Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Adults ages 60 years and older can register for V-safe after getting a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. To register, use your computer, tablet, or smartphone and go to vsafe.cdc.gov. You’ll need your or your dependent’s (family member, friend, or individual who relies on you for support) vaccination information available — vaccine brand name, vaccination date, and the type of any additional vaccine(s) that were given during the visit. If you don’t have this information, contact your vaccination provider before attempting to register with V-safe. For detailed registration instructions and help logging into your existing account, go to How to Register or Access Your V-safe Account.

Participation in V-safe is voluntary and you can opt out at any time. To opt out, simply text “STOP” when V-safe sends you a text message or click “unsubscribe” when V-safe sends you an email. You can also opt back in by changing your preferred method of contact, found in your user profile.

You will need to create a new V-safe account to enter your RSV vaccination information even if you previously enrolled and participated in V-safe for the COVID-19 or mpox vaccines.

Carefully check the information you entered, especially the verification code V-safe sends you. If all your information is correct, try closing the browser window and starting over. If you need additional assistance, contact the help desk by emailing CARS_HelpDesk@cdc.gov or call 1-883-748-1979.

Yes. You can access V-safe using a computer or tablet with internet access, or a smartphone with text messaging service.

If you participate in V-safe or not, you can submit reports of adverse events following vaccination to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a vaccine safety monitoring system managed by CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If you need additional help submitting a report, you may call the toll-free VAERS information line at 1-800-822-7967 or send an email to info@VAERS.org.

No, you do not need to download an app to use V-safe. V-safe is free and contains no advertisements.

During the first week after you get your vaccine, V-safe will send you a text message or email each day to ask how you are feeling. Then, V-safe will send a text or email once a week for up to 6 weeks.

Text and email links for daily health check-ins expire at 11:59 p.m. local time on the day you receive the link.

Text and email links for weekly health check-ins expire at 11:59 p.m. local time on day 6 after you receive the link.

The final survey will expire at 11:59 p.m. local time on day 6 after you receive the link.

Once a link to a health check-in expires, the check-in is no longer available for completion. However, if you experience any adverse events after vaccination, you can always report them to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

Your personal information in V-safe is protected so that it stays confidential and private. V-safe uses existing information systems managed by CDC, FDA, and other federal agencies, that employ strict data and information system security measures. The data collected through V-safe, such as demographic information, contact information, and information about the type of vaccine received, helps CDC communicate timely, transparent information about what to expect after vaccination and about the safety of vaccines to public health officials, healthcare providers, and the public.

When you’re ready for your health check-in, login to your profile at vsafe.cdc.gov or click the link in the email or text message reminder to complete your check-in. Links to V-safe daily health check-ins expire at 11:59 p.m. local time on the day you receive the link, so it’s important to finish the check-in quickly. Weekly health check-ins expire at 11:59 p.m. local time on day 6 after you receive the link.

You will not be able to make changes to your survey once it has been submitted.

No. Depending on the answers you provide during the health check-ins, you may receive a message (by email or text) asking you to give more information about your vaccination experience and side effects by completing a VAERS report.

No, V-safe does not alert your doctor or other healthcare provider of side effects that you report. If you have symptoms or health problems that concern you at any time following vaccination, please contact your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room. In addition, if you have not been able to report how you are feeling in V-safe (because of a missed or expired health check-in), you can also report adverse events following vaccination to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

You can only access health check-ins from within the United States and U.S. territories. If you are traveling outside of the United States or U.S. territories, health check-ins are not accessible from mobile devices or email.

When registering for and using V-safe, you will receive regular notifications via SMS.

1. To opt out of receiving SMS messages at any time, text “STOP” to the short code. You can opt back in by changing your preferred method of contact, in your user profile.
2. If at any time you need assistance, email the Help Desk at CARS_HelpDesk@cdc.gov or call 1-883-748-1979.
3. Wireless providers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
4. Message and data rates may apply.
5. Message frequency varies. Please see “How long will I continue to receive check-in reminders” above for additional details.
6. If you have any questions about your text plan or data plan, it is best to contact your wireless provider.
7. If you have questions regarding privacy, please visit our privacy policy page.