Filenews 1 November 2021
The Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health participate in the 6th annual information campaign on social media #MedSafetyWeek, with the aim of raising awareness about the importance of reporting suspected side effects after vaccination.
It is recalled that adverse reactions may be reported in accordance with the national reference system to the Pharmaceutical Services, Pharmacovigilance Sector, by submitting the Yellow Card in the following ways:
- Electronic submission through the website of the Pharmaceutical Services of www.moh.gov.cy/phs and directly to the www.kitrinikarta.gov.cy
- Sending a printed form via fax (22-608669) or by post to the Department of Pharmacovigilance, Pharmaceutical Services (Polyfimou 15, 2033 Strovolos).
Moreover, patients are encouraged to contact a health professional if they have any concern for their health.
According to the announcement of the Ministry of Health, the #MedSafetyWeek campaign, which takes place from 1 to 7 November 2021, focuses on vaccines. The competent pharmaco-regulatory authorities of 64 participating countries are encouraging health professionals, staff of national vaccination programmes, as well as patients, caregivers and their families, to report problems encountered from the use of vaccines, including vaccines against COVID-19.
Vaccines are the best way to protect against infectious diseases and have already saved millions of lives. As with all drugs, side effects may also occur with vaccines. The reporting of possible side effects, through the national yellow card reporting system, helps to identify new side effects and to complement knowledge about their actions.
Every report counts, so everyone is encouraged to report any suspected side effects in a timely manner, not expecting someone else to do so for them. Health professionals who administer vaccines are highly encouraged to discuss side effects with patients and to be alert to new or rare suspected side effects of vaccines.
The Pharmaceutical Services note the following:
This campaign comes at a critical time when millions of people are vaccinated against COVID-19, but it concerns all vaccines.
The reporting of possible side effects through the Yellow Card system is essential and contributes to the monitoring, by the Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health, of the safe use of all vaccines, with the ultimate goal of protecting Public Health through effective regulatory mechanisms.
Through cooperation and information sharing, we can make vaccines better for everyone.
Notes:
1. The competent national pharmaco-regulatory authorities of 64 countries from around the world, as well as stakeholders, participate in the international information campaign under the auspices of the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) of the World Health Organization (WHO). The campaign is supported by members of the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) and the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA).
The #MedSafetyWeek 2021 campaign team consists of representatives of the following organisations in partnership: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UK) as co-head, Egypt Chapter of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP Egypt), Health Products Regulatory Authority (Ireland) and Food and Drugs Authority (Ghana).
2. The Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health are responsible and participate in the protection and improvement of the health of millions of people daily through the effective regulation of all vaccines and medicines in the Republic of Cyprus and ensuring their effectiveness and safety. This work is based on a thorough scientific evaluation of the available efficacy and safety data, in order to ensure in any case that the benefits outweigh the risks.
3. It is recalled that adverse reactions may be reported in accordance with the national reference system to the Pharmaceutical Services, Pharmacovigilance Sector, by submitting the Yellow Card in the following ways:
- Electronic submission through the website of the Pharmaceutical Services of www.moh.gov.cy/phs and directly to the www.kitrinikarta.gov.cy
- Sending a printed form via fax (22-608669) or by post to the Department of Pharmacovigilance, Pharmaceutical Services (Polyfimou 15, 2033 Strovolos).
4. Patients are encouraged to contact a healthcare professional if they have any concern for their health.
