What is the VAERS database?

[trotsky]

Since a lot of vaccination-related threads often end up referring to VAERS reports, it might be beneficial for all participants of this forum to learn a bit about what this database IS, and what it IS NOT.

From http://vaers.hhs.gov/vaers.htm:

What is VAERS?

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national vaccine safety surveillance program co-sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). VAERS collects and analyzes information from reports of adverse events following immunization. Since 1990, VAERS has received over 123,000 reports, most of which describe mild side effects such as fever. Very rarely, people experience serious adverse events following immunization. By monitoring such events, VAERS helps to identify any important new safety concerns and thereby assists in ensuring that the benefits of vaccines continue to be far greater than the risks.

So, first point is that the VAERS database consists of *reported* events following immunization. Not verified, not studied, REPORTED. Another FAQ question clarifies:

Are all events reported to VAERS caused by vaccinations?

No. VAERS receives reports of many events that occur after immunization. Some of these events may occur coincidentally following vaccination, while others may truly be caused by vaccination. Studies help determine if there is more than a temporal (time) association between immunization and adverse events. The fact that an adverse event occurred following immunization is not conclusive evidence that the event was caused by a vaccine. Factors such as medical history and other medications given near the time of the vaccination must be examined to determine if they could have caused the adverse event. It is important to remember that many adverse events reported to VAERS may not be caused by vaccines.

The upshot of this is that NO conclusions can be drawn from raw VAERS data. This is where many anti-vaccination activists have gone wrong (see the Geiers in particular). They take that raw data and ASSUME that everything reported A) really happened, and B) is attributable to a vaccine.

I think we can all agree that discussions in this forum will be much better served by EVERYONE understanding this.

[Mojorabbit]

1. I was under the impression

all drugs have post market reporting. I know I was one of the original 400 or so for Chantix. I believe if a pattern is seen then the side effect listing is updated. You are only going to find more problems after it is given to a much larger population than when used in clinical trials. I have no opinion one way or another re vaccines.

[Warpy]

2. Exactly, all adverse reactions that are reported to physicians

are written up and passed through channels to the FDA. It never stops.

Most are coincidental. Only when one repeats many times is it investigated as a true side effect and/or reaction.

It's also true that some reactions are not detected in the small population of initial test subjects. Only wide release will turn up things that affect a statistically negligible segment of the population but which are true side effects and/or adverse reactions.

[SidDithers]

3. K&R...

But, unfortunately, there are too many who won't be able to understand what you've posted, and will continue screaming about teh EVUL Gardasil.

Sid

[xchrom]

4. kick

[cosmik debris]

5. This reminded me...

People who pick through the VAERS database looking for useful tidbits are like homeless people picking through the garbage behind a restaurant.

They may find something that looks good, but there is no assurance that it is what it appears to be.

And it just may turn you into the Hulk!

[Orrex]

6. It distresses me that after nearly two weeks, the thread still only has six replies

It's almost as if a large contingent of Health Forum regulars doesn't want to talk about it...


Nah!

[Hannah Bell]

7. Who can report to VAERS? top

Anyone can report to VAERS.

The majority of VAERS reports are sent in by vaccine manufacturers (42%)

and health care providers (30%).

The remaining reports are obtained from state immunization programs (12%),

vaccine recipients (or their parent/guardians, 7%)

and other sources (9%).

Vaccine recipients or their parents or guardians are encouraged to seek the help of their health care professional in filling out the VAERS form.



No conclusions can be drawn from the data, but hypotheses can be generated, & that's the point of having a reporting system: I think we all should understand this.

[trotsky]

8. Yes, *anyone* can report to VAERS.

You don't have to be a medical professional. You don't have to have any qualifications or training to diagnose a condition, you don't even have to be sure if something happened before or after a vaccination. That's kind of the point here - the data in its raw state is useless to make any conclusions.

hypotheses can be generated, & that's the point of having a reporting system: I think we all should understand this.

The hypotheses should be generated by people who actually investigate the incidents. People with degrees from Google U. aren't qualified.

[beam me up scottie]

9. But but but, where else would I be able to find all of these meaningless statistics?

It's almost as educational as Mercola's website...

[salvorhardin]

10. I know where you can seek help

Kevin Trudeau has an all natural supplement that will have you recalling 36% more meaningless statistics than ever before.

ETA: Trudeau must be truly envious of Mercola. After all, Mercola has been peddling his quackery for ages and hasn't even gone to prison. For anyone who doesn't know who Trudeau is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSK8z5Pf3LA

[beam me up scottie]

11. And since he's not part of the evil pharmaceutical complex, I'm sure he gives his merchandise away!

Only evil scientists and doctors accept money.

[varkam]

12. kick