The VAERS guideline has this:
What are healthcare providers required to report to VAERS?
Healthcare providers are required by law to report to VAERS:
- Any adverse event listed in the VAERS Table of Reportable Events Following Vaccination that occurs within the specified time period after vaccination
- An adverse event listed by the vaccine manufacturer as a contraindication to further doses of the vaccine
Healthcare providers are strongly encouraged to report:
- Any adverse event that occurs after the administration of a vaccine licensed in the United States, whether or not it is clear that a vaccine caused the adverse event
- Vaccine administration errors
Vaccine manufacturers are required to report to VAERS all adverse events that come to their attention.
The link to that table is:
https://vaers.hhs.gov/docs/VAERS_Table_of_Reportable_Events_Following_Vaccination.pdf
...and in that table, the days required are listed individually by vaccine. The default is seven (7) days, and in no case does the table indicate a reporting time greater than forty-two (42) days. Because the COVID vaccines are not expressly listed, one would assume that the legal reporting requirement was seven days, the default as listed for the final entry in the table.
| Vaccine/Toxoid | Event and interval** from vaccination |
|---|---|
| Any new vaccine recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for routine administration to children | A. Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (7 days) B. Vasovagal syncope (7 days) C. Any acute complication or sequelae (including death) of above events (interval - not applicable) D. Events described in manufacturer’s package insert |
NOTE: VAERS reporting for the COVID-19 vaccine is NOT required in certain circumstances, as quoted below.
VAERS reporting is not required for the following situations:
- If a mixed series is given intentionally (e.g., due to hypersensitivity to a vaccine ingredient)
- Mixing and matching of booster doses (as of October 21, 2021, mixing and matching of booster doses is allowed)
Full details HERE.
More information regarding the vaccine guidelines can be found via the information packaged with it. This may be difficult to find online, but the following site seems to have some of it.
https://vaxopedia.org/2020/12/09/where-are-the-covid-19-package-inserts/
More information, on a per-vaccine/vaccine maker basis, can be found via the FDA information, such as the following:
Moderna https://www.fda.gov/media/144637/download
Janssen https://www.fda.gov/media/146304/download
Comirnaty and Pfizer-BioNTech (US formulation) https://www.fda.gov/media/153713/download
Comirnaty and Pfizer-BioNTech (alternative, non-US formulation) https://www.fda.gov/media/153715/download