Reply To: GBS/CIDP Survey

Dear GH,

For your information – VAERS and the CDC/FDA education – 101

CDC and FDA are monitoring the safety of 2011-2012 flu vaccines through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). VAERS is the nation’s frontline system to detect potential vaccine safety problems. VAERS receives reports from anyone who knows about or has experienced a health problem following flu vaccination. Although VAERS cannot determine if a flu vaccine caused a health problem (or adverse event), the system can detect patterns of potential concern that might require investigation.

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/FluVaccines/

VAERS is a passive reporting system, meaning that reports about adverse events are not automatically collected, but require a report to be filed to VAERS. VAERS reports can be submitted voluntarily by anyone, including healthcare providers, patients, or family members. Reports vary in quality and completeness. They often lack details and sometimes can have information that contains errors. “Underreporting” is one of the main limitations of passive surveillance systems, including VAERS. The term, underreporting “refers to the fact that VAERS receives reports for only a small fraction of actual adverse events.”

http://vaers.hhs.gov/data/index

Enough said from me on this subject. You continue your good work, but I recommend you choose your comments more carefully in the future.

Wishing you the best with warmest regards.

Jethro