⚠️

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.

Zoster Live (Zostavax)2021

Zoster Live (Zostavax) in 2021

14,538 adverse event reports (+11% vs 2020)

14,538

Reports

Deaths

259

Hospitalizations

552

ER Visits

388

Disabilities

← 2020 (13,066 reports)2022 (9,544 reports) →

2021 Reporting Summary

In 2021, 14,538 adverse event reports were filed for Zoster Live (Zostavax) in VAERS. This represents 10.4% of all 140,312 reports for this vaccine.

Of these reports, 52 mentioned death, 259 involved hospitalization, 552 required ER visits, and 388 reported disability.

Compared to the average of 6,673 reports per year for this vaccine, 2021 was above average (+118%).

💡 What This Means

High report volume: 14,538 reports in a single year is significant. This typically reflects large-scale vaccination campaigns rather than increased risk per dose. Without knowing total doses administered in 2021, raw report counts cannot indicate safety rates.

All Years for Zoster Live (Zostavax)

Year	Reports	Deaths	Hosp.
2025	6,468	23	128
2024	6,298	19	159
2023	8,908	26	211
2022	9,544	45	207
2021 ← current	14,538	52	259
2020	13,066	19	709
2019	18,930	35	790
2018	19,133	32	910
2017	3,900	18	53
2016	4,082	10	67
2015	4,455	6	74
2014	4,957	9	112
2013	5,309	15	119
2012	4,013	12	105
2011	2,165	3	61
2010	973	10	46
2009	1,962	16	79
2008	2,281	10	77
2007	2,287	13	90
2006	191	0	4

Understanding Yearly Data

•Spikes may reflect awareness: Years with unusual activity (e.g., pandemic) often see increased reporting.

•Dose volume matters: More vaccinations given in a year naturally leads to more reports.

•Reporting lag: Some events are reported months after they occur, so recent years may be incomplete.

Quick Facts

Reports:14,538

Deaths:52

Hospitalizations:259

% of Total:10.4%

Rank (by vol.):#3 of 20 years

Avg/year:6,673

Zoster Live (Zostavax) Overview ← 2020 Reports 2022 Reports →35 Years of Reporting Compare Vaccines

Data Source

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