Freedom of Information request on animal trials (FOI 21-396)
Published 28 June 2021
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-responses-from-the-mhra-week-commencing-3-may-2021/freedom-of-information-request-on-animal-trials-foi-21-396
1st May 2021 FOI 21/396
Dear
Thank you for your email of 11th April where you have asked: “I would like full information about these animal trials, for the following reasons: 1) If the animal tests are worth doing, why do you not give information about them? 2) I feel that the least we can do for those sacrificed for our wants is to acknowledge the debt. 3) I need to weigh up the pros and cons of accepting the vaccine(s). Ingredients are published so it looks like they are suitable for vegans in that respect, but animal tests are also relevant to a vegan. May I ask you to provide information on the animal tests that the vaccines have undergone? Also, can you justify requiring tests on species other than the intended species, a) ethically b) scientifically c) regarding efficiency, seeing as the animal tests will have to be ignored for the purpose of doing them all again (suitably modified) on humans?”
Information on the animal trials conducted can be found within the Public Assessment Reports for each vaccine which are available on the MHRA website. Links to these are provided below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-for-covid-19
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-moderna
Regarding the question concerning animal testing in general, by law new medicines are required to be tested on animals before they can advance to phase testing on human volunteers in clinical trials.
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Yours sincerely
MHRA Customer Service Centre
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