Vaccine adverse events, including death, are grossly under-reported

Here's the evidence from the peer-reviewed literature.

“Although 25% of ambulatory patients experience an adverse drug event, less than 0.3% of all adverse drug events and 1-13% of serious events are reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Likewise, fewer than 1% of vaccine adverse events are reported.”

Lazarus, Ross et al. Grant Final Report. Grant ID: R18 HS 017045. Electronic Support for Public Health–Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (ESP:VAERS). Submitted to The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

“Thus, the ratio of ESAE to OSAE is 31 to 1, suggesting a URF of 31 (NSAE_Pfizer_trial/NSAE_Pfizer_VAERS = ~1.4M/43,948).”

Critical Appraisal of VAERS Pharmacovigilance: Is the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) a Functioning Pharmacovigilance System? (2021) Rose J. Science, Public Health Policy and the Law. 2021 Oct 01; v3.2019-2024

“Studies estimate that over 90% of AEs go unreported by healthcare professionals (HCPs).”

Hodel KVS, Fiuza BSD, Conceição RS, Aleluia ACM, Pitanga TN, Fonseca LMdS, Valente CO, Minafra-Rezende CS, Machado BAS. Pharmacovigilance in Vaccines: Importance, Main Aspects, Perspectives, and Challenges—A Narrative Review. Pharmaceuticals. 2024; 17(6):807.

“Underreporting is a major limitation of spontaneous notification systems, as it is estimated that only 6–10% of all ADRs are reported.”

García-Abeijon, P.; Costa, C.; Taracido, M.; Herdeiro, M.T.; Torre, C.; Figueiras, A. Factors Associated with Underreporting of Adverse Drug Reactions by Health Care Professionals: A Systematic Review Update. Drug Saf. 2023, 46, 625–636

“The median under-reporting rate across the 37 studies was 94% (interquartile range 82-98%).”

Hazell L, Shakir SAW. Under-reporting of adverse drug reactions. A systematic review. Drug Saf. 2006;29(5):385–396. doi: 10.2165/00002018-200932010-00002

“Other factors associated with under-reporting were ignorance (only severe ADRs need to be reported) in 95%; diffidence (fear of appearing ridiculous for reporting merely suspected ADRs) in 72%; lethargy (an amalgam of procrastination, lack of interest or time to find a report card, and other excuses) in 77%; indifference (the one case that an individual doctor might see could not contribute to medical knowledge) and insecurity (it is nearly impossible to determine whether or not a drug is responsible for a particular adverse reaction) in 67%; and complacency (only safe drugs are allowed on the market) in 47% of studies.”

Herdeiro MT, Figueiras A, Polónia J, et al. Physicians’ attitudes and adverse drug reaction reporting. Drug Saf. 2005;28:825–833. doi: 10.2165/00002018-200528090-00007

“A systematic review by Hazell and Shakir analyzed 37 studies conducted in different countries and found that the rate of underreporting of ADRs exceeded 90% in many cases.”

Al Meslamani, A.Z. Underreporting of Adverse Drug Events: A Look into the Extent, Causes, and Potential Solutions. Expert. Opin. Drug Saf. 2023, 22, 351–35

“[The] mean proportion of ADR reporting for 19 years reached from 5.87 to 10.33 per 100 000 inhabitants.”

Khalili M, Mesgarpour B, Sharifi H, et al. Estimation of adverse drug reaction reporting in Iran: correction for underreporting. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2021 Aug;30 8:1101–1114. doi:10.1002/pds.5235

“Among those, underreporting (only a fraction of the total number of potentially reportable events occurring after vaccination are reported).”

Zhou W, Pool V, Iskander JK, English-Bullard R, Ball R, Wise RP, Haber P, Pless RP, Mootrey G, Ellenberg SS, Braun MM, Chen RT. Surveillance for safety after immunization: Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)--United States, 1991-2001. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2003 Jan 24;52(1):1-24. Erratum in: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2003 Feb 14;52(06):113. PMID: 12825543