Have you been vaccinated? If you experience any side-effects, you can log them officially

Now that most people in the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Group have been vaccinated, it's vital that we report any side effects from the vaccines.

This is even more important for MDS patients. Immunocompromised people were not included in the clinical trials of the vaccines, so there is a possibility that some MDS patients may respond in a different way to the healthy people that took part in the trials.

Your reporting as patients or caregivers can help safeguard everybody who is given the vaccines so, if you are not feeling quite right following your vaccine,  please report it, even if you are not sure whether it is a side-effect of the vaccine.

Reporting side effects can be done easily through the Yellow Card Scheme which is managed by the MHRA (Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency). Please do this - even if you think your doctor may have reported on your behalf.

The MHRA advise “If in doubt, report!” You can report using any of these methods:

  • Logging on to the Yellow Card Scheme website Official MHRA side effect and adverse incident reporting site for coronavirus treatments and vaccines https://coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk
  • Telephoning the MHRA on Freephone 0800 731 6789 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday).
  • Writing to the MHRA at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU
  • Downloading the Yellow Card App on your smart phone from Yellow Card - NHS https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/yellow-card/
MDS Patient Support

The recommendations have not changed:

  1. Have the vaccine (whichever is offered to you) if recommended by your GP or MDS team to have it.
  2. Keep shielding and isolating – even if you have had both your vaccine jabs.

Stay safe, stay in touch with us and hope to see many of you on our video calls.

A summary of Yellow Card reporting is made public, and appears every week on their website, under Latest News: https://coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/news