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.
4,589 adverse event reports (-16% vs 2017)
In 2018, 4,589 adverse event reports were filed for Pneumococcal (Pneumovax) in VAERS. This represents 6.4% of all 71,157 reports for this vaccine.
Of these reports, 11 mentioned death, 204 involved hospitalization, 709 required ER visits, and 60 reported disability.
Compared to the average of 1,871 reports per year for this vaccine, 2018 was above average (+145%).
In 2018, reporting for Pneumococcal (Pneumovax) was within typical ranges. As always, VAERS data reflects reports filed, not confirmed adverse events. Trends should be interpreted alongside vaccination volume and population health data.
| Year | Reports | Deaths | Hosp. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 252 | 0 | 15 |
| 2024 | 708 | 1 | 23 |
| 2023 | 604 | 1 | 29 |
| 2022 | 1,080 | 4 | 52 |
| 2021 | 1,682 | 9 | 53 |
| 2020 | 3,012 | 4 | 111 |
| 2019 | 3,608 | 10 | 149 |
| 2018 ← current | 4,589 | 11 | 204 |
| 2017 | 5,458 | 7 | 181 |
| 2016 | 6,014 | 10 | 173 |
| 2015 | 3,583 | 10 | 170 |
| 2014 | 3,877 | 21 | 234 |
| 2013 | 3,251 | 12 | 207 |
| 2012 | 3,062 | 6 | 211 |
| 2011 | 2,650 | 3 | 151 |
| 2010 | 3,010 | 11 | 210 |
| 2009 | 2,398 | 16 | 177 |
| 2008 | 2,303 | 11 | 176 |
| 2007 | 2,291 | 6 | 151 |
| 2006 | 1,990 | 8 | 139 |
| 2005 | 1,783 | 4 | 118 |
| 2004 | 1,137 | 5 | 106 |
| 2003 | 1,388 | 12 | 67 |
| 2002 | 1,107 | 7 | 78 |
| 2001 | 1,011 | 8 | 60 |
| 2000 | 917 | 7 | 64 |
| 1999 | 978 | 11 | 69 |
| 1998 | 836 | 6 | 59 |
| 1997 | 616 | 8 | 55 |
| 1996 | 477 | 4 | 41 |
| 1995 | 564 | 6 | 51 |
| 1994 | 345 | 5 | 44 |
| 1993 | 237 | 2 | 33 |
| 1992 | 222 | 5 | 30 |
| 1991 | 215 | 1 | 23 |
| 1990 | 97 | 0 | 8 |
This data comes from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), jointly managed by CDC and FDA.