VAERS DATA USE GUIDE
Contents
1. Important Information About VAERS ..................................................................1
2. Brief Description of VAERS ....................................................................................2
3. VAERS Data Should be Interpreted with Caution .............................................3
4. Description of Data Files ........................................................................................4
4.1 VAERSDATA.CSV ........................................................................................... 6
4.2 VAERSVAX.CSV.............................................................................................. 8
4.3 VAERSSYMPTOMS.CSV ................................................................................. 8
5. Definitions of Terms Used in Data Files ..............................................................9
5.1 VAERSDATA.CSV ........................................................................................... 9
5.2 VAERSVAX.CSV ............................................................................................ 12
5.3 VAERSSYMPTOMS.CSV ............................................................................... 16
7. Downloadable VAERS Data Sets Disclaimer.....................................................17
1. Important Information About VAERS
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) was created by the Food andDrug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) toreceive reports about adverse events that may be associated with vaccines. No
prescription drug or biological product, such as a vaccine, is completely free fromside effects. Vaccines protect many people from dangerous illnesses, but vaccines,
like drugs, can cause side effects, a small percentage of which may be serious.
VAERS is used to continually monitor reports to determine whether any vaccine or
vaccine lot has a higher than expected rate of events.
Doctors and other vaccine providers are encouraged to report adverse events, even
if they are not certain that the vaccination was the cause. Since it is difficult todistinguish a coincidental event from one truly caused by a vaccine, the VAERS
database will contain events of both types.
In addition, it is often the case that more than one vaccine was administered, making
it difficult to know to which of the vaccines the event might be attributed. In
analyzing individual reports, researchers examine the medical information about
the event, and obtain more specific information from the reporters whenevernecessary. Patterns of reporting associated with vaccines and vaccine lots are also
analyzed.

Revised: Nov 2020
1/17

About 85-90% of vaccine adverse event reports concern relatively minor events,
such as fevers or redness and swelling at the injection site. The remaining reports(less than 15%) describe serious events, such as hospitalizations, life-threatening
illnesses, or deaths. The reports of serious events are of greatest concern andreceive the most careful scrutiny by VAERS staff.
VAERS researchers apply procedures and methods of analysis to help us closely
monitor the safety of vaccines. When a concern arises, action is taken. We hope that
this brief explanation of the factors associated with vaccines and adverse events willassist you in understanding the data you are viewing.
Requests for additional information should be addressed to:Food and Drug Administration
Division of Freedom of Information
Office of the Executive Secretariat, OC
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1035
Rockville, MD 20857
2. Brief Description of VAERSThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) established VAERS,
which is co-administered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and theCenters for Disease Control (CDC), to accept all reports of suspected adverse events,
in all age groups, after the administration of any U.S. licensed vaccine. On November
1, 1990 VAERS replaced CDC's Monitoring System for Adverse Events Following
Immunization (MSAEFI) for public sector reporting and FDA's Spontaneous
Reporting System for private sector and manufacturer reporting. The primary
purpose for maintaining the database is to serve as an early warning or signaling
system for adverse events not detected during pre-market testing. In addition, theNational Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (NCVIA) requires health careproviders and vaccine manufacturers to report to the DHHS specific adverse events
following the administration of those vaccines outlined in the Act.
All reports are coded and entered to the VAERS database. The adverse events
described in each report were coded utilizing the FDA's Coding Symbols for a
Thesaurus of Adverse Reaction Terms (COSTART) from November 1990 until
1/16/2007. On 1/17/2007 the VAERS coding system was converted to aninternational coding system that is used worldwide. This system is called the
Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). The MedDRA coding system
uses key words representing the medical condition(s) described in the case reportand converts them to standardized codes. The MedDRA codes provided in thedataset are called the "Preferred Terms"; there are more than 17,000 Preferred
Revised: Nov 2020
2/17

Term codes in the MedDRA system. The MedDRA coding system is more detailed
than the COSTART system. Therefore, the MedDRA system is not only standardized
for international use, but also able to code medical terms in a more exacting mannerthan the COSTART system design. All the COSTART codes that were used in the
VAERS data prior to January 17, 2007 have been converted to MedDRA coding
terms. The MedDRA coding system is updated semi-annually, and terms may be
added, deleted, or changed with each new release. VAERS reports are coded using
the MedDRA version in effect at the time the codes are entered; therefore, different
terms may be used to describe similar events in reports coded at different times.
If you desire more information about MedDRA, please visit the following web site:
http://www.meddramsso.com/
A new version of the VAERS form, VAERS 2, was released in July 2017. Some fields
in the VAERS 1 form were modified and others discontinued. We currently accept
both versions of the form and identify them in the public data files.
3. VAERS Data Should be Interpreted with Caution
•

•

•
•
•

•
•

VAERS data are from a passive surveillance system and represent unverified
reports of health events that occur after vaccination. Such data are subject tolimitations of under-reporting, simultaneous administration of multiple
vaccine antigens, reporting bias, and lack of incidence rates in unvaccinatedcomparison groups.
When reporting and evaluating data from VAERS, it is important to note thatfor any reported event, no cause and effect relationship has been established.
The event may have been related to an underlying disease or condition, tomedications being taken concurrently, or may have occurred by chance.
A report often involves more than one vaccine and may involve more than
one reported adverse event.
In certain cases, VAERS requests additional information from reporters,
healthcare providers and other parties.
When multiple reports of a single case or event are received, only the firstreport received is included in the publicly accessible dataset. Subsequent
reports may contain additional or conflicting data, and there is no assurance
that the data provided in the public dataset is the most accurate or current
available.
A given report may meet more than one criterion for classification as"serious."
Accumulations of events reported to a passive surveillance system do notallow incidence rate calculations due to the generally unknown extent ofunder-reporting as well as lack of information on the number of people being
vaccinated.
Revised: Nov 2020
3/17

Disclaimer: Please note that VAERS staff follow-up on all serious and other selected
adverse event reports to obtain additional medical, laboratory, and/or autopsy
records to help understand the concern raised. However, in general, coding terms in
VAERS do not change based on the information received during the follow-up
process. VAERS data should be used with caution as numbers and conditions do notreflect data collected during follow-up. Note that the inclusion of events in VAERS
data does not infer causality.
4. Description of Data Files
VAERS data is accessible by two mechanisms: by downloading raw data in commaseparated value (CSV) files for import into a database, spreadsheet, or text editing
program, or by use of the CDC WONDER online search tool.
The downloadable VAERS public data set consists of three separate data files. Thesefiles are provided by calendar year beginning with the first VAERS reports reported
in the latter part of 1990. The public data set is updated periodically, and the date of
the update is referenced on the website. We currently accept the 2 versions of the
VAERS form; fields in the VAERS 2 form are referred to as Items and Boxes in the
VAERS 1 version. Comma-separated-value (CSV) files are industry-standard text
files compatible with most of the major database or statistical analysis products on
the market. Each data set is available for download in 2 formats: as three separate
CSV files or as a compressed Zip file that contains the three CSV files listed for the
specific year. Please note that for security reasons we require a CAPTCHA password
to be entered by the user during download.
CDC WONDER, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
is an easy-to-use menu-driven system requiring no computer expertise or special
software that provides access to a wide array of public health information. With CDC
WONDER you can produce tables, maps, charts, and data extracts showing theincidence of vaccine adverse events, and select specific event, vaccine, anddemographic criteria to produce cross-tabulated incidence measures. You can also
limit and index your data by several variables. VAERS data is available on CDC
WONDER at http://wonder.cdc.gov/vaers.html. Additional information about CDC
WONDER is available at http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/help/vaers.html .
For each section below, each row in a table refers to a separate field (or column) in
the data. The "Header" provides the field name or column "header." "Type"describes the type of data contained in the data field. The information inparenthesis specifies the data format or number of digits or characters contained in
the field. There are three data types:

Revised: Nov 2020
4/17

1. NUM = numeric data
2. CHAR = text or "character" data
3. DATE = date fields in mm/dd/yy format
No data is provided that would allow identification of any individuals associatedwith these reports. Each field, each row, in the table pertains to information
recorded in (or derived from) the various numbered sections of the VAERS form
except when otherwise specified.

Revised: Nov 2020
5/17

4.1 VAERSDATA.CSV
The following table provides a detailed description of the data provided in each fieldof the VAERSDATA.CSV file. The first two fields in this table are the only fields of thedataset not derived from the VAERS form. As we currently accept 2 versions of the
VAERS form, the corresponding mapping is included to facilitate review. The fields
are listed in the order they appear on the file not on the VAERS form
HeaderType
Num(6)VAERS 2Form


VAERS 1Form


VAERS_ID
RECVDATESTATEAGE_YRSCAGE_YR

Date
Char(2)Num(xxx.x)
Num(xxx)
DerivedItem 6
Derived


Box 1
Box 4
Derived

CAGE_MO

Num(.x or 1)

Derived

DerivedSEX
RPT_DATESYMPTOM_TEXTDIEDDATEDIED
L_THREAT
ER_VISIT

Char(1)
Date
Char(32,000)

Item 3
Discontinued
Item 18

Box 5
Box 6
Box 7

Char(1)
Date
Char(1)
Char(1)

Item 21
Item 21
Item 21
Discontinued

Box 8
Box 8
Box 8
Box 8

HOSPITALHOSPDAYS

Char(1)
Num(3)

Item 21
Item 21

Box 8
Box 8

X_STAY

Char(1)

Item 21

Box 8

DISABLERECOVD
VAX_DATEONSET_DATE

Char(1)
Char(1)Date
Date

Item 21
Item 20
Item 4Item 5

Box 8
Box 9
Box 10Box 11

NUMDAYS

Num(5)

Derived

DerivedDescription ofContents
VAERS Identification
NumberDate report was receivedState
Age in Years
Calculated age of patientin yearsCalculated age of patientin months
Sex
Date Form Completed
Reported symptom text
Died
Date of Death
Life-Threatening Illness
Emergency Room orDoctor Visit
Hospitalized
Number of days
Hospitalized
Prolongation of Existing
Hospitalization
Disability
Recovered
Vaccination Date
Adverse Event Onset
Date
Number of days (Onset
date - Vax. Date)

Revised: Nov 2020
6/17

Header

Type
Char(32,000)

VAERS 2Form
Item 19

VAERS 1Form
Box 12

LAB_DATA
V_ADMINBY

Char(3)Item 16

Box 15

V_FUNDBY

Char(3)

Discontinued

Box 16OTHER_MEDS

Char(240)

Item 9Box 17

CUR_ILL

Char(32,000)

Item 11

Box 18HISTORY

Char(32,000)

Item 12

Box 19PRIOR_VAX

Char(128)

Item 23

Box 21SPLTTYPE

Char(25)

Item 26

Box 24

FORM_VERS

Num(1)TODAYS_DATE
BIRTH_DEFEC
T
OFC_VISIT

Date

Item 7

X

Char(1)

Item 21X

Char(1)

Item 21X

ER_ED_VISIT

Char(1)

Item 21X

ALLERGIES

Char(32,000)

Item 10X

Description ofContents
Diagnostic laboratory
dataType of facility where
vaccine wasadministered
Type of funds used topurchase vaccines
Other Medications
Illnesses at time of
vaccination
Chronic or long-standing
health conditions
Prior Vaccination Event
information
Manufacturer/Immuniza
tion Project Report
Number
VAERS form version 1 or
2
Date Form Completed
Congenital anomaly orbirth defectDoctor or other
healthcare provider
office/clinic visit
Emergency
room/department or
urgent care
Allergies to medications,food, or other products* The summation of the two variables CAGE_YR and CAGE_MO provide the calculated age of aperson. For example, if CAGE_YR=1 and CAGE_MO=.5 then the age of the individual is 1.5 years or 1
year 6 months.

Revised: Nov 2020
7/17

4.2 VAERSVAX.CSVThe fields described in this table provide the remaining vaccine information (e.g.,
vaccine name, manufacturer, lot number, route, site, and number of previous doses
administered), for each of the vaccines listed in Item 17 (VAERS 2 form) or Box 13(VAERS 1.0 form). The VAERS 1 field VAX_DOSE was discontinued in the VAERS 2
form; when a value exists, a 1 is added to equate to the VAX_DOSE_SERIES field.
There is a matching record in this file with the VAERSDATA file identified by
VAERS_ID.
Header
VAERS_ID
VAX_TYPE
VAX_MANUVAX_LOTVAX_DOSE_SERIESVAX_ROUTE
VAX_SITE
VAX_NAME

Type
Num(6)
Char(15)
Char(40)
Char(15)
Char (3)Char(6)
Char(6)
Char(100)

Description of Contents
VAERS Identification Number
Administered Vaccine Type
Vaccine Manufacturer
Manufacturer's Vaccine Lot
Number of doses administered
Vaccination Route
Vaccination Site
Vaccination Name

4.3 VAERSSYMPTOMS.CSV
The fields described in this table provide the adverse event coded terms utilizing the
MedDRA dictionary. Coders will search for specific terms in Items 18 and 19 in
VAERS 2 form or Boxes 7 and 12 on the VAERS 1 form and code them to asearchable and consistent MedDRA term; note that terms are included in the .csv filein alphabetical order. There can be an unlimited amount of coded terms for a given
event. Each row in the .csv will contain up to 5 MedDRA terms per VAERS ID; thus,
there could be multiple rows per VAERS ID. For each of the VAERS_ID’s listed in the
VAERSDATA.CSV table, there is a matching record in this file, identified by
VAERS_ID.
Header
VAERS_IDSYMPTOM1SYMPTOMVERSION1SYMPTOM2SYMPTOMVERSION2SYMPTOM3Type
Num(6)
Char(100)
Num(XX.XX)
Char(100)Num( XX.XX )Char(100)

Description of Contents
VAERS Identification Number
Adverse Event MedDRA Term 1
MedDRA dictionary version number 1
Adverse Event MedDRA Term 1
MedDRA dictionary version number 2Adverse Event MedDRA Term 3
Revised: Nov 2020
8/17

SYMPTOMVERSION3SYMPTOM4SYMPTOMVERSION4SYMPTOM5SYMPTOMVERSION5

Num( XX.XX )Char(100)Num( XX.XX )Char(100)Num( XX.XX )MedDRA dictionary version number 3
Adverse Event MedDRA Term 4
MedDRA dictionary version number 4Adverse Event MedDRA Term 5
MedDRA dictionary version number 5

5. Definitions of Terms Used in Data Files
The following definitions pertain to the fields found in the three separate data files.
5.1 VAERSDATA.CSV
The following definitions pertain to the fields found in the VAERSDATA.CSV filedescribed in section 4.1 above.
1) VAERS Identification Number (VAERS_ID): A sequentially assigned number
used for identification purposes. It serves as a link between the three data files.
2) Receive Date (RECVDATE): The date the VAERS form information was received
to our processing center.
3) State (STATE): The two-letter US Postal Service abbreviation for the home stateof the vaccinee. Please note that all foreign reports are contained in a separate data
file.
4) Age in Years (AGE_YRS): The recorded vaccine recipient's age in years.
5) Age in Years (CAGE_YR): Age of patient in years calculated by (vax_datebirthdate).
6) Age in Months (CAGE_MO): Age of patient in months calculated by (vax_datebirthdate). The values for this variable range from 0 to <1. It is only calculated forpatients age 2 years or less. The summation of the two variables CAGE_YR and
CAGE_MO provide the calculated age of a person. For example, if CAGE_YR=1 and
CAGE_MO=.5 then the age of the individual is 1.5 years or 1 year 6 months.
7) Sex (SEX): Sex of the vaccine recipient (M = Male, F = Female, Unknown = Blank).

Revised: Nov 2020
9/17

8) Date Form Completed (RPT_DATE): Date the VAERS form was completed by
the reporter as recorded on the specified field of the form. This is a VAERS 1 form
field only.
9) Reported Symptom Text (SYMPTOM_TEXT): This is the symptom text
recorded in the form. MedDRA Terms are derived from this text and placed in the
VAERSSYMPTOMS file.
10) Patient Outcomes: The reporter's assessment of the vaccine recipient
outcome is recorded on the VAERS form. Selections checked in the form determine
whether a report is considered to be a non-serious report, a serious report, or adeath report.
• Died (DIED): If the vaccine recipient died a "Y" is used; otherwise the field
will be blank.
• Date of Death: (DATEDIED): If the vaccine recipient died there is space inthis field to record the date of death; otherwise the field will be blank.
• Life Threatening (L_THREAT): If the vaccine recipient had a lifethreatening event associated with the vaccination a "Y" is placed is used;otherwise the field will be blank.
• Emergency Room (ER_VISIT): If the vaccine recipient required an
emergency room or doctor visit a "Y" is placed in this field; otherwise thefield will be blank. If this is the only option checked the report is notconsidered serious. This is a VAERS 1 form field only.
• Hospitalized (HOSPITAL): If the vaccine recipient was hospitalized as aresult of the vaccination a "Y" is used; otherwise the field will be blank.
• Days Hospitalized (HOSPDAYS): If the reporter checked that the vaccine
recipient was hospitalized a space is provided in this field to record thenumber of days hospitalized; otherwise the field will be blank.
• Prolonged Hospitalization (X_STAY): If a patient's hospitalization is
prolonged as a result of the adverse event associated with the vaccinationa "Y" will be placed in this field; otherwise the field will be blank.
• Disability (DISABLE): If the vaccine recipient was disabled as a result of
the vaccination a "Y" is placed in this field; otherwise the field will beblank.
• Congenital Anomaly or Birth Defect (BIRTH_DEFECT): If the vaccine
recipient had a congenital anomaly or birth defect associated with thevaccination, a "Y" is used; otherwise the field will be blank. This is a
VAERS 2 form field only.
• Doctor or other healthcare professional office/clinic visit: If thevaccine recipient had a doctor or other healthcare professional

Revised: Nov 2020
10/17

office/clinic visit associated with the vaccination a "Y" is used; otherwise
the field will be blank. This is a VAERS 2 form field only.
• Emergency room/department or urgent care: If the vaccine recipient
had an emergency room/department or urgent care visit associated withthe vaccination a "Y" is used; otherwise the field will be blank. This is a
VAERS 2 form field only.
11) Recovered (RECOVD): A "Y" is placed in the field if the vaccine recipient
recovered from the adverse event. "N" indicates that the vaccinee has not recoveredfrom the adverse event. "U" or blank indicates that the vaccine recipient's recovery
status is unknown.
12) Vaccination Date (VAX_DATE): The date of vaccination as recorded in thespecified field of the form.
13) Onset Date (ONSET_DATE): The date of the onset of adverse event symptoms
associated with the vaccination as recorded in the specified field of the form.
14) Onset Interval (NUMDAYS): The calculated interval (in days) from thevaccination date to the onset date.
15) Relevant Diagnostic Tests/Laboratory Data (LAB_DATA): This text fieldcontains narrative about any relevant diagnostic tests or laboratory results asrecorded on the specified field of the form.
16) Vaccine Administered at (V_ADMINBY): The reporter may note on the VAERS
form the type of facility administering the vaccine. The options are different
depending on the form version; additional options were added on the VAERS 2
form.
•
•

VAERS 1.0: PUB=Public, PVT=Private, MIL=Military, OTH=Other,
UNK=Unknown
VAERS 2.0: PUB=Public, PVT=Private, MIL=Military, PHM=Pharmacy orstore, SCH=School or student health clinic, SEN=Nursing home or seniorliving facility, WRK=Workplace clinic, OTH=Other, UNK=Unknown17) Vaccine Purchased with (V_FUNDBY): This is a VAERS 1 field only. The
reporter may note in Box 16 on the VAERS form which type of funds were used topurchase the vaccines administered in Box 13 (PUB=Public, PVT=Private,
MIL=Military; OTH=Other/Unknown).

Revised: Nov 2020
11/17

18) Other Medications (OTHER_MEDS): This text field contains narrative about
any prescription or non-prescription drugs the vaccine recipient was taking at thetime of vaccination as recorded on the specified field of the form.
19) Current Illnesses (CUR_ILL): This text field contains narrative about any
illnesses at the time of the vaccination as noted on the specified field of the form.
20) Pre-existing Conditions (HISTORY): This text field contains narrative about
any pre-existing physician-diagnosed birth defects or medical condition that existed
at the time of vaccination as noted on the specified field of the form. For the VAERS
1 form, this field also includes pre-existing physician-diagnosed allergies.
21) Allergies to medications, food or other products (ALLERGIES): This text
field contains narrative about any pre-existing physician-diagnosed allergies thatexisted at the time of vaccination as noted in the specified field of the form. This is a
VAERS 2 form field only.
22) Prior Vaccination Event Information (PRIOR_VAX): This field provides priorvaccination event information as recorded on the specified field of the form.
23) Manufacturer Number (SPLTTYPE): Manufacturer number or Immunization
Project number as recorded on the specified field of the form.
5.2 VAERSVAX.CSVThe following definitions pertain to the fields found in the VAERSVAX.CSV filedescribed in section 4.2 above. Except for VAERS_ID, the information reflects Item
17 on VAERS 2 form or Box 13 on VAERS 1 form.
1) VAERS Identification Number (VAERS_ID): A sequentially assigned number
used for identification purposes. It serves as a link between the three data files.
2) Vaccine Type (VAX_TYPE): The data list the vaccines group name by code.
Similar vaccines are grouped together (e.g., FLU, DTAP).
Vaccine Code
6VAX-F
ADEN
ADEN_4_7

Vaccine TypeDIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS AND ACELLULARPERTUSSIS ADSORBED + INACTIVATED POLIOVIRUS +HEPATITIS B + HAEMOPHILUS B CONJUGATE VACCINEADENOVIRUS VACCINE LIVE ORAL TYPE 7
ADENOVIRUS TYPE 4 & 7 VACCINE, LIVE ORAL
Revised: Nov 2020
12/17

ANTH
BCG
CEE
CHOL
DF
DPIPV
DPP
DT
DTAP
DTAPH
DTAPHEPBIPDTAPIPV
DTAPIPVHIB
DTIPV
DTOX
DTP
DTPHEPDTPHIB
DTPIHIDTPIPV
DTPPHIBEBZR
FLU(H1N1)
FLU3
FLU4

ANTHRAX VACCINEBACILLUS CALMETTE-GUERIN VACCINECENTRAL EUROPEAN ENCEPHALITISCHOLERA VACCINE
DENGUE FEVER VACCINEDIPHTHERIA, PERTUSSIS + INACTIVATED POLIO VIRUS
DIPHTHERIA/PERTUSSIS/POLIO (ORAL [LIVE OR
INACTIVATED NOT NOTED])DIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS, PEDIATRICDIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS AND ACELLULARPERTUSSIS VACCINEDIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS AND ACELLULARPERTUSSIS VACCINE + HAEMOPHILUS B CONJUGATE VACCINEDIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS AND ACELLULARPERTUSSIS VACCINE + HEPATITIS B + INACTIVATEDPOLIOVIRUS VACCINEDIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS AND ACELLULARPERTUSSIS VACCINE + INACTIVATED POLIOVIRUS VACCINEDIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS AND ACELLULARPERTUSSIS VACCINE + INACTIVATED POLIOVIRUS VACCINE +HAEMOPHILUS B CONJUGATE VACCINEDIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS, PEDIATRIC +INACTIVATED POLIOVIRUS VACCINEDIPHTHERIA TOXOIDDIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS AND PERTUSSISVACCINE
DIPHTHERIA, TETANUS, PERTUSSIS + HEPATITIS B
DIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS AND PERTUSSISVACCINE + HAEMOPHILUS B CONJUGATE VACCINEDIPHTHERIA/TETANUS/WHOLE PERTUSSIS + INACTIVATEDPOLIO VIRUS + HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZA B
DIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS AND PERTUSSISVACCINE + INACTIVATED POLIOVIRUS VACCINEDIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS TOXOIDS AND PERTUSSISVACCINE + INACTIVATED POLIOVIRUS VACCINE +HAEMOPHILUS B CONJUGATE VACCINE (TETANUS TOXOIDCONJUGATE)EBOLA ZAIRE VACCINE
INFLUENZA (H1N1) MONOVALENTINFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE, TRIVALENTINFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE, QUADRIVALENT
Revised: Nov 2020
13/17

FLUA3
FLUA4
FLUC3
FLUC4
FLUN(H1N1)
FLUN3
FLUN4
FLUR3
FLUR4
FLUX
FLUX(H1N1)
H5N1
HBHEPB
HBPV
HEP
HEPA
HEPAB
HEPATYP
HIBV
HPV2
HPV4
HPV9
HPVX
IPV
JEV
JEV1
JEVX
LYME
MEA
MEN
MENB
MENHIB
MER
MM
MMR
MMRV
MNC

INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE, TRIVALENT, ADJUVANTINFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE, QUADRIVALENT, ADJUVANTINFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE, TRIVALENT, CELL-CULTUREDERIVED
INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE, QUADRIVALENT, CELLCULTURE-DERIVED
INFLUENZA (H1N1) MONOVALENT (NASAL SPRAY)
INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE (NASAL SPRAY)
INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE QUADRIVALENT (NASAL SPRAY)
INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE, TRIVALENT, RECOMBINANT
INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE, QUADRIVALENT, RECOMBINANT
INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE, UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER
INFLUENZA (H1N1) MONOVALENT, UNKNOWNMANUFACTURER
PANDEMIC FLU VACCINEHAEMOPHILUS B CONGUGATE VACCINE + HEPATITIS B
HAEMOPHILUS B POLYSACCHARIDE VACCINEHEPATITIS B VIRUS VACCINEHEPATITIS AHEPATITIS A + HEPATITIS B
INACTIVATED HEPATITIS A + TYPHOID POLYSACCHARIDEVACCINE ADSORBEDHAEMOPHILUS B CONJUGATE VACCINEHUMAN PAPILLOMAVAVIRUS BIVALENTHUMAN PAPILLOMAVAVIRUS QUADRIVALENTHUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS 9-VALENTHUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (NO BRAND NAME)POLIOVIRUS VACCINE INACTIVATED
JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS VACCINE, INACTIVATED
JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS VACCINE, INACTIVATED
JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS VACCINE (NO BRAND NAME)LYME DISEASE VACCINEMEASLESMENINGOCOCCAL POLYSACCHARIDE VACCINE
MENINGOCOCCAL GROUP B VACCINE, rDNA ABSORBEDMENINGOCOCCAL CONJUGATE + HIBMEASLES AND RUBELLA VIRUS VACCINE, LIVEMEASLES AND MUMPS VIRUS VACCINE, LIVEMEASLES, MUMPS AND RUBELLA VIRUS VACCINE, LIVEMEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA AND VARICELLA VACCINE LIVEMENINGOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE
Revised: Nov 2020
14/17

MNQ
MNQHIB
MU
MUR
OPV
PER
PLAGUE
PNC
PNC10
PNC13
PPV
RAB
RUB
RV
RV1
RV5
RVX
SMALL
SMALLMNK
SSEV
TBE
TD
TDAP
TDAPIPV
TTOX
TYP
UNK
VARCELVARZOS
YF

MENINGOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE
MENINGOCOCCAL GROUPS C AND Y + HAEMOPHILUS B
TETANUS TOXOID CONJUGATE VACCINEMUMPS VIRUS VACCINE, LIVEMUMPS AND RUBELLA VIRUS VACCINE, LIVEPOLIOVIRUS VACCINE TRIVALENT, LIVE, ORALPERTUSSIS VACCINEPLAGUE VACCINEPNEUMOCOCCAL 7-VALENT CONJUGATE VACCINEPNEUMOCOCCAL 10-VALENT CONJUGATE VACCINEPNEUMOCOCCAL 13-VALENT CONJUGATE VACCINEPNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE, POLYVALENTRABIES VIRUS VACCINERUBELLAROTAVIRUS VACCINE, LIVE, ORAL, TETRAVALENTROTAVIRUS VACCINE, LIVE, ORALROTAVIRUS VACCINE, LIVE, ORAL, PENTAVALENTROTAVIRUS (NO BRAND NAME)
SMALLPOX VACCINESMALLPOX + MONKEYPOX VACCINESPRING/SUMMER ENCEPHALITIS VACCINE
TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS VACCINETETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS, ADULTTETANUS TOXOID, REDUCED DIPHTHERIA TOXOID AND
ACELLULAR PERTUSSIS VACCINE, ADSORBEDTETANUS, DIPHTHERIA AND ACELLULAR PERTUSSIS, AND
INACTIVATED POLIO VIRUSTETANUS TOXOIDTYPHOID VACCINEUNKNOWN VACCINE TYPE
VARIVAX-VARICELLA VIRUS LIVEVARICELLA-ZOSTER VACCINEYELLOW FEVER VACCINE

3) Vaccine Manufacturer (VAX_MANU): This field identifies the manufacturer ofthe each of the vaccines listed.
4) Manufacturers Vaccine Lot (VAX_LOT): This field identified the lot number ofthe vaccines listed.

Revised: Nov 2020
15/17

5) Doses administered (VAERS_DOSE_SERIES): This field identifies the vaccine
dose of the recorded vaccines listed. The VAERS 1 field VAX_DOSE was discontinued
in the VAERS 2 form; when a value exists, a 1 is added to equate to the
VAX_DOSE_SERIES field.
6) Vaccination Route (VAX_ROUTE): This field identifies the vaccine route ofadministration.
Abbreviation
UN
ID
IM
SC
IN
PO
SYR
JET
OT

Route
Unknown
Intradermal
Intramuscular
Subcutaneous
Intranasal
Per Oral
Needle and syringe (not specified further)
Needle free jet injector device
Other7) Vaccination Site (VAX_SITE): This field identified the anatomic site where thevaccination was administered.
8) Vaccine Name (VAX_NAME): This field provides the brand name of the vaccine
administered.
5.3 VAERSSYMPTOMS.CSV
The following definitions pertain to the fields found in the VAERSSYMPTOMS.CSV
file described in section 4.3 above.
1) VAERS Identification Number (VAERS_ID): A sequentially assigned number
used for identification purposes. It serves as a link between the three data files.
2) MedDRA Term (SYMPTOM1-5): The data in these fields are equivalent to the
PT TERM from the MedDRA codebook. MedDRA terms are extracted from thenarrative text in VAERS 2 (Item 18 and 19) and VAERS 1 (Box 7 and 12). Duplicates
may appear in data and terms are listed in alphabetical order. In case a report has
more than 5 terms multiple rows with 5 terms each will be listed for that VAERS ID.
3) MedDRA Term Version (SYMPTOMVERSION1-5): Version of MedDRA
dictionary from which the MedDRA term was first created.
Revised: Nov 2020
16/17

7. Downloadable VAERS Data Sets Disclaimer
Please note that VAERS staff follow-up on all serious and other selected adverse
event reports to obtain additional medical, laboratory, and/or autopsy records tohelp understand the concern raised. However, in general coding terms in VAERS do
not change based on the information received during the follow-up process. VAERS
data should be used with caution as numbers and conditions do not reflect datacollected during follow-up. Note that the inclusion of events in VAERS data does notinfer causality.

Revised: Nov 202017/17