An investigation into a medical regulator is "very likely" to go ahead after MPs called for an analysis of vaccine side effects.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has been slammed by critics who claim they failed to sound the alarm over Covid vaccine issues.
Twenty-five MPs - who are part of the parliamentary group (APPG) on pandemic response and recovery - have written to the health select committee calling for an urgent investigation.
The all-party group has raised "serious patient safety concerns" and claims that the regulator operates in a way which is "far from protecting patients" and instead "puts them at serious risk".
An investigation into a medical regulator is 'very likely' to go ahead after MPs called for an analysis of vaccine side effects
ReutersIn response to the letter, Steve Brine, the health committee chairman, said an inquiry into patient safety is "very likely".
The APPG allege that there is reason to believe that the MHRA knew about post-vaccination heart and clotting issues as early as February 2021, but did not report the problems for several months.
In March 2021, some European countries banned the AstraZeneca vaccine amid clotting concerns.
The MHRA published safety advice on April 7 - when 24 million people had already been vaccinated.
In February 2021 the watchdog also noted a "signal" for the heart problems myocarditis and pericarditis.
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However, the regulator did not issue the conditions in safety updates until June 2021, MPs said.
The APPG wrote: "In effect, the MHRA licences medical products as safe knowing it lacks the processes to properly monitor adverse events.
"In the case of Covid-19 vaccines, given the comparatively novel technology and record manufacturing speed, could the MHRA have even properly scrutinised the licensing data or known the short-term safety?"
Historically trust and confidence in vaccines and vaccine safety have been high in the UK, but it seems that the experience of the Covid vaccines has undermined this and by association trust in the regulator and the pharmaceutical industry.
"Now more than ever a wide-reaching and in-depth review is needed."
In response to the letter, Steve Brine, the health committee chairman, said an inquiry into patient safety is 'very likely'
PA
Side effects from drugs account for one in every 16 hospital admissions in Britain, but trials are often too small to pick up adverse reactions, especially when they are driven by rare genetic mutations.
Dame June Raine, the chief executive of the MHRA, who announced she would be stepping down last week said: "We have made significant steps to put patients at the heart of all our work.
"These include incorporating patient views and lived experience into our safety reviews; involving patients in the early stages of planning medicines development and building a new responsive reporting system for patients to tell us about any adverse incidents.
"We have also led on legislative changes to strengthen surveillance for medical devices and medicines, meaning patient safety is embedded firmly into law.
"Our progress so far in making changes based on meaningful patient involvement gives us a solid base to build upon as we continue on this important journey.
"We are committed to enabling innovation that brings transformative medical products safely to patients."
