Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2022 to Question 136495 on Coronavirus: Health Services, what research on the safety of covid-19 vaccinations is being supported by the National Institute for Health Research; what the nature of that support is; what her planned timetable is for the conclusion of that research; and whether she plans to publish those conclusions.
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has allocated approximately £117,509,455 for COVID-19 vaccine research, including trials of the Pfizer, Novavax and Janssen vaccines which examined vaccine safety. Researchers funded by the NIHR are expected to publish their findings in a peer-reviewed, open access journal.
Vaccines are tested through a series of clinical trials to establish their safety and efficacy before they are authorised for use. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) publishes a full analysis from all clinical trials for vaccines which have been authorised in the United Kingdom. During widespread use, the MHRA monitors safety and publishes a weekly summary of reported suspected side effects through its Yellow Card scheme.