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FOIA Request — HHS / VAERS The Complete Dataset Removal Download Link

Date: April 9, 2026

From: Jason Page VAERS Data Project / vaersdata.org 5550 N Kenmore Ave, APT 722 Chicago, IL 60640 Phone: 312-404-7144 Email: pagetelegram@proton.me

To: HHS FOIA Officer U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201 Email: hhsfoia@hhs.gov

Freedom of Information Act Request

Dear FOIA Officer,

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552, I hereby request the following records from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and any relevant subdivisions or contractors involved in the administration of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

Background

The VAERS public data download page, located at:

https://vaers.hhs.gov/data/datasets.html

previously offered a complete datasets of the annuals available for public download in one archive, allowing researchers, journalists, medical professionals, and members of the public to conduct independent analysis of vaccine adverse event data. At some point, the complete dataset download option was removed leaving only the indvidual data sets by year available for download individually.

This change materially limits public access to a federally maintained surveillance system funded by U.S. taxpayers and is of significant public health and scientific interest.

Records Requested

I request all records, in any format, relating to the decision to remove or restrict the complete VAERS dataset from the public download page at https://vaers.hhs.gov/data/datasets.html, including but not limited to:

  1. Policy memoranda, directives, or guidance documents authorizing or recommending the removal or restriction of the complete VAERS dataset from public download.
  1. Internal communications (emails, meeting notes, memos, chat logs, or other correspondence) among HHS, CDC, FDA, or contractor personnel discussing the decision to remove or restrict the dataset.
  1. Any written justification or legal review prepared in connection with the decision, including any analysis under the Privacy Act, FISMA, or other regulatory frameworks.
  1. Contracts, statements of work, or task orders with any vendor or contractor that includes responsibilities related to the VAERS public data portal or data availability decisions.
  1. Any communications with external parties (Congress, industry, advocacy organizations, or members of the public) related to the removal or restriction of the complete dataset download.
  1. Website change logs, technical specifications, or project documentation reflecting changes to the datasets page or underlying data delivery infrastructure.
  1. Any records identifying who authorized the change, including names and titles of decision-making officials.

The time period for this request is January 1, 2024 through the date this request is processed.

Format

I request records in electronic format (PDF, CSV, XLSX, or plain text) delivered via email to pagetelegram@proton.me, or via a downloadable link if volume warrants.

Fee Waiver Request

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(A)(iii), I request a full waiver of all search, duplication, and review fees on the grounds that disclosure of the requested records is in the public interest.

VAERS is a joint CDC/FDA post-market vaccine safety surveillance program. The removal of bulk public access to VAERS data directly affects the ability of independent researchers, journalists, and the public to monitor vaccine safety outcomes — a matter of clear and significant public concern, particularly in the context of ongoing vaccine programs.

The requestor, Jason Page, is the co-founder of the VAERS Data Project (vaersdata.org), a non-commercial public interest initiative dedicated to independent analysis and public education regarding VAERS data. The requested records will be used to inform the public and support investigative reporting and research. No commercial use is intended.

Disclosure is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the federal government, specifically HHS/CDC data transparency practices, and the withholding of this information is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.

If a full waiver is not granted, I request that fees not exceed $25.00 without prior written authorization, and that I be notified of estimated costs before processing continues.

Expedited Processing Request

I also request expedited processing pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(E), as there is an urgency to inform the public about federal agency activity — specifically, the restriction of public health surveillance data — and the requestor is primarily engaged in disseminating information to the public through vaersdata.org.

Acknowledgment and Contact

Please confirm receipt of this request in writing and provide a tracking number. If any portion of this request is denied, I ask that you identify the specific exemption(s) claimed and provide a detailed justification, as well as information on the applicable appeals process.

Thank you for your time and attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Jason Page VAERS Data Project vaersdata.org 5550 N Kenmore Ave, APT 722 Chicago, IL 60640 312-404-7144 pagetelegram@proton.me

This request is submitted under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552.