Freedom of Information request about COVID-19 vaccine adverse reactions (FOI-21-226)
Published 7 May 2021
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Our Ref: FOI 21/226
Dear
Thank you for your email dated 5th March 2021, where you asked: 1.How many people have died after receiving one or two Covid-19 vaccinations in the United Kingdom, from the first date vaccination roll out began to the latest date death records are available at the time this email has been received.
2.As well as the total number of deaths above, can these deaths also be categorised into age groups relevant to the targeted vaccination programme, for instance, 0-19 years, 80 years and above etc, to include all peoples vaccinated from beginning of roll out to the same current date.
You have asked for the total number of people who have died after receiving aCOVID-19 vaccine, unfortunately we do not hold this information as we do not collect complete fatality data. The Office of National Statistics may be able to help with this part of your request.
Reports received through our Yellow Card scheme include some fatality reports and these can be viewed by following the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions
We intend to publish all suspected reactions reported in association with available COVID-19 vaccines in an interactive format as interactive Drug Analysis Profiles(iDAPs), along with our ADR summary that is published each week. The use of iDAPs will enable users to view the data by categories of their choice such as age, sex and seriousness of reports.
As we plan to publish the data, 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 there is strong interest in seeing this data and accept it should not be withheld.
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