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Important: VAERS reports alone cannot determine if a vaccine caused an adverse event. Reports may contain incomplete, inaccurate, or unverified information. Correlation does not equal causation.

Reports by State

Geographic distribution of VAERS adverse event reports across U.S. states and territories. Higher numbers typically reflect larger populations, not higher risk.

State-level data reveals reporting patterns influenced by population size, healthcare infrastructure, and reporting culture. Per-capita rates help normalize for population differences, though they still don't account for varying vaccination rates or reporting awareness between states.

States & Territories

1,983,260

Total Reports

27,732

Deaths Reported

143,653

Hospitalizations

💡 Key Insights

→The top 5 states account for 28% of all reports — California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania. This mirrors population distribution, not regional safety differences.

→16% of reports have no state listed. State data is often missing because VAERS doesn't require it, and manufacturer-submitted reports rarely include geographic information.

→Per-capita rates reveal reporting culture differences. Alaska reports at 879 per 100K residents while Northern Mariana Islands reports just 177 per 100K — a gap driven by provider awareness, not vaccine safety.

→Geographic patterns shift dramatically during pandemics. States with early COVID-19 vaccine rollouts saw reporting spikes months before others, creating temporary geographic distortions in the data.

Top 5 Reporting States

States with the most VAERS reports. Population size is the primary driver of report volume.

1. California

175,834 reports

1,387 deaths

2. Texas

104,046 reports

1,350 deaths

3. New York

95,989 reports

800 deaths

4. Florida

93,024 reports

929 deaths

5. Pennsylvania

76,627 reports

703 deaths

All States & Territories

State	Total Reports ↓	Per 100K	Deaths	Hospitalizations	ER Visits
Unknown(UNK)	307,638	—	7,694	27,248	37,915
California(CA)	175,834	451	1,387	8,270	30,708
Texas(TX)	104,046	341	1,350	6,754	18,803
New York(NY)	95,989	490	800	5,876	18,444
Florida(FL)	93,024	411	929	7,975	16,377
Pennsylvania(PA)	76,627	591	703	4,357	15,887
Michigan(MI)	73,025	728	1,133	14,273	12,757
Ohio(OH)	61,005	518	582	4,134	12,775
Illinois(IL)	57,189	456	578	4,194	11,631
New Jersey(NJ)	50,973	550	393	3,173	8,980
North Carolina(NC)	49,691	464	378	2,831	10,425
Virginia(VA)	47,954	555	327	2,394	10,239
Washington(WA)	47,412	607	381	2,420	8,909
Massachusetts(MA)	46,109	660	296	2,429	8,914
Georgia(GA)	45,922	421	615	2,782	9,578
Indiana(IN)	45,533	666	301	1,751	6,118
Colorado(CO)	41,161	705	256	1,955	6,530
Minnesota(MN)	38,020	666	735	5,650	7,448
Arizona(AZ)	37,327	507	292	1,907	6,439
Maryland(MD)	36,581	593	381	2,214	7,076
Wisconsin(WI)	34,035	578	679	2,573	7,437
Missouri(MO)	31,441	509	406	2,395	6,397
Tennessee(TN)	29,429	417	1,780	2,158	5,952
Oregon(OR)	26,271	621	219	1,121	4,855
Kentucky(KY)	25,740	570	1,273	3,812	4,809

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Understanding Per-Capita Rates

Per-capita reporting rates (reports per 100,000 residents) normalize for population size and reveal differences in reporting behavior across states. However, even per-capita rates have significant limitations:

Vaccination Rate Differences

States with higher vaccination rates will naturally have more reports per capita. A state where 90% of residents are vaccinated will generate more reports than one where 70% are vaccinated, even if both have identical adverse event rates per dose.

Healthcare Infrastructure

States with more healthcare providers per capita and stronger public health infrastructure tend to have higher reporting rates. This reflects better surveillance, not more adverse events.

Military & Federal Facilities

States with major military bases or federal healthcare facilities may show elevated reporting because military and federal providers have systematic reporting protocols.

COVID-19 Rollout Timing

States that began COVID-19 vaccination earlier saw reporting spikes months before others, creating temporary geographic distortions in cumulative data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my state having more VAERS reports mean vaccines are less safe here?

No. Higher report counts reflect larger populations, higher vaccination rates, and stronger reporting culture — not regional differences in vaccine safety. The same vaccine given in California and Wyoming is equally safe.

Why is "Unknown" so high in the state data?

VAERS does not require state information. Manufacturer-submitted reports (which account for a significant portion of total reports) rarely include geographic data, and some patient-submitted reports leave the field blank.

Can I see vaccine requirements for my state?

Yes — see our 2026 state vaccine requirements guide for an overview of school entry laws and exemption types by state.

Understanding State Data

•Population matters: California and Texas lead in reports largely because they are the most populous states

•"Unknown" state: Many reports don't include state information, which is why "UNK" appears high

•Reporting culture: Some states may have higher reporting rates due to healthcare provider awareness or mandate requirements

Curious how mandates differ across the country? See our guide to vaccine requirements by state for 2026.

Explore More

Geographic Patterns State Requirements 2026 Full Dashboard Reporting Bias

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