FOI release

Freedom of Information request on the clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines (FOI 22/055)

Published 31 May 2022

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FOI 22/055

8th February 2022

Dear

Thank you for your information request, dated 18/01/2022, where you asked for:

1.which vaccines were tested on which non human animals? and for how long and how many animals were used? did they die, were they killed (as in “euthanised”) afterwards?

The Public Assessment Reports (PARs) published by the MHRA and EMA for each of the approved vaccines contains details of the non-clinical studies that were performed, including the animals used. All animals were euthanised at the end of each study.

  1. do vaccines contain animal ingredients?

A list of ingredients in each vaccine is available in the Information for Healthcare Professionals/Summary of Product Characteristics for each vaccine. None of the authorised vaccines contain animal products.

  1. will there be a covid vaccine that is not tested on animals at any point during it’s manufacture?

Because of the requirement for non-clinical (animal) testing for these products, it is unlikely that there will be a Covid vaccine that is not tested on animals.

In regards to the other questions you raise below;

  1. do lateral flow tests contain monoclonal antibodies that come from mice or another non human animal

  2. what kinds of PCR tests are carried out when looking for covid, again is it the kind that uses monoclonal antibodies (like the hot start pcr)
  3. do covid tests contain any animal ingredients, or use any animal ingredients and were they first tested on non human animals?

Unfortunately, MHRA do not hold this information. UKHSA might be able to provide you with this information.

The Freedom of Information Act only entitles you to access to information – the information supplied is subject to Crown copyright, and there are some restrictions on its re-use. For information on the reproduction or re-use of MHRA information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reproduce-or-re-use-mhra-information/reproduce-or-re-use-mhra-information.

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:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

MHRA Customer Experience Centre

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