Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) & "Hot Lots"

Access VAERS Database Online

NVIC has served as a consumer watchdog on the implementation of The National Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, (PL99-660), which among other things created a centralized surveillance system to which parents, physicians and vaccine manufacturers could report adverse events occurring within thirty days of vaccination. NVIC has assisted many parents in reporting adverse events following vaccination as many doctors refuse to make a report. It is estimated that only 10% of all doctors report a severe health problem which occurs after a drug or vaccine is given to a patient.

In May 1990 we started to track DPT vaccine lot numbers when parents reported their child’s hospitalization, injury or death following vaccination to NVIC. Evaluating adverse event reports from more than 90 families, we found multiple serious reports were from the same vaccine lot numbers. NVIC made three separate presentations to government advisory committees between 1990 and 1993, but no substantive action was ever taken by the FDA or CDC.

Upon further investigation when the VAERS computer data became available through the Freedom of Information Act, we found (1) a lack of reporting by health care providers; (2) a lag time between when the adverse event occurred and when the report is filed; (3) data entry errors; (4) duplicate reports; (5) inadequate follow-up by the government of reported serious injuries and deaths; (6) many lots with very high numbers of reports; and (7) no recall of any lot of vaccine. We do not know how many doses of vaccine are in each lot because the FDA and the drug companies do not release this information to the public. Therefore, it is impossible to precisely compare one lot to another for reactivity.

The old, whole cell DPT vaccine is no longer used in the United States. The U.S. now uses an acellular version of the pertussis vaccine which is a more purified vaccine. 

 In the past fifty years reports of "hot lots" of vaccines, those that appear to be associated with more injuries and deaths than others, have been reported in the United States and Europe.

For many years, NVIC used a computer programmer to analyze the data to determine if "hot lots" were appearing.  Because the data is now available on-line, we suggest you search or download the database and check the lot numbers your child is to receive, prior to your doctor appointment.  Most doctors can give you the lot numbers on the vaccines they are currently using in their office. 

If you suspect that you or your child has experienced a vaccine reaction, report that reaction to the government at the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System.  Due to reporting of adverse events, the rotavirus vaccine was removed from the market for causing bowel obstructions in infants and children.

You can also report a reaction to the National Vaccine Information Center. We have kept a vaccine adverse event database since 1982. To report a reaction to NVIC, click here.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Become a member of the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) and a subscriber to THE VACCINE REACTION. You will be kept up to date on the latest developments in vaccine research, policymaking and laws. You will receive newsletters and action alerts that allow you to participate at the national, state and local level in the growing vaccine safety movement. As a member, you will receive the satisfaction of knowing you are part of this historic movement launched in 1982 by the founding parents of NVIC to help educate other parents and save children from vaccine death and injury.