| | Data type | Notes |
| VAERS_ID | number | Primary key. Apparently, vaers IDs can be queried online: https://medalerts.org/vaersdb/findfield.php?IDNUMBER=1235909 (for VAERS id 1235909). |
| RECVDATE | date | Receive date: The date the VAERS form information was received to VAERS's processing center. |
| STATE | text | Two letter abbreviation of state or territory (but also null-values). FR = Foreign. |
| AGE_YRS | text | The age (in years) at the time of vaccination. |
| CAGE_YR | number | |
| CAGE_MO | number | Values in CSV: .1, .2, .3 … .9, 1, null |
| SEX | text | 'U', 'F' or 'M' |
| RPT_DATE | date | The date the report was submitted to VAERS. |
| SYMPTOM_TEXT | long text | Write-up. Compare with SYMPTOMS.csv. |
| DIED | flag | Compare with RECOVD |
| DATEDIED | date | Date of death |
| L_THREAT | flag | Flag whether the event was life-threatening. |
| ER_VISIT | flag | ER visit. If value of ER_VISIT is Y, then ER_ED_VISIT not not set. If this is the only option checked, the report is not considered serious. (VAERS form 1 only). |
| HOSPITAL | flag | Wheather the patiant was hospitalized. |
| HOSPDAYS | number | Number of days spent in the hospital (if hospitalized). |
| X_STAY | flag | Prolongation of existing hospitallization |
| DISABLE | flag | Whether the patient was left disabled (Permanent disabilities?). Compare with RECOVD |
| RECOVD | text | 'N', 'Y', 'U', null; compare with DIED and DISABLE. |
| VAX_DATE | date | Date of vaccination. |
| ONSET_DATE | date | The date symptom onset. |
| NUMDAYS | number | Number of days between vaccination day and onset day |
| LAB_DATA | long text | Diagnostic lab data associated with the event. |
| V_ADMINBY | text | Type of facility where vaccine was administered 'SEN': Nursing home or senior living facility, 'SCH': School, 'WRK': Workplace clinic, 'MIL': Military, 'PUB': Public, 'PHM': Pharmacy, 'PVT': Private, 'UNK', 'OTH' |
| V_FUNDBY | text | Agency funding the vaccination (VAERS 1.0 only) ('MIL', 'OTH', 'PUB', 'PVT', 'UNK') |
| OTHER_MEDS | text | Other medications |
| CUR_ILL | long text | Illnesses at time of vaccination |
| HISTORY | long text | Preexisting Conditions |
| PRIOR_VAX | text | I cannot imagine that the values in this column can be somehow meaningfully analyzed. |
| SPLTTYPE | text | Manufacturer number or Immunization Project number as recorded on the specified field of the form. ¿ CDC Split Type: a field that holds arbitrary text, probably from other databases ? |
| FORM_VERS | number | Form version (1 or 2). |
| TODAYS_DATE | date | Date form was completed (¿ The date the report appeared in VAERS ?) |
| BIRTH_DEFECT | flag | Congenital anomaly or birth defect (VAERS form 2 only) |
| OFC_VISIT | flag | Whether the patient had a doctor's (or other health care provider's) office visit (VAERS form 2 only). |
| ER_ED_VISIT | flag | Emergency room/department or doctor visit (VAERS 2.0 only). If value of ER_ED_VISIT is Y, then ER_VISIT is not set. |
| ALLERGIES | long text | Allergies to medications, food, or other products. VAERS 2.0 only |