Last updated: April 17, 2026
Presented by Crestwood General | crestwoodgeneral.com

Quick Summary

VAERS is a national system that tracks health problems reported after vaccination
Anyone can submit a report to VAERS — patients, families, healthcare providers, or vaccine manufacturers
A report to VAERS does not mean the vaccine caused the health problem
CDC and FDA review VAERS data to find patterns and keep vaccines safe
Most reports describe mild, expected side effects like sore arms or low fever

What Is VAERS?

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is the United States' early warning system for monitoring vaccine safety.

In Simple Terms

Think of VAERS like a national suggestion box for vaccine experiences:
- People share what they noticed after getting a vaccine
- CDC and FDA collect and review these reports
- Scientists look for patterns that might need closer study
- The goal is to catch rare problems early and keep vaccines safe for everyone

Who Runs VAERS?

VAERS is co-managed by:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Who Can Submit a Report?

Anyone can report to VAERS:
- Patients and family members
- Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers
- Vaccine manufacturers

Healthcare providers and vaccine manufacturers are required by law to report certain serious events after vaccination.

Important: A Report Does Not Mean the Vaccine Caused the Problem

This is a key point to understand:

Submitting a report to VAERS does not mean the vaccine caused the health problem.

Why This Matters

People can get sick after vaccination for many reasons unrelated to the vaccine
VAERS collects all reports so scientists can look for true patterns
Only after careful study can experts determine if a vaccine played a role

What Kinds of Reports Does VAERS Receive?

Type of Report	Description	Examples
Mild, expected reactions	Common side effects that usually go away on their own	Sore arm, mild fever, tiredness, headache
Serious reports	Events that meet federal criteria for severity	Hospitalization, life-threatening illness, permanent disability, death
Uncertain or coincidental events	Health problems that happen after vaccination but may not be related	Broken bone, unrelated infection, chronic condition flare-up

Most VAERS reports involve mild, expected side effects. Serious reports are reviewed carefully, but serious events are rarely caused by vaccines.

What Information Does VAERS Collect?

When someone submits a report, VAERS gathers details to help scientists understand the situation.

Data Collected Includes:

The vaccine received (name, manufacturer, lot number if available)
Date of vaccination
When the health problem started
Description of the symptoms or diagnosis
Current medications and health conditions
Past medical history and prior vaccine reactions
Age, sex, and other basic demographic information

Privacy Protection

Patient names and identifying details are removed before data is shared publicly
VAERS follows strict federal rules to protect personal privacy

How VAERS Data Collection Works

VAERS Is a "Passive" System

This means VAERS relies on people to send in reports — it does not automatically collect data from medical records.

How Reporting Happens:

Someone experiences or observes a health problem after vaccination
They (or their provider) submit a report online, by mail, or by fax
VAERS staff review the report and may request more information for serious cases
De-identified data is added to the VAERS database for analysis

Why Passive Reporting Has Value

Allows anyone to share concerns, increasing the chance of catching rare events
Provides a broad, real-world view of vaccine experiences across the country
Serves as an early signal system for further scientific investigation

How CDC and FDA Use VAERS Data

VAERS reports help public health experts in several important ways:

Monitoring Vaccine Safety

Check the safety of newly approved or emergency-use vaccines
Watch for new, unusual, or rare side effects
Track whether known side effects are happening more often than expected

Identifying Patterns and Risks

Spot potential risk factors for certain reactions (for example, age or health conditions)
Detect clusters of similar reports that may need closer study
Identify possible errors in how vaccines are stored, handled, or given

Supporting Research and Policy

Add to scientific knowledge about vaccine safety
Inform updates to vaccine recommendations or labeling
Guide safety monitoring during public health emergencies

What Is a "Signal"?

When scientists see an unusual pattern or higher-than-expected number of reports for a specific vaccine and health problem, it is called a "signal."

What Happens Next:

CDC and FDA review the signal carefully
If needed, they conduct deeper studies using other data systems (like VSD or CISA)
If a true risk is confirmed, they take action — such as updating guidance, adding warnings, or adjusting recommendations

Understanding VAERS Data: Strengths and Limitations

Strengths of VAERS

Strength	Why It Matters
Open to everyone	Patients, families, and providers can all report, increasing the chance of catching rare events
Early warning capability	Can detect potential safety issues quickly, before they become widespread
Rich detail	Collects information about the vaccine, the person, and the event for thorough review
Public access	De-identified data is available for researchers and the public to explore

Limitations of VAERS

Limitation	What It Means for Interpretation
Passive reporting	Not all events are reported; reporting can increase after media attention, which may skew perception
Reports vary in quality	Some reports lack details or contain errors; follow-up is done for serious cases
Cannot prove cause	VAERS alone cannot determine if a vaccine caused an event — further study is needed
No denominator data	Usually, we do not know exactly how many people received a vaccine, so we cannot calculate exact rates of side effects
Coincidental events	People can get sick after vaccination for reasons unrelated to the vaccine; these reports are still collected for completeness

Why These Limitations Matter

VAERS is designed to raise questions, not answer them definitively
Scientists use VAERS as a starting point for deeper investigation with stronger data systems
Understanding these limits helps prevent misinterpretation of raw report counts

New: Expanded Public Access to VAERS Data (May 2025)

In May 2025, CDC and FDA made VAERS data more complete and transparent.

What Changed:

Before May 2025: Public data included only the first report submitted for a person, vaccine, and dose
After May 2025: Public data now includes all follow-up reports for the same person, vaccine, and dose

What This Means for You:

You may see more reports in the public database, but these are additional details about events already reported — not new events
This update gives researchers and the public a fuller picture while still protecting patient privacy
Data is available through:
CDC WONDER database: wonder.cdc.gov
VAERS downloadable files: vaers.hhs.gov

How to Report an Adverse Event to VAERS

Who Should Report?

Anyone can report — you do not need to be sure the vaccine caused the problem.

What to Report:

Any health problem after vaccination that concerns you, even if you are unsure of the cause
Both mild and serious events
Events that happen soon after vaccination or weeks later

How to Submit a Report:

Visit the VAERS website: vaers.hhs.gov
Choose the report form that fits your situation (patient, provider, or manufacturer)
Fill in the requested details about the vaccine and the health problem
Submit the form online, or print and mail/fax it

Need Help Reporting?

Call the VAERS toll-free line: 1-800-822-7967
Email: info@vaers.org
Healthcare providers can get reporting support through their institution or professional organization

Resources for Patients, Families, and Providers

VAERS Educational Materials

VAERS Fact Sheet — Overview of what VAERS is and how it works
VAERS Brochure for Parents and Caregivers — Available in English and Spanish
VAERS Brochure for Healthcare Providers — Available in English and Spanish

Research and Data Access

Learn More About Vaccine Safety Monitoring

How Crestwood General Supports Vaccine Safety

At Crestwood General, we believe vaccines are one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent serious illness — and that transparent safety monitoring builds public trust.

What We Offer Patients and Families

Pre-vaccination counseling: We discuss expected side effects, what to watch for, and when to seek help
Post-vaccination support: Guidance on managing common reactions and instructions for reporting concerns
VAERS reporting assistance: Help completing and submitting a VAERS report if you experience a concerning event
Personalized risk discussion: Review of your health history to ensure vaccines are appropriate and safe for you

What We Do Behind the Scenes

Follow CDC and FDA guidance on vaccine storage, handling, and administration
Train staff on recognizing and reporting potential adverse events
Participate in vaccine safety monitoring initiatives and quality improvement efforts
Stay updated on the latest vaccine safety research and recommendations

Questions We Can Help Answer

What side effects should I expect after this vaccine?
How do I know if a reaction is normal or needs medical attention?
How do I report a concern to VAERS?
Can I get vaccinated if I have a chronic health condition or take certain medications?
Where can I find reliable, science-based vaccine information?

Frequently Asked Questions

If I report to VAERS, does that mean the vaccine hurt me?

No. Reporting to VAERS simply means you experienced a health problem after vaccination. It does not mean the vaccine caused it. Scientists review many reports to look for true patterns.

Should I report mild side effects like a sore arm?

You can report any concern, but mild, expected reactions like soreness, mild fever, or tiredness are common and usually do not require reporting unless they are severe or persistent. Focus reporting on events that are unusual, severe, or concerning to you.

How long after vaccination should I watch for side effects?

Most common side effects happen within 1–2 days. Some rare reactions can occur weeks later. If you have a health concern after vaccination — at any time — you can report it to VAERS and talk to your healthcare provider.

Can I see VAERS reports for a specific vaccine?

Yes. De-identified VAERS data is publicly available through the CDC WONDER database and VAERS downloadable files. Remember: report counts alone do not prove cause or show how often an event occurs.

What happens after I submit a VAERS report?

You will receive a confirmation with a VAERS ID number for follow-up
For serious reports, VAERS staff may contact you or your provider for more details
Your report becomes part of the national database used for safety monitoring
You can check the status of your report using your VAERS ID

If VAERS has limitations, why use it?

VAERS is designed as an early warning system — not a final answer tool. Its openness allows rapid detection of potential issues, which are then studied with stronger methods. This layered approach helps keep vaccines safe.

Take the Next Step with Confidence

Vaccines protect you and your community from serious diseases. Safety monitoring systems like VAERS help ensure that protection remains strong.

Three Simple Steps for Vaccine Safety

Before vaccination: Share your health history and ask questions about expected side effects
After vaccination: Monitor how you feel and manage common reactions with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter remedies as advised
If concerned: Talk to your healthcare provider and consider submitting a VAERS report — your experience helps protect others

We Are Here to Help

At Crestwood General, we support informed, confident vaccination decisions. Whether you have questions about vaccine safety, need help reporting a concern, or want to learn more about protecting your health, our team is ready to assist.

Visit crestwoodgeneral.com to:
- Schedule a vaccination or consultation
- Access free vaccine education materials
- Connect with a care team member for personalized guidance

Your health. Your voice. Your safety.