143 Brits died shortly after their Covid jabs but vaccines ‘didn’t play a role’, say regulators.
By Nick McDermott | Ellie Cambridge
COVID jabs given to millions of Brits are safe – despite 143 patients dying shortly after immunisation.
The drugs watchdog said vaccines played no part in the fatalities, with almost all occurring in the elderly or ill.
Officials say the majority of reported fatalities were in elderly people or people with underlying illness.
Investigators said there is no suggestion the jab played a role in the deaths.
More than 10m Brits have now had their first dose of Covid vaccination.
In total, there have been 22,820 reports of suspected side effects logged until January 24.
The MHRA found around one in ten people will experience side effects after having the jab.
Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive, said: “Vaccines are the most effective way to protect against Covid-19 and save lives and prevent serious complications from this terrible virus.
“The data we have collected provides further reassurance that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and continue to meet the rigorous regulatory standards required for all vaccines.
“We remain confident that the benefits of these vaccines outweigh any risks.”
‘OUTWEIGH ANY RISK’
The report published today found most people had “mild and short lasting” side effects that reflect “a normal immune response to vaccines – including a sore arm and fatigue”.
The most frequently reported side effects are injection-site tenderness and pain, headaches, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, fever, chills and nausea.
There were also 75 reports of facial paralysis or paresis from people after having both vaccines, the report found.
This is listed as a possible side effect due to a small number of reports in trials, but has not been confirmed as linked to the jabs.
Dr Philip Bryan, vaccines safety lead at MHRA, added on the deaths: “Another cause or reason was involved in their death and we do follow them all up.
“Deaths after vaccinations can worry people but it’s really important that as we put this out into the public domain people understand what they mean and what they don’t mean.
“They don’t raise alarms in the numbers but also in the cases.”
The data we have collected provides further reassurance that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and continue to meet the rigorous regulatory standards required for all vaccines.
Dr June Raine, MHRA Chief Executive
Dr Raine added: “Our priority is to ensure the public have safe and effective vaccines and we will continue to analyse, monitor and review all the safety data for these vaccines.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has reported a potential side effect to us – every report matters.”
Anyone who has a side effect from any medication or vaccine can report them online on the Yellow Card Scheme, where there is also a specific section for Covid treatments and vaccines.
This is how the MHRA have collected the majority of their data in the safety report.
It comes as data revealed Brits who’ve already recovered from Covid have been warned they are more likely to suffer jab side-effects.
People recovered from the bug are almost twice as likely to have fatigue, headaches or chills and shivers.
But despite the discomfort experts think this is positive news, as it suggests a stronger immune reaction.
If the system already recognises the coronavirus due to past illness, the response will be stronger when the vaccine is injected.
The ZOE Covid Symptom Study found a third of previously infected Brits had at least one whole body side effect from the shot.
And only 19 per cent of people who hadn’t caught the virus said they had mild reactions within two days of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab.
Tim Spector OBE, lead scientist on the app, said: “This could be good news, as a larger response like this suggests that those getting a first dose after having had Covid are generating a stronger immune reaction and may get greater protection from just a single shot of the vaccine.”
