Freedom of Information request on implementing new systems for provision of data across all medical products including vaccines (FOI 22/491)
Published 1 June 2022
© Crown copyright 2022
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-responses-from-the-mhra-week-commencing-14-march-2022/freedom-of-information-request-on-implementing-new-systems-for-provision-of-data-across-all-medical-products-including-vaccines-foi-22491
FOI 22/491
15th March 2022
Re: FOI 21/583 CSC 52101 Freedom of Information Request
Dear
Thank you for your FOI request dated 21st February.
We consider that your request is covered by Section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act (information intended for future publication) and the information you have asked for is therefore exempt from disclosure. Section 22 is a qualified exemption which means we have considered whether there is a greater public interest in releasing the information requested or withholding it.
We recognise that there is strong interest in this data but consider that it is in the public interest to continue to uphold the Section 22 exemption at this time. This decision involved balancing the public interest in publishing the data now, with the public interest in publishing it at a later date.
The MHRA will be developing a more appropriate route to publication in Summer 2022 and subsequently begin implementing new systems for provision of data across all medical products including vaccines, enabling the MHRA to produce an improved and more suitable format for publishing data in general. This will enable the COVID-19 data collected to be published in such a way as to minimise the risk of misuse and through providing context to the data and clear guidance around what is being presented. This will allow us to mitigate risks we have identified such as undermining the wider Government public health campaign for widespread COVID-19 vaccination and the subsequent risk to public health and safety. Data will be available in the new format by the end of 2022.
Kind regards,
FOI Team
Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines Division
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU