Important: VAERS reports alone cannot determine if a vaccine caused an adverse event. Reports may contain incomplete, inaccurate, or unverified information. Correlation does not equal causation.
A data-driven look at adverse events reported after COVID-19 vaccination. With over 1,164,334 VAERS reports, COVID vaccines generated more reports than all other vaccines combined — but context matters.
COVID-19 vaccines generated an unprecedented volume of VAERS reports for several reasons:
The high report count reflects reporting intensity, not necessarily higher risk. A vaccine given to 270+ million Americans will naturally generate more reports than one given to 4 million children. See our denominator problem analysis.
The most frequently reported symptoms after COVID-19 vaccination:
Most of these are expected, mild reactions — headache, fatigue, fever, and pain are normal signs of immune response. They typically resolve within 1-3 days.
Reports are distributed across manufacturers proportional to their market share:
COVID vaccine reports peaked in 2021 during the initial mass vaccination campaign and have declined steadily as booster uptake decreased:
COVID vaccine reports span all age groups, reflecting the broad eligibility:
One of the confirmed rare side effects of mRNA COVID vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) is myocarditis — inflammation of the heart muscle — particularly in young males after the second dose. While the risk is real, it's important to note:
Read our full myocarditis analysis for detailed data.
COVID-19 vaccines have the most VAERS reports of any vaccine by far, but this reflects an unprecedented vaccination campaign with enhanced reporting requirements — not necessarily higher risk per dose. When adjusted for the hundreds of millions of doses administered, the adverse event rates are consistent with clinical trial data.
This page presents the raw data transparently. For medical advice about COVID vaccination, consult your healthcare provider.