Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System 

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is one of several different systems CDC uses to monitor the safety of vaccines.

VAERS accepts and analyzes reports of adverse events (any side effect or health problem after vaccination that is concerning to you, even if you are not sure if the vaccine caused the event).

Anyone - patients, family members, health care providers and vaccine manufacturers - can submit a report to VAERS. Health care providers and vaccine manufacturers are legally required to report certain events after vaccination.

A report to VAERS does not mean that a vaccine caused an adverse event.

If it looks as though a vaccine might be associated with a health problem, CDC and FDA investigate further and take action if needed.