Government Acknowledges Sharing ‘Commercially Sensitive’ Information on Vaccine Deaths with Big Pharma
The UK Health and Securities Agency (HSA) head, Dame Jenny Harries, informed a group of MPs that data on COVID-19 vaccine doses and deaths has been shared with pharmaceutical companies, which is not publicly available due to its sensitive nature.
Addressing concerns raised by MPs and campaigners, Dame Harries mentioned that the agency is exploring the possibility of releasing this data to the public.
While anonymised aggregate data has been shared with manufacturers to support their reporting obligations, it remains commercially sensitive.
Upon receiving a Freedom of Information request, the agency is currently determining what data can be released to the public regarding vaccine dosing and deaths.
Dame Harries also addressed concerns about excess deaths coinciding with the vaccine rollout, suggesting that these may be due to factors like the virus itself.
In preparation for future pandemics, the HSA is working on establishing a comprehensive biosecurity surveillance network, according to Dame Harries.
Professor Sir John Bell, who also spoke at the committee, emphasized the likelihood of future pandemics and the need for developing adaptable vaccines to combat emerging pathogens.
He praised the success of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic but acknowledged the need for continuous improvement in vaccine development and distribution.
Sir John advocated for the development of powerful vaccines with broader protection against various coronaviruses, emphasizing the potential of nano-particle vaccines with a ‘mosaic’ structure.
Overall, there is a call for more data sharing and collaboration in vaccine development to address future health crises effectively.
