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Safety (Pharmacovigilance) of COVID-19 Vaccines
After a vaccine is authorized or approved for use, many vaccine safety monitoring systems watch for adverse events (possible side effects). This continued monitoring can pick up on adverse events that may not have been seen in clinical trials. If an unexpected adverse event is seen, experts quickly study it further to assess whether it is a true safety concern. Experts then decide whether changes are needed in U.S. vaccine recommendations. This monitoring is critical to help ensure that the benefits continue to outweigh the risks for people who receive vaccines.
FDA’s June 2020 guidance document also includes important recommendations for ongoing safety evaluation after any COVID-19 vaccine is made available in the United States.
CDC is working to expand safety surveillance through new systems and additional information sources, as well as by scaling up existing safety monitoring systems. Expanded Safety Monitoring Systems
The following systems and information sources add an additional layer of safety monitoring, giving CDC and FDA the ability to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine safety in real time and make sure COVID-19 vaccines are as safe as possible
CDC V-SAFE — A new smartphone-based, after-vaccination health checker for people who receive COVID-19 vaccines. V-SAFE will use text messaging and web surveys from CDC to check in with vaccine recipients for health problems following COVID-19 vaccination. The system also will provide telephone follow up to anyone who reports medically significant (important) adverse events.
CDC National Healthcare Safety Network NHSN — An acute care and long-term care facility monitoring system with reporting to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System or VAERS
FDA Other large insurer/payer databases — A system of administrative and claims-based data for surveillance and research
Existing Safety Monitoring Systems
As people get vaccinated, CDC, FDA, and other federal partners will use the following existing, robust systems and data sources to conduct ongoing safety monitoring: General public
CDC and FDA: Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System - VAERS
The national system that collects reports from healthcare professionals, vaccine manufacturers, and the public of adverse events that happen after vaccination; reports of adverse events that are unexpected, appear to happen more often than expected, or have unusual patterns are followed up with specific studies.
CDC Vaccine Safety Datalink VSD — A network of 9 integrated healthcare organizations across the United States that conducts active surveillance and research; the system is also used to help determine whether possible side effects identified using VAERS are actually related to vaccination
CDC Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment CISA — A collaboration between CDC and 7 medical research centers to provide expert consultation on individual cases and conduct clinical research studies about vaccine safety
FDA and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: — A claims-based system for active surveillance and research
FDA Biologics Effectiveness and Safety System BEST — A system of electronic health record, administrative, and claims-based data for active surveillance and research
FDA Sentinel Initiative external icon — A system of electronic health record, administrative, and claims-based data for active surveillance and research
Members of the military
Department of Defense (DOD): DOD VAERS — Adverse event reporting to VAERS for the DOD populations
DOD *Vaccine Adverse Event Clinical System* VAECS — A system for case tracking and evaluation of adverse events following immunization in DOD and DOD-affiliated populations
DOD *DOD Electronic Health Record and Defense Medical Surveillance System* — A system of electronic health record and administrative data for active surveillance and research
*Veterans*
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): VA Adverse Drug Event Reporting System VA ADERS external icon — A national reporting system for adverse events following receipt of drugs and immunizations
VA Electronic Health Record and Active Surveillance System — A system of electronic health record and administrative data for active surveillance and research
Tribal nations
Indian Health Service IHS IHS VAERS data external icon — Spontaneous adverse event reporting to VAERS for populations served by IHS and Tribal facilities