Privacy notice

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What a report collects

A VAERS report asks about the person who was vaccinated, the vaccines given, the health problem that followed, and the person making the report. Contact details are asked for so staff can request more information about serious reports.

What is published

De-identified reports are published four to six weeks after they are received. Information that identifies the patient or the reporter is never released to the public. Names, addresses and contact details are removed before publication, and free-text descriptions are reviewed.

Who sees the full report

CDC and FDA staff working on vaccine safety, and contractors bound by the same rules, can see the full report. Data may be shared with the vaccine manufacturer and with state health departments as part of safety follow-up.

Your rights

• You can ask what information is held about you.
• You can ask for a correction to a report you submitted.
• You can decline to give contact details, though staff will then be unable to follow up.

Reporting for someone else

You may report on behalf of another person, including a child or a patient. Only give the information you reasonably need to describe what happened.

For questions about privacy, contact VAERS. Do not include patient identifying details in an email.