Freedom of Information request on whether or not metals of any nature are added to the COVID-19 vaccines (FOI 22/749)
Published 21 December 2023
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FOI 22/749
24th June 2022
Dear
Thank you for your request under FOIA 2000.
In your request you asked for “confirmation on whether or not metals of any nature (including Aluminium salts) are added to the COVID 19 vaccine (namely the Pfizer one) including and not limited to the adjuvant”. You also queried whether ingredients of adjuvants need to be disclosed in the list of ingredients.
Response
We would like to inform you that companies must disclose the active substance/s and all excipients as is detailed in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, and this requirement includes adjuvants.
The ingredients of Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine) are included in sections 2 and 6.1 of the SPC. This vaccine does include salts of metals, such as, those of potassium and sodium. However, the following resource explains why such ingredients are necessary, of particular relevance is the below:
“Vaccine ingredients can look unfamiliar. However, it is important to remember that many of the substances used in vaccines are found naturally in the body. For example, many vaccines contain salts based on sodium and potassium (see the section on ‘Acidity regulators’, which are essential for life.”
We hope that you find this information reassuring.
If you have a query about the information provided, please reply to this email.
If you disagree with how we have interpreted the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in answering your request, you can ask for an internal review. Please reply to this email, within two months of this reply, specifying that you would like an Internal Review to be carried out.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you were to remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you would have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Please bear in mind that the Information Commissioner will not normally review our handling of your request unless you have first contacted us to conduct an internal review. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
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Yours sincerely
MHRA Customer Experience Centre