Reporting an Adverse Event to VAERS
The VAERS program was established under the joint administration of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to accept reports of suspected adverse events after administration of any US licensed vaccine. Reports are welcome from everyone, including parents, vaccinees, physicians, and other healthcare providers!
Click here to view the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
Healthcare providers are required by law to report to VAERS:
- Any adverse event listed in the VAERS Table of Reportable Events Following Vaccination that occurs within the specified time period after vaccinations.
- An adverse event listed by the vaccine manufacturer as a contraindication to further doses of the vaccine.
Healthcare providers are strongly encouraged to report to VAERS:
- Any adverse event that occurs after the administration of a vaccine licensed in the United States, whether it is or is not clear that a vaccine caused the adverse event
- Vaccine administration errors
Vaccine manufacturers are required to report to VAERS all adverse events that come to their attention.
Online reporting is strongly encouraged. Please report clinically important adverse events that occur after vaccination of adults and children, even if you are not sure whether the vaccine caused the adverse event.
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) accepts all reports, including reports of vaccination errors. Guidance on reporting vaccination errors is available if you have additional questions.
Knowingly filing a false VAERS report is a violation of Federal law (18 U.S. Code § 1001) punishable by fine and imprisonment.
Two Ways to Submit an Online Report to VAERS
- Submit a VAERS report online - The report must be completed online, submitted in one sitting, and cannot be saved and returned to at a later time. Your information will be erased if you are inactive for 20 minutes; you will receive a warning after 15 minutes. Click here to open the form.
- Download the Writable PDF Form to a computer - Complete the VAERS report offline if you do not have time to complete it all at once. Click here to download the Writable PDF Form, and return to this page to upload the completed form.
Copies of Reports: Once VAERS complete processing reporters receive an acknowledgment letter providing you with the permanent case number for your records; please note this number is different from the temporary case number reporters receive during electronic report submission. You can then access a redacted copy of a report at the CDC VAERS WONDER website. You can select the option to view VAERS Report Details and enter the VAERS permanent ID for the search.
VAERS data:
Reports received are available online on our website (https://vaers.hhs.gov/data.html ) in case it is helpful to see what others have reported. You may sort the records by vaccine (i.e. Shingrix, COVID-19), adverse events, or medical history.
Privacy Protection:
Information identifying the person who received the vaccine and the person who filed the report is not made available to the public. You or your health care provider may be contacted for further information after your report is received.
Information supplied in the online submission form is transmitted securely to VAERS. Visit the VAERS Privacy Policies and Disclaimers section for more information about Secure Sockets Layer and data transmission.
If you need further assistance with reporting to VAERS, please email info@VAERS.org or call 1-800-822-7967.