How to Access Data from CDC’s VAERS WONDER System

Step 1: Go to wonder.CDC.gov/VAERS.html. Click on the VAERS Data Search box to start your search. 

Updated February 2015 

You will be taken to the page where you can start your search. 

Accessible version: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/vaers/access-VAERS-data.html
Updated February 2015 

Step 2: Choose which variables you want to see in your results. Clicking the down arrow to the right of the 

Group Results By drop-down list will show all the options. 

Step 3: To see the description of the adverse event as it was reported on the VAERS form, select VAERS ID in the 

first box under Group Results By and select Adverse Event Description under Optional Measures. 

Accessible version: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/vaers/access-VAERS-data.html
Updated February 2015 

Step 4: If you want to give your search printout a title, enter it in the Title box. If you don’t want a title, you can 

leave the box blank. 

Step 5: Scroll down to Select Symptoms where you can choose symptoms to search for. To search for terms, 

click on the Search tab. Select the terms you want to use for your search. As you highlight a term, it is moved to 

the Currently Selected box on the right side of the screen. To select more than one term, hold down the Control 

key. To select a range of terms, hold down the Shift key.

Accessible version: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/vaers/access-VAERS-data.html
Updated February 2015 

Step 6: Scroll down to Select Vaccine Characteristics. When a vaccine is highlighted, it moves to the Currently 

Selected box on the right side of the screen. To search for a specific brand of vaccine, click the Open button at 

the bottom of the section and select the specific brand or brands of vaccine you are interested in. 

Step 7: You can also search for vaccine manufacturer, vaccine dose number, and vaccine lot number. If you 

don’t select any, it will default to all manufacturers, all doses, and all lot numbers.

Accessible version: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/vaers/access-VAERS-data.html
Updated February 2015 

Step 8: Scroll down to Select Location, Age, and Gender, which allows you to select specific locations, ages, and 

genders. If you don’t select anything, it will default to all U.S. states and territories, all ages, and all genders. 

Step 9: Scroll down to Select Other Event Characteristics, which allows you to select characteristics of the 

adverse event you’re interested in. If you don’t select anything, it will default to all adverse events. 

Accessible version: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/vaers/access-VAERS-data.html
Updated February 2015 

Step 10: Scroll down to Search Text Fields. In this section, you can search for exact words that appear in each 

section of the VAERS report. 

Step 11: Scroll down to Select Report Completed Dates, which allows you to search for a specific date that a 

VAERS report was completed. If you leave this blank, it will default to all dates in VAERS, from 1990 to the 

present. 

Accessible version: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/vaers/access-VAERS-data.html
Updated February 2015 

Step 12: Scroll down to Select Report Received Dates, which allows you to search for specific dates that reports 

were received by VAERS. If you leave this blank, it will default to all dates in VAERS. 

Step 13: Scroll down to Select Vaccination Dates, which allows you to search for specific dates when persons 

were vaccinated. If you leave this blank, it will default to all dates in VAERS. 

Accessible version: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/vaers/access-VAERS-data.html
Updated February 2015 

Step 14: Scroll down to Select Adverse Event Onset Dates, which allows you to search for specific dates when 

an adverse event occurred. If you leave this blank, it will default to all dates in VAERS. 

Step 15: Scroll down to Select Death Dates, which allows you to search for a specific date when a death 

occurred. 

Accessible version: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/vaers/access-VAERS-data.html
Updated February 2015 

Step 16: Other Options allows you to choose how your results will appear. 

Step 17: Press any of the Send buttons on the page. Your search results will appear on the screen. Use the scroll 

bar on the right side of the screen to view the full page of results. 

Accessible version: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/vaers/access-VAERS-data.html