A study by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency into reported side effects from covid vaccinations has found the majority are mild to moderate.
The report, covering the period December 9- January 24 looks at yellow cards – voluntarily reports of any suspected adverse reactions or side effects – for the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was evaluated in clinical trials involving more than 44,000 participants. The most frequent adverse reactions in trials were pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, myalgia (muscle pains), chills, arthralgia (joint pains), and fever.
The Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine was evaluated in clinical trials involving more than 23,000 participants. The most frequently reported adverse reactions in these trials were injection-site tenderness, injection-site pain, headache, fatigue, myalgia, malaise, pyrexia (fever), chills, arthralgia, and nausea;.
The majority of adverse reactions to both vaccines were mild to moderate in severity and usually resolved within a few days.
Adverse reactions reported after the second dose were milder and reported less frequently than after the first dose.
The MHPRA says these types of reactions reflect the normal immune response triggered by the body to the vaccines. They are typically seen with most types of vaccine and tend to resolve within a day or two.
The nature of Yellow Card reporting means that reported events are not always proven side effects. Some events may have happened anyway, regardless of vaccination. This is particularly the case when millions of people are vaccinated, and especially when most vaccines are being given to the most elderly people and people who have underlying illness.
The MHPRA report is based on detailed analysis of data up to January 24. At that date, an estimated 5.4 million first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and 1.5 million doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine had been administered, and around 0.5 million second doses, mostly the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, had been administered.
As of 24 January 2021, for the UK:
- 16,756 Yellow Cards reported for the Pfizer/BioNTech
- 6,014 reported for the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine (roll out of the vaccine started later than the Pfizer one)
- 50 have been reported where the brand of the vaccine was not specified
- For both vaccines the overall reporting rate is around 3 Yellow Cards per 1,000 doses administered.
Widespread use of the vaccine suggests that severe allergic reactions to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are very rare (less than 1 in 10,000 people) and have been reported at a rate between 1 and 2 cases per 100,000 doses administered.
The MHPRA says: “The overall safety experience with both vaccines is so far as expected from the clinical trials. Based on current experience, the expected benefits of both COVID-19 vaccines in preventing COVID-19 and its serious complications far outweigh any known side effects
“As with all vaccines and medicines, the safety of COVID-19 vaccines is being continuously monitored. Many suspected adverse reactions (ADRs) reported on a Yellow Card do not have any relation to the vaccine or medicine and it is often coincidental that they both occurred around the same time.
“The reports are continually reviewed to detect possible new side effects that may require regulatory action, and to differentiate these from things that would have happened regardless of the vaccine or medicine being administered, for instance due to underlying or undiagnosed illness.”
People vaccinated up to and including February 4:
First dose: 10,971,047
Second dose: 505,993
The UK seven day rolling rate of positive cases up to February 1 was 228 per 100,000 people. In Thanet the rate is below the UK average at 205 per 100,000 – a significant reduction from rates on December 20 which stood at 639 per 100,000.
As of February 2, there were 215 patients being treated for covid in East Kent hospitals with 28 people on mechanical ventilation.
Kent and Medway vaccinations as of January 31
279,363
First dose
- over 80 years 84,547 (86.3%)
- 75-79 years 50,991 (74.3%)
- 70-74 years 27,495 (27.1%)
- under 70 years 93,726
Second dose
- over 80 years 16,083 (16.4%)
- 75-79 years 256 (0.4%)
- 70-74 years 185 (0.2%)
- under 70 years 6,080
Makes you wonder why Pfizer lobbied the government so hard for indemnity against damages for any side effects caused, obtained this & then refused to say why they had sought it. Perhaps they would care to revoke it now?
I agree Steve. They are experimental and as they’ve been rushed-to-the market, there’s no way any proper research can have been done on the various sectors of the population, those taking other medications or suffering from various conditions or being immune compromised etc. etc. Therefore, legal liability for any vaccine damage is something they’ll want to avoid at all costs. Certainly, reports are coming in from across the world on adverse reactions which are not mild (including healthcare workers) and that includes the CDC in the US. The government lost a case to stop payouts for swine flu vaccine damage where many cases of narcolepsy (sleep disorder) developed. Similar happened across Europe. There was a great fight to get the Vaccine Damage Payment Act to actually deliver and not wriggle out of its responsibility, with dozens of children suffering.
I imagine that Pfizer’s was covering its its back.
Having had my first vaccination recently (Oxford/AstraZeneca) I can testify to both the relaxed, organized stress-free event, and to the fact that other than a slightly sore arm, I’m fine. I’m also slightly relieved to think that in a week or son’s time, I’ll have some measure of immunity.
Ditto that Phyillis, the only side effect I had after my Astra/Zeneca vaxx was a great feeling of relief, and I biked to the surgery there and back OK!
Any PCN stats?
I had the Oxford Jab 5 days ago. What jab?? I have had no reaction what-so-ever.
I am wondering if the few side effects for some are not being over-emphasised by a sensationalist media, including the social version.
What group is being done now
No the side effect in some are real . I had my vaccine Friday last week at 11 am , was ok till 8pm then wham . Headache that felt so bad I couldn’t hardly move .I felt sick, was shivering but had a temperature my muscles ached as if I had flu. My arm was sore and my neck.
I tried to get out of bed but could hardly walk.
My husband looked after me so I was ok. I stayed in bed a whole 24 hours and if you knew me like my friend do that would surprise you because I never lay down to anything. I am one of the most active people on the planet. So as I say in some these are real and not made up .
I don’t think anyone’s saying some people do have a bad reaction to the vaccine.
The leaflet I was given with my AstraZeneca jab makes it clear that there a 1 in 10 chance of people suffering a reaction like yours (though yours seems to have been quite severe)
A medic friend of mine says that a reaction can be seen as good news: your body is fighting back! You’ve got a good immune system!
Just imagine how you would feel if you actually caught covid.
Me too ! I had Astra Zeneca one on Saturday at 4pm and about 12 hours later symptoms hit me. Fever, aches, joint pain, ears ringing, terrible headache, I actually felt very ill. My husband had the same but not as bad. I feel a bit better today but still a headache. These side effects are common in some people and show a good immune response.
I can second everything you have said identical side effects are real trust me
I had terrible side effects and I can assure you they are not fake !
I received the first AstraZeneca jab yesterday (8th) and within 5 hours I was completely floored with very strong body and joint aches, my muscles felt as though they were all in spasm. Fever and chills that made anything touching my skin was unbearable. My head was pounding with dizziness that made just going to the bathroom a tricky event. My arm in comparison was a mild bruised feeling but from the arm up to the back of my neck felt swollen and tender. I am absolutely dismayed and worry the next dose may lead to worse side effects.
Better side effects, than dying of the virus!
I agree, but doesn’t help much whilst suffering them though 😟