Vaccine safety
In the UK vaccines have eradicated smallpox, polio, and tetanus. Vaccines have also helped reduce the number of people suffering from meningitis, whooping cough, cervical cancer and diphtheria. Sadly, some diseases that had disappeared are on the rise again in the UK, like measles.
How vaccines are tested
The standard for testing and monitoring of vaccines is higher than it is for most other medicines because they are one of the few medical treatments given to healthy people.
Expert scientists and clinicians review data from the laboratory pre-clinical studies, clinical trials, manufacturing, and quality controls, and consider the conditions for its safe supply and distribution before licensing.
Once a vaccine is being used in the UK it’s also monitored for any rare side effects by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It is also carefully monitored to make sure it still works.
Anyone can report a suspected side effect of vaccination to the MHRA through the Yellow Card Scheme.
Read more about the safety of vaccines and how they are licensed for use in the UK, at Home | Vaccine Knowledge Project.
How vaccines work
Vaccines contain weakened or inactive parts of a disease. This weakened version does not cause the disease. It triggers an immune response in the body. This allows our body to learn how to defeat the disease, before encountering it.
It is much safer for your immune system to learn this through vaccination than by catching the diseases and treating them.
Vaccine ingredients
Vaccines contain other ingredients that help make the vaccine more effective. The main ingredient in vaccines is water. The other ingredients are used in very small amounts.
There is no evidence that any of the ingredients are harmful in such small amounts.
A list of the most commonly used ingredients is available here Why vaccination is important and the safest way to protect yourself – NHS.
Vaccine ingredients can look unfamiliar when they are listed on a label. However, many of the components used in vaccines occur naturally in the body, in the environment, and in the foods we eat. A full list of any vaccine’s ingredients is available on the electronic medicines compendium (emc) website.
Be aware of misinformation
Make sure you are getting information about vaccines from sources based on scientific evidence and data. Here are some tips to help you avoid vaccine misinformation and assess whether a source is credible:
- Check where the information has come from. Ask yourself who is the author and what are their credentials? Are they qualified in the subject area, or do they have proven specialist knowledge? Are they affiliated with any universities, medical institutions or public health organisations? Is the information presented relevant to the UK? The answers to these questions will help you establish the legitimacy of the information.
- Scrutinise the information. Misinformation isn’t always completely false. Misleading use of data and out-of-context quotes can be used to create sensationalist social media stories. Personal stories are compelling but not scientific. Credible sources should focus on large-scale data and studies. Scrutinise and fact check information against the original source.
- Be cautious of information silo. Social media algorithms are designed to show you content you’re most likely to interact with, which can result in you only seeing information that aligns with your existing views. To broaden your perspective and understanding, seek out information beyond social media.
When in doubt, ask your doctor or a healthcare provider for advice. They can offer personalised and reliable information based on your medical history and the latest science.