PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(10 January 2025)

The Government takes the safety of all vaccinations and medicinal products used in the United Kingdom extremely seriously. No medicine or vaccine is completely risk-free, but the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency continually monitors the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines through its comprehensive COVID-19 vaccine surveillance strategy, to ensure that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines continue to outweigh the risks. Following widespread use of these vaccines across the UK, the vast majority of suspected adverse reaction reports relate to injection-site reactions and generalised symptoms such as a headache or fatigue.

The Government knows, however, that there are some extremely rare circumstances where individuals have sadly experienced significant harm following COVID-19 vaccination. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and I have recently met with the families of some of those who have suffered serious adverse effects following COVID-19 vaccination, to listen to their concerns and to discuss the support available.