⚠️

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.

Herpes zoster

35,559 total reports6.7% serious outcomes
35,559
Total Reports
128
Deaths
2,271
Hospitalizations
6.7
Severity Rate
% serious outcomes

About Herpes zoster Reports

Herpes zoster has been reported 35,559 times in VAERS from 1990 to 2026.

Of these reports, 128 were associated with death (0.36%) and 2,271 involved hospitalization.

The overall serious outcome rate (death or hospitalization) for reports mentioning Herpes zoster is 6.7%.

Understanding Herpes zoster in VAERS

Temporal association only: These reports show Herpes zoster occurred after vaccination, not necessarily because of vaccination.
Background rates matter: Many symptoms occur naturally at baseline rates in the population, unrelated to vaccination.
Reporting variability: Medical terminology may be used differently by various healthcare providers and over time.
Investigation needed: High-frequency reports may trigger further epidemiological studies to determine causation.

What This Data Shows

Most Associated Vaccines: The vaccines most frequently mentioned in reports with Herpes zoster. This may reflect usage patterns, not causation.
Severity Patterns: The percentage of reports that involve serious outcomes can help prioritize safety investigations.
Reporting Trends: Changes in reporting frequency over time may reflect increased awareness, media attention, or actual safety signals.

Quick Facts

Reports:35,559
Deaths:128
Hospitalizations:2,271
Mortality Rate:0.36%
Severity Rate:6.7%

Data Source

This data comes from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), jointly managed by CDC and FDA.