsorbed (Td), 
preservative free, when 
administered to individuals 7 
years or older, for 
intramuscular use
o90715, Tdap administered to 
individuals 7 y ears or older, 
for intramuscular use
o90718, Tetanus and 
diphtheria toxoids (Td) 
adsorbed when administered 
to individuals 7 y ears or 
older, for intramuscular use
Chickenpox (Varicella)
CPT codes:
o90396, Varicella -zoster 
immune globulin, human, for 
intramuscular use
o90716, Varicella virus 
vaccine, l ive, for subcutaneous 
use
Shingles (Herpes Zoster recombinant 
and/or live)
CPT codes:
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
o90396, Varicella -zoster 
immune globulin, human, for 
intramuscular use
o90736, Zoster (shingles) 
vaccine (HZV), live, for 
subcutaneous injection
o90750, Zoster (shingles) 
vaccine (HZV), recombinant, 
subunit, adjuvanted, for 
intramuscular use
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
CPT codes:
o90649, Human Papillomavirus 
vaccine, t ypes 6, 11, 16, 18, 
quadrivalent (4vHPV), 3 dose 
schedule, for intramuscular 
use
o90650, Human Papillomavirus 
vaccine, t ypes 16, 18, bivalent 
(2vHPV), 3 dose schedule, for 
intramuscular use
o90651, Human Papillomavirus 
vaccine t ypes 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 
33, 45, 52, 58, nonavalent 
(9vHPV), 2 or 3 dose 
schedule, for intramuscular 
use
Pneumococcal conjugate
CPT codes:
o90669, Pneumococcal 
conjugate vaccine, 7 valent, 
for intramuscular use
o90670, Pneumococcal 
conjugate vaccine, 13 valent 
(PCV13), for intramuscular 
use
HCPCS codes (used 
pneumococcal conjugate and 
polysaccharide):
oG0009, Administration of 
pneumococcal vaccin e
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
oG8864, Code for 
Pneumococcal vaccine 
administered or previously 
received
Pneumococcal pol ysaccharide:
CPT code:
o90732, Pneumococcal 
polysaccharide vaccine, 23 -
valent (PPSV23), adult or 
immunosuppressed patient 
dosage, when administered to 
individuals 2 y ears or older, 
for subcutaneous or 
intramuscular use
Hepatitis A
CPT codes
o90632, Hepatitis A vaccine, 
adult dosage, for 
intramuscular use
o90633, Hepatitis A vaccine 
(HepA), pediatric/adolescent 
dosage -2 dose schedule, for 
intramuscular use
o90634, Hepatitis A vaccine 
(HepA), pediatric/adolescent 
dosage -3 dose schedule, for 
intramuscular use
o90730, Hepatitis A vaccine
o90636, Hepatitis A and 
hepatitis B vaccine (HepA -
HepB), adult dosage, for 
intramuscular use
Hepatitis B
CPT codes:
o90731, Hepatitis B vaccine
o90739, Hepatitis B vaccine 
(HepB), adult dosage, 2 dose 
schedule, for intramuscular 
use
o90740, Hepatitis B vaccine 
(HepB), dial ysis or 
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
immunosuppressed patient 
dosage, 3 dose schedule, for 
intramuscular use
o90743, Hepatitis B vaccine 
(HepB), adolescent, 2 dose 
schedule, for intramuscular 
use
o90744, Hepatitis B vaccine 
(HepB), pediatric/adolescent 
dosage, 3 dose schedule, for 
intramuscular use
o90745, Hepatitis B vaccine, 
adolescent/high risk infant 
dosage, for intramuscular use
o90746, Hepatitis B vaccine 
(HepB), adult dosage, 3 dose 
schedule, for intramuscular 
use
o90747, Hepatitis B vaccine 
(HepB), dial ysis or 
immunosuppressed patient 
dosage, 4 dose schedule, for 
intramuscular use
HCPCS codes:
oG0010, Administration of 
Hepatitis B vaccine
Meningococcal conjuga te (MenACWY) 
and serogroup B meningococcal 
(MenB)
CPT codes:
o90619, Meningococcal 
conjugate vaccine, serogroups 
A, C, W, Y, quadrivalent, 
tetanus toxoid carrier 
(MenACWY -TT), for 
intramuscular use
o90620, Meningococcal 
recombinant protein and outer 
membrane vesicle vaccine, 
serogroup B (MenB -4C), 2 
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
dose schedule, for 
intramuscular use
o90621, Meningococcal 
recombinant lipoprotein 
vaccine, serogroup B (MenB -
FHbp), 2 or 3 dose schedule, 
for intramuscular use
o90733, Meningococcal 
polysaccharide vaccine, 
serogrou ps A, C, Y, W- 135, 
quadrivalent (MPSV4), for 
subcutaneous use
o90734, Meningococcal 
conjugate vaccine, serogroups 
A, C, W, Y, quadrivalent, 
diphtheria toxoid carrier 
(MenACWY -D) or CRM197 
carrier (MenACWY -CRM), 
for intramuscular use
Haemophilus influenza typ e b
CPT codes:
o90645, Hemophilus influenza 
b vaccine (Hib), HbOC 
conjugate (4 dose schedule), 
for intramuscular use
o90646, Hemophilus influenza 
b vaccine (Hib), PRP -D 
conjugate, for booster use 
only, intramuscular use
o90647, Haemophilus 
influenzae ty pe b vaccine 
(Hib), PRP -OMP conjugate, 3 
dose schedule, for 
intramuscular use
o90648, Haemophilus 
influenzae ty pe b vaccine 
(Hib), PRP -T conjugate, 4 
dose schedule, for 
intramuscular use
o90737, Hemophilus influenza 
B
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 Table 15.1.Operational Definitions of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics
Variable Description Operational definition
o90748, Hepatitis B and 
Haemophilus influenza e type 
b vaccine (Hib -HepB), for 
intramuscular use
*BMI was assessed within the one -year and tw o-year baseline periods, respectively. BMI at the time of the 
most recent encounter within the baseline period prior to vaccination date was included and w as ca lculated 
based on patient height and weight data as dividing weight in kilograms (kg) by height in meters (m) squared. 
Patients with missing BMI or those with BMI <15 or > 60were categorized as "Unknown"
.
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 Table 15.2.Operation Definitions of Safety Events of Interest
Variable Operational Definition
Defined b y the presence of an y of the following 
ICD-9-CM codes (inclusive)*:Defined b y the presence of an y of the 
following ICD -10-CM codes 
(inclusive)*:
Neurologic
Generalized convulsions/seizures44,57345, Epilepsy  and recurrent seizures
780.3, Convulsions
780.31, Febrile convulsion s (simple), 
unspecified
780.39, Other convulsions
780.32, Complex febrile convulsionsG40.A01, Absence epileptic 
syndrome, not intractable, with 
status epilepticus
G40.A09, Absence epileptic 
syndrome, not intractable, without 
status epilepticus
G40.A11, Absence epileptic 
syndrome, intractable, with status 
epilepticus
G40.A19, Absence epileptic 
syndrome, intractable, without 
status epilepticus
G40.101, L ocalization -related 
(focal) (partial) sy mptomatic 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes 
with simple partial seizures, not 
intractable, with status epilepticus
G40.109, L ocalization -related 
(focal) (partial) sy mptomatic 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes 
with simple partial seizures, not 
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 Table 15.2.Operation Definitions of Safety Events of Interest
Variable Operational Definition
Defined b y the presence of an y of the following 
ICD-9-CM codes (inclusive)*:Defined b y the presence of an y of the 
following ICD -10-CM codes 
(inclusive)*:
intractable, without status 
epilepticus
G40.111, L ocalization -related 
(focal) ( partial) sy mptomatic 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes 
with simple partial seizures, 
intractable, with status epilepticus
G40.119, L ocalization -related 
(focal) (partial) sy mptomatic 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes 
with simple partial seizures, 
intractable, without status 
epilepticus
G40.201, L ocalization -related 
(focal) (partial) sy mptomatic 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes 
with complex partial seizures, not 
intractable, with status epilepticus
G40.209, L ocalization -related 
(focal) (partial) sy mptomatic 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes 
with complex partial seizures, not 
intractable, without status 
epilepticus
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 Table 15.2.Operation Definitions of Safety Events of Interest
Variable Operational Definition
Defined b y the presence of an y of the following 
ICD-9-CM codes (inclusive)*:Defined b y the presence of an y of the 
following ICD -10-CM codes 
(inclusive)*:
G40.211, L ocalization -related 
(focal) (partial) sy mptomatic 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes 
with complex partial seizures, 
intractable, with status ep ilepticus
G40.219, L ocalization -related 
(focal) (partial) sy mptomatic 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes 
with complex partial seizures, 
intractable, without status 
epilepticus
G40.309, Generalized idiopathic 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes, 
not intractable, without status 
epilepticus
G40.311, Generalized idiopathic 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes, 
intractable, with status epilepticus
G40.401, Other generalized 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes, 
not intractable, with status 
epilepticus
G40.409, Other generali zed 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes, 
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 Table 15.2.Operation Definitions of Safety Events of Interest
Variable Operational Definition
Defined b y the presence of an y of the following 
ICD-9-CM codes (inclusive)*:Defined b y the presence of an y of the 
following ICD -10-CM codes 
(inclusive)*:
not intractable, without status 
epilepticus
G40.411, Other generalized 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes, 
intractable, with status epilepticus
G40.419, Other generalized 
epilepsy  and epileptic s yndromes, 
intractable, wi thout status 
epilepticus
G40.501, Epileptic seizures 
related to external causes, not 
intractable, with status epilepticus
G40.509, Epileptic seizures 
related to external causes, not 
intractable, without status 
epilepticus
G40.802, Other epileps y, not 
intractable, without status 
epilepticus
G40.804, Other epileps y, 
intractable, without status 
epilepticus
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 Table 15.2.Operation Definitions of Safety Events of Interest
Variable Operational Definition
Defined b y the presence of an y of the following 
ICD-9-CM codes (inclusive)*:Defined b y the presence of an y of the 
following ICD -10-CM codes 
(inclusive)*:
G40.821, Epileptic spasms, not 
intractable, with status epilepticus
G40.822, Epileptic spasms, not 
intractable, without status 
epilepticus
G40.823, Epileptic spasms, 
intractable, with status epilepticus
G40.824, Epileptic spasms, 
intractable, without status 
epilepticus
G40.901, Epilepsy , unspecified, 
not intractable, with status 
epilepticus
G40.909, Epilepsy , unspecified, 
not intractable, without status 
epilepticus
R56.00, Simple febrile 
convulsions
R56.01, Complex febrile 
convulsions
R56.9, Unspecified convulsions
Guillain -Barré syndrome (GBS)44,57357.0, Guillain -Barre s yndrome G61.0, Guillain -Barre syndrome
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 Table 15.2.Operation Definitions of Safety Events of Interest
Variable Operational Definition
Defined b y the presence of an y of the following 
ICD-9-CM codes (inclusive)*:Defined b y the presence of an y of the 
following ICD -10-CM codes 
(inclusive)*:
Aseptic meningitis29322.1, Eosinophilic meningitis
322.9, Meningitis, unspecifiedG03.8, Meningitis due to other 
specified causes
G03.9, Meningitis, unspecified
Encephalitis/encephalomyelitis44,57323.5, Encephalitis, my elitis, and 
encephalomy elitis following immunization 
procedures
323.51, Encephalitis and encephalomy elitis 
following immunization procedures
323.52, My elitis following immunization 
procedures
323.62, Other postinfectious encephalitis 
and encephalom yelitis
323.81,  Other causes of encephalitis and 
encephalomy elitis
323.9, Unspecified causes of encephalitis, 
myelitis, and encephalomyelitis
323.41, Other encephalitis and 
encephalomy elitis due to infection 
classified elsewhereG04.00, Acute disseminated 
encephalitis and 
encephalomy elitis, unspecified
G04.02, Postimmunization acute 
disseminated encephalitis, my elitis 
and encephalom yelitis
G04.81, Other encephalitis and 
encephalomy elitis
G04.90, Encephalitis and 
encephalomy elitis, unspecified
G05.3, Encephalitis and 
encep halomy elitis in diseases 
classified elsewhere
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 Table 15.2.Operation Definitions of Safety Events of Interest
Variable Operational Definition
Defined b y the presence of an y of the following 
ICD-9-CM codes (inclusive)*:Defined b y the presence of an y of the 
following ICD -10-CM codes 
(inclusive)*:
Other acute dem yelinating diseases 
(excluding those limited as separate 
outcomes)44,57341.0, Neurom yelitis optica
341.1, Schilder's disease
341.8, Other dem yelinating diseases of 
central nervous s ystem
341.9, Demy elinating disease of central 
nervous s ystem, unspecified
357.81, Chronic inflammatory  
demy elinating pol yneuritisG37.1, Central dem yelination of 
corpus callosum
G37.2, Central pontine 
myelinol ysis
G37.8, Other specified 
demy elinating diseases of central 
nervous s ystem
G37.9, Dem yelinating disease of 
central nervous s ystem, 
unspecified
G61.81, Chronic inflammatory  
demy elinating pol yneuritis
Transverse m yelitis (TM)44,57341.2, Acute (transverse) my elitis G37.3, Acute transverse my elitis 
in demy elinating disease of central 
nervous s ystem
Multiple sclerosis (MS)44,57340, Multiple sclerosis G35, Multiple sclerosis
Optic neuritis (ON)44,57377.30, Optic neuritis, unspecified
377.31, Optic papillitis
377.32, Retrobulbar n euritis (acute)
377.34, Toxic optic neuropathy
377.39, Other optic neuritisG36.0, Neurom yelitis optica 
[Devic]
H46.00, Optic papillitis, 
unspecified ey e
H46.01, Optic papillitis, right ey e
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 Table 15.2.Operation Definitions of Safety Events of Interest
Variable Operational Definition
Defined b y the presence of an y of the following 
ICD-9-CM codes (inclusive)*:Defined b y the presence of an y of the 
following ICD -10-CM codes 
(inclusive)*:
H46.02, Optic papillitis, left ey e
H46.03, Optic papillitis, bilateral
H46.10, Retrobulbar neuritis, 
unspecified ey e
H46.11, Retrobulbar neuritis, right 
eye
H46.12, Retrobulbar neuritis, left 
eye
H46.13, Retrobulbar neuritis, 
bilateral
H46.3, Toxic optic neuropathy
H46.8, Other optic neuritis
H46.9, Unspecified opti c neuritis
Bell’s pals y44,57351.0, Bell’s Pals y
351.8, Other facial nerve disorders
351.9, Facial nerve disorder, unspecifiedG51.0, Bell's pals y
G51.8, Other disorders of facial 
nerve
G51.9, Disorder of facial nerve, 
unspecified 
Immunologic
Anaph ylaxis44,57999.4, Anaph ylactic shock due to serum not 
elsewhere specifiedT78.2XXA, Anaph ylactic shock, 
unspecified, initial encounter
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 Table 15.2.Operation Definitions of Safety Events of Interest
Variable Operational Definition
Defined b y the presence of an y of the following 
ICD-9-CM codes (inclusive)*:Defined b y the presence of an y of the 
following ICD -10-CM codes 
(inclusive)*:
995.0, Other anaph ylactic reaction T80.52XA, Anaph ylactic reaction 
due to vaccination, initial 
encounter
Vasculitides (excluding those limited 
as separate outcomes)23,24136.1, Behcet’s disease
273.2, Other paraproteinemias
287.0, Allergic purpura (Henoch -Schonlein 
Purpura)
443.1, Thromboangiitis obliterans 
(Buerger’s disease)
446.0, Poly arteritis nodosa
446.4, Wegener’s granulamatosis
446.5, Giant cell arteritis
446.7, Takay asu’s disease
447.6, Arteritis, unspecifiedD69.0, Allergic purpura (Henoch -
Schonlein Purpura)
D89.1, Cry oglobulinemia
I73.1, Thromboangiitis obliterans 
(Buerger’s di
…[truncated]