Reporting of Vaccine-Related Adverse Events

Originally approved January 2019

The American College of Emergency Physicians recognizes that vaccines effectively and significantly reduce the spread of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases, providing great substantial individual and public health benefits. Vaccines can cause minor adverse events, such as fever or localized reaction at the injection site, as well as rare, yet serious adverse events such as seizure and severe allergic reaction.

The American College of Emergency Physicians acknowledges the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 and reporting of adverse events to the Vaccination Adverse Event Reporting Systems (VAERS).¹ Reporting into VAERS can be completed by anyone, including clinical providers, patients and their families. The link below provides information on how to report. The primary purpose of VAERS is to identify unexpected adverse events associated with the use of vaccines, allowing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to evaluate and address potential safety concerns.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Injury Prevention. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. https://vaers.hhs.gov/