FOI release

Freedom of Information request on the administering of the COVID-19 vaccines (FOI 21/886)

Published 25 February 2022

22nd September 2021

FOI 21/886

Dear

Thank you for your email.

Regarding your questions please find our answers below in red:

1) Confirmation of the number of people who have been administered a first and/or second Covid-19 鈥榲accine鈥� as at the date of receipt of this FOI request. Whether the detail as regards request 1 is redirected to a government website or otherwise, as of the same date (or as close as possible to it). MHRA does not hold this information, however information on this can be found at

2) The percentage of people who have been administered a placebo instead of a first Covid-19 鈥榲accine鈥� injection. Placebos were only administered as part of clinical trials and not as part of the national roll out. Information on the clinical trials for each of the vaccines including those who have had a placebo administered can be found in the Public Assessment Reports for each vaccine which can be found at the following links:

3) The percentage of people who have been administered a placebo instead of a second Covid-19 鈥榲accine鈥� injection. Please refer to answer for question 2.

4) The percentage of people who have been administered a placebo in place of both first and second Covid-19 鈥榲accine鈥� injections. Please refer to answer for question 2.

5) The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 symptoms who are said to have received a Covid-19 鈥榲accine鈥� injection (whether one or both). MHRA does not hold this information and as such we would advise that you contact Public Health England who can be contacted at [email protected]

6) Of the number of people specified in answer to request 5, how many have in fact been administered a placebo in place of a first and/or second Covid-19 vaccine injection. MHRA does not hold this information and as such we would advise that you contact Public Health England who can be contacted at [email protected]

7) Of the number who have died reported on the yellow card system following the administration of the covid-19 鈥榲accine鈥� injection, what percentage has received the placebo. 0, Adverse reactions in clinical trials are recorded through a different route and therefore there are no Yellow Card reports in relation to placebo administration.

8) When numbers to which the Government has made reference as demonstrating the total number of people who have received a first or second Covid-19 vaccine injection (or both), have those numbers included or excluded those people to whom a placebo has been administered in place of a Covid-19 vaccine? MHRA does not hold this information and as such we would advise that you contact Public Health England who can be contacted at [email protected]

If you have a query about the information provided, please reply to this email

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 you receive this response and addressed to: [email protected]

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, we are not able to accept delivery of any documents or correspondence by post or courier to any of our offices

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鈥檚 Office

Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

MHRA Customer Service Centre

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU