Health written question – answered at on 9 July 2007.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) deaths and (b) other adverse reactions to vaccines were reported in each of the last 30 years; and whether there were any deaths in each year from 1964 to 2007 attributed to vaccination.
The following table lists the numbers of reports of suspected adverse reactions (ADRs) to vaccines submitted to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) via the yellow card scheme between
It is very important to note that the report of a suspected ADR via the yellow card scheme and inclusion in this list does not necessarily mean that the event was caused by the vaccine. Yellow card reports are suspicions that a vaccine or medicine may have caused an event and are not proof of a causal association.
The increase in total reports in the year 2000 was due to the meningitis C immunisation campaign during which more than 18 million doses of the vaccine were administered in just over a year.
Data from the yellow card scheme is continually reviewed to identify new safely issues with medicines and vaccines, and where issues are identified appropriate action is taken to protect public health.
Received year | Number of reports | Fatal reports |
1964 | 111 | 1 |
1965 | 128 | 1 |
1966 | 148 | 1 |
1967 | 119 | 0 |
1968 | 246 | 4 |
1969 | 220 | 11 |
1970 | 171 | 5 |
1971 | 159 | 4 |
1972 | 147 | 5 |
1973 | 133 | 7 |
1974 | 189 | 5 |
1975 | 207 | 1 |
1976 | 386 | 3 |
1977 | 544 | 2 |
1978 | 577 | 6 |
1979 | 609 | 8 |
1980 | 693 | 4 |
1981 | 579 | 5 |
1982 | 587 | 5 |
1983 | 495 | 4 |
1984 | 677 | 4 |
1985 | 876 | 12 |
1986 | 1,102 | 4 |
1987 | 807 | 5 |
1988 | 1,441 | 11 |
1989 | 1,969 | 12 |
1990 | 1,428 | 5 |
1991 | 1,166 | 21 |
1992 | 1,641 | 16 |
1993 | 2,422 | 30 |
1994 | 2,640 | 11 |
1995 | 1,668 | 14 |
1996 | 1,329 | 5 |
1997 | 1,255 | 9 |
1998 | 1,297 | 12 |
1999 | 2,471 | 8 |
2000 | 12,816 | 38 |
2001 | 1,416 | 17 |
2002 | 1,309 | 17 |
2003 | 2,052 | 14 |
2004 | 1,757 | 14 |
2005 | 2,205 | 14 |
2006 | 1,465 | 10 |
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