The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs & each of the Service Surgeons General want to emphasize the importance of reporting adverse reactions to any vaccine via a VAERS report. The Department of Defense (DoD) encourages submission of VAERS reports by healthcare providers. Any patient who believes that he or she have had a severe or unusual reaction to a vaccine is also welcome to submit one as well. Please remember that submission of a VAERS report is not an indictment against a vaccine, it simply facilitates review of temporally associated conditions and, perhaps more importantly, adds to our safety database on each vaccine.
Reporting by Consumers
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) accepts reports from the public of any unusual event that occurred after a vaccination was given. To collect all information that may be of value, there is no limit on the interval between the vaccination and the start of the event, or between the event and the time the report is made. Our main concern is identifying events which affect you or your family.
There is a toll-free VAERS information line 1-800-822-7967 to obtain information about VAERS or to receive assistance from a VAERS staff member in filling out the VAERS form. The VAERS form is now available in electronic (on-line) & paper (mail in) formats. You are encouraged to use the on-line form if possible. Consumers are encouraged to obtain the assistance of their health care provider in completing the form. Other features include general information on VAERS, information about vaccines from a health care professional and mailed copies of the Reportable Events Table. The VAERS report form has been designed to facilitate and standardize the process of reporting adverse events following vaccination to VAERS. To complete the on-line VAERS form, download a paper copy of the VAERS form, or obtain more information about VAERS, please go to http://vaers.hhs.gov/.
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