COVID-19 Yellow Card reporting (FOI)

Request

In August 2021 a previous Freedom of Information request (FOI) on the COVID-19 vaccine and reported side effects had the response that the States of Jersey does not hold information on vaccine adverse effects. It said that adverse effects are reported to Yellow Card reporting on the gov.uk website.

As of the 11 November 2021 the MHRA Yellow Card reported 1,261,714 adverse events based on 383,644 reports. Fatalities are reported at a total of 1,766 - 1,118 AstraZenica, 597 Pfizer and 19 Moderna.

I would like to know

A

Who in the government monitors the yellow card reporting?

B

Are there any records of minutes that discuss the statistics of the yellow card adverse effects?

C

How many deaths in the yellow card reporting system would result in the government holding an investigation or enquiry into the safety and efficacy of the current COVID-19 vaccines?

Thank you.

Response

A

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the UK government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe.  The MHRA operates a national reporting system which issues weekly national guidance and alerts, based on yellow card adverse effects data, which Jersey officials then follow. The Chief Pharmacist or delegate reviews the alerts, which are not regionally specific. 

B

Yes. 

C

There is not a specific threshold. However, if the risks are considered to outweigh the benefits, the product can be removed from the market.

Yellow Card Scheme - MHRA