Are vaccines tested and monitored for safety?
Yes. Before vaccines are licensed, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires they be extensively tested to ensure safety. This process can take 10 years or longer. Once a vaccine is in use, CDC and FDA monitor its side effects through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Any indication of a problem with a vaccine prompts further investigations by the CDC and FDA. If researchers find a vaccine may be causing a serious side effect, the CDC and FDA will initiate actions appropriate to the nature of the problem. This may include the changing of vaccine labels or packaging, distributing safety alerts, inspecting manufacturers’ facilities and records, withdrawing recommendations for the use of the vaccine, or revoking the vaccine’s license. For more information about VAERS, visit http://vaers.hhs.gov or call the toll-free VAERS information line at 1-800-822-7967.
