Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

The complainant has requested information about adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) originally relied on section 22 of FOIA to withhold the information, which concerns information intended for future publication. It subsequently withdrew its reliance on that exemption and is now withholding the requested information under section 40(2) and 41(1) of FOIA, which concern personal data and information provided in confidence respectively. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: MHRA is entitled it withhold the requested information under section 41(1) of FOIA as it is information provided in confidence. The Commissioner does not require MHRA to take any remedial steps.