Conditions Considered Serious Adverse Events in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)

Vaccine-related adverse events that are considered serious:

(1) result in permanent disability

(2) result in hospitalization (if outpatient) or an increase in hospital stay (if inpatient)

(3) cause a life-threatening illness

(4) cause a congenital anomaly (birth defect)

(5) cause death

It is important to confirm that the events is due to the vaccine and not due to another diagnosis.