The latest EU database figures on the Pfizer-BioNTech jab’s safety show that as of 29 July, by which time about 330m doses had been delivered, a total of 244,807 cases of suspected side effects had been spontaneously reported to EudraVigilance by European countries.
The report said 4,198 of these reported a fatal outcome, though it remains “unclear whether the vaccine was the cause”.
Collecting reports of medical events and problems that occur following the use of a medicine, and therefore might be side effects, is one of the pillars of the EU safety monitoring system. Healthcare professionals and vaccinated individuals are encouraged to report to their national competent authorities all suspected side effects individuals may have experienced after receiving a vaccine even if it is unclear whether the vaccine was the cause.
These reports describe suspected side effects in individuals, i.e. medical events observed following the use of a vaccine. The fact that someone has had a medical issue or died after vaccination does not necessarily…
