Freedom of Information request on e total number of events and deaths by batch number for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and the respective date of administration and location when a fatal outcome was reported (FOI 21-735)
Published 29 December 2021
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13th July 2021 FOI 21/735 Dear Thank you for your email dated 17th June 2021, where, you requested the total number of events and deaths by batch number for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. You also requested the respective date of administration and location where the vaccine was administered when a fatal outcome was reported.
The MHRA has been proactively monitoring the safety of all approved COVID-19 vaccines for near real-time safety monitoring at the population level. A summary of Yellow Card reporting concerning the COVID-19 vaccines is published each week and can be found here. The summary includes data analysis on reported suspected adverse reactions from the COVID-19 vaccines, including those with a fatal outcome and the total number of events can also be found within the analysis prints.
With regards to your request for a further breakdown by batch number and date of administration. We have determined that this information is exempt under Section 22 of the of the Freedom of Information Act. Section 22 is a qualified exemption, which means that we have considered whether the public interest in releasing the information is outweighed by the public interest in not giving the information. In favour of disclosure, we consider that there is a general public benefit from publishing the total number of events and deaths by batch number as well the respective date of administration for the reports. However, we consider that the public interest will be better served by releasing the information when it is in its complete form, rather than the Agency releasing an incomplete version of the data prematurely.
Please also note that you also requested the location of where the vaccines had been administered. Unfortunately, this is not information we routinely collect and would therefore be unable to provide this.
I hope the information provided is helpful, but if you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of this response; and can be addressed to this email address.
Yours sincerely, FOI Team, Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines Division