Injury Guide
Fainting (Vasovagal Syncope) Injuries
Brief loss of consciousness after an injected vaccine. The faint itself usually passes quickly; claims typically involve injuries from a fall. It is on the Table for injected vaccines.
By VaccineInjuries.org Editorial Team · Last reviewed
Good to know: People who faint after a shot generally recover within a few minutes, and serious injuries from a faint are uncommon. The CDC recommends that people sit or lie down to be vaccinated and be observed for 15 minutes afterward to help prevent falls.
This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. If you have symptoms, please talk to a doctor.
What is vasovagal syncope (fainting)?
Fainting (syncope) is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a brief drop in blood flow to the brain (CDC). The CDC notes that people have fainted after nearly all vaccines and many other medical procedures, that fainting after vaccination is most often reported in adolescents, and that scientists think it is related to the vaccination process rather than the vaccines themselves.
The faint itself is usually harmless. The Vaccine Injury Table notes that vasovagal syncope "is usually a benign condition but may result in falling and injury with significant sequela." In practice, claims usually involve what happened during the fall, such as a head injury, broken bone, or dental injury.
Typical symptoms
- Warning signs such as nausea, lightheadedness, sweating, or looking pale
- Brief loss of consciousness and muscle tone
- Sometimes brief jerking movements that can look like a seizure
- Injuries from falling, such as a head injury, broken bones, or damaged teeth
When symptoms typically start
Fainting related to vaccination usually happens soon after the shot, which is why the CDC recommends a 15-minute observation period. For a Table claim, the loss of consciousness must occur within 1 hour of vaccination.
Is vasovagal syncope (fainting) on the Vaccine Injury Table?
Yes. Vasovagal syncope is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table for vaccine categories that are injected, with the same time period for each:
| Vaccine | Time period for first symptom |
|---|---|
| Vaccines containing tetanus toxoid (e.g., DTaP, DTP, DT, Td, or TT) | ≤1 hour. |
| Vaccines containing whole cell pertussis bacteria, extracted or partial cell pertussis bacteria, or specific pertussis antigen(s) (e.g., DTP, DTaP, P, DTP-Hib) | ≤1 hour. |
| Vaccines containing measles, mumps, and rubella virus or any of its components (e.g., MMR, MM, MMRV) | ≤1 hour. |
| Vaccines containing polio inactivated virus (e.g., IPV) | ≤1 hour. |
| Hepatitis B vaccines | ≤1 hour. |
| Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines | ≤1 hour. |
| Varicella vaccines | ≤1 hour. |
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines | ≤1 hour. |
| Hepatitis A vaccines | ≤1 hour. |
| Seasonal influenza vaccines | ≤1 hour. |
| Meningococcal vaccines | ≤1 hour. |
| Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines | ≤1 hour. |
| Any new vaccine recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for routine administration to children and/or pregnant women, after publication by the Secretary of a notice of coverage | ≤1 hour. |
“Vasovagal syncope (also sometimes called neurocardiogenic syncope) means loss of consciousness (fainting) and postural tone caused by a transient decrease in blood flow to the brain occurring after the administration of an injected vaccine.”— 42 CFR 100.3(c)
- Vasovagal syncope is not listed for rotavirus or oral polio vaccines, which are not injected.
- Loss of consciousness caused by heart disease, heart rhythm problems, transient ischemic attacks, hyperventilation, metabolic or neurological conditions, or seizures is not considered vasovagal syncope under the Table.
- Repeated fainting episodes after the 1-hour period are not considered a sequela of the Table injury.
- Injuries from the fall still have to meet the VICP's severity requirement.
New to these terms? Read the difference between Table and off-Table injuries.
Filing deadlines
Both federal programs have strict deadlines. Missing one can end a claim, even a strong one, so it helps to write down key dates early.
VICP (most routine vaccines)
- Injury claims: generally within 3 years after the first symptom or manifestation of onset or of the significant aggravation of the injury.
- Death claims: within 2 years of the death and within 4 years of the first symptom of the injury that led to the death.
- Table changes: if the Vaccine Injury Table is changed in a way that newly covers an injury, a claim may be filed within 2 years of the change for injuries up to 8 years before it.
CICP (COVID-19 vaccines and other countermeasures)
- Generally within 1 year of the date the vaccine or other covered countermeasure was given.
- HRSA notes that a letter of intent can be submitted to help meet the deadline while records are gathered.
- The CICP does not pay attorneys' fees.
Severity requirement (VICP):the effects of the injury generally must have lasted more than 6 months, or resulted in inpatient hospitalization and surgical intervention, or resulted in death. Reporting a reaction to VAERS is not the same as filing a claim. See HRSA's VICP eligibility rules and CICP filing process, or our guide to vaccine injury filing deadlines.
Records that matter
You don't need to have everything gathered before asking questions. These are the records that typically help show what happened and when:
- Vaccination record showing the vaccine and the time it was given
- Clinic or pharmacy notes about the faint, including any incident report
- Names of anyone who saw the fall
- EMS, emergency room, or urgent care records
- Imaging such as CT scans or X-rays, and dental records if teeth were injured
- Follow-up records showing how long the injury affected you
Frequently asked questions
Is fainting after a vaccine on the Vaccine Injury Table?
Yes. Vasovagal syncope is listed for injected vaccines covered by the VICP when the loss of consciousness happens within 1 hour of vaccination. It is not listed for rotavirus or oral polio vaccines, which are not injected.
Is fainting by itself a vaccine injury claim?
Usually the faint is brief and harmless. Claims generally involve injuries from the fall, such as a head injury or broken bone, and those injuries still need to meet the VICP's severity requirement.
Who is most likely to faint after a vaccine?
The CDC says fainting after vaccination is most often reported in adolescents. Having people sit or lie down to be vaccinated and observing them for 15 minutes afterward helps prevent injuries from falls.
What records should I get?
Records from the vaccination visit showing the time of the shot and the faint, any incident report, emergency or urgent care records, imaging, and follow-up records showing how long the injury affected you.
Related articles
- Is the HPV Vaccine (Gardasil) Covered by the VICP?
- Are Tdap and Td Vaccines Covered by the VICP?
- Can a Flu Shot Injury Qualify for VICP Compensation?
- What Injuries Qualify for Vaccine Compensation?
- What Are the Severity Requirements for Filing a VICP Claim?
- What Medical Records Do I Need for a Vaccine Injury Claim?
Sources
Official regulations and government health sources used for this guide:
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