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Ask the BIZS (Bureau of Immunization Services) Experts
Clinical answers to vaccine questions
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Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national early warning system to detect possible safety problems in vaccines used in the United States. VAERS accepts and analyzes reports of adverse events (AEs) after a person has received a vaccination. Anyone can report an adverse event to VAERS. Healthcare professionals are required to report certain adverse events and vaccine manufacturers are required to report all adverse events that come to their attention.
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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
Two Ways to Submit an Online Report to VAERS
- Submit a VAERS report online. The report must be completed online and submitted in one sitting and cannot be saved and returned to at a later time.
- 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. Return to this page to upload the completed Writable PDF form by clicking here.
If you need further assistance with reporting to VAERS, email info@VAERS.org or call 1-800-822-7967.
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What happens after a report is submitted
Each VAERS report is assigned a VAERS identification number. This number can be used to provide additional information about the report to VAERS, if necessary.
Other than the confirmation letter, VAERS will only reach out to the reporting individual for additional information if “essential fields” of the VAERS form are not filled out. VAERS will not contact the reporting individual by phone for follow-up. Additional information requests are sent electronically or by mail and will explain what information is missing from the report and how the reporter can update it.
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.
Resource:
https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html
The Bureau of Immunization Services (BIZS) has clinical staff available to assist with your immunization questions. Contact the following individuals (or your county health department) for assistance:
Kate Whitman, MSE, BSN, Kathleen.Whitman@azdhs.gov, 480-259-5342
Sharon Sweeney, MPH, BSN, Sharon.Sweeney@azdhs.gov, 480-261-5557
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