The Drug Safety Research Unit (DSRU) in Southampton is conducting an online study to monitor the safety of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine using ‘real time’ data from patients receiving the jab.

Researchers are recruiting people over 50 years of age, health and social care workers, and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable in the first phase of the study.

Pharmacy teams are being encouraged to sign up for the study themselves if they have had the Oxford-AZ vaccine. Additionally, they can signpost patients who have received the vaccine to participate in the study. A poster is available to download.

Prospective candidates can register their interest on the study website or phone 0800 619 6222 whether or not they have been vaccinated or have experienced symptoms after their vaccination.

The DSRU is an independent academic research unit in Southampton and an associate department of the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth.

Commenting on the start of the study, Professor Saad Shakir, DSRU director, said: “We are urging all healthcare professionals to gently encourage patients having the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to sign up for our study.”