Report an adverse event
Report a health problem that began after a vaccination. Anyone can submit a report. You do not need to be certain the vaccine caused it.
Completing the form takes about 10 minutes. You do not need an account. You can save your answers and come back later.
If someone needs care now
This form is not a way to get medical help. If someone is unwell now, contact a doctor. In an emergency, call 911.
If you work for a vaccine manufacturer
Do not use this form. Manufacturers are required by federal regulation to submit adverse event reports to the FDA electronically. Follow your organization’s established FDA submission process. If you are reporting as a member of the public, or as a healthcare provider treating a patient, use this form as normal.
What VAERS is for
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System is a national early warning system for possible safety problems in vaccines used in the United States. It is co-managed by the CDC and the FDA. It accepts and analyzes reports of adverse events after vaccination, including reports of vaccination errors.
A report does not mean the vaccine caused the problem. Reports are used to look for unusual or unexpected patterns that need a closer look.
What you can report
- A health problem that started after a vaccination.
- A problem that led to a visit to a doctor or a hospital.
- A mistake with the vaccination, such as the wrong product, the wrong dose or an expired product, whether or not anyone was harmed.
If you work in healthcare
Healthcare providers are required by law to report:
- Any event listed in the Table of Reportable Events Following Vaccination that occurs within the time period given for it.
- Any event the vaccine manufacturer lists as a reason not to give further doses.
Report clinically important events in adults and children even if you are not sure the vaccine was the cause. Knowingly filing a false report is a violation of Federal law.
Providers are strongly encouraged to report:
- Any clinically important event after a vaccine licensed in the United States, whether or not the vaccine is thought to be the cause.
- Vaccination errors.
The form asks who you are first and then adjusts the questions, so a provider reporting an administration error with no adverse event is not asked the adverse event questions.
How the form works
The form asks one question per screen and shows how far through you are. Answers are checked when you leave a field, not as you type, and you can go back and change any answer before you send the report.
Save and come back later
You can save a part-completed report at any point. Saving gives you a short code. No account and no email address are needed.
Resume a saved report to enter your code and continue where you left off.
Ready to begin
You can stop and change any answer before you send the report.