The Covid-19 vaccines have been thoroughly tested to ensure they are safe but, like all new medicines and vaccines, monitoring of their safety must continue once they are approved for use in the whole population.

A new study will proactively collect real-life information from patients who have received the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccination.

The study will be run by the Drug Safety Research Unit (DSRU), an independent research unit in Southampton, which aims to protect patients from unwanted side effects of medicines and vaccines.

The study will recruit at least 10,000 people in the Phase I vaccination group, which includes all those aged over 50, health and social care workers and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable.

Anyone who would like to find out more can register their interest at any time before they are vaccinated via the study website (link to http://goto.dsru.org/covid). The DSRU research team will then contact you when you have had your vaccination in order to invite you to start the study.

Alternatively, people can sign up (link to: http://goto.dsru.org/covid) to start the study after they have been vaccinated (within six weeks).

People are invited to take part in the study whether or not they experience symptoms after their vaccination.

After vaccination, study participants will be asked to complete an enrolment questionnaire consisting of basic information about the vaccine and their health. The patient will be prompted to complete a questionnaire at intervals for up to 18 months.

All questionnaires can be completed on the study website or by phone for people who prefer not to use the internet.

The DSRU research team will collate the information provided by all participants and will determine whether any observed side effects are likely to be linked to the vaccine.

The Drug Safety Research Unit has studied the safety of many medicines and vaccines for over 40 years. The DSRU is an independent academic unit and registered charity, not a pharmaceutical company or government agency.

Not yet been vaccinated? Find out more and express your interest now at goto.dsru.org/covid

Already been vaccinated? If you would like to take part in the study, please sign up at goto.dsru.org/covid (Currently we are not studying all vaccines, so your eligibility will depend on which vaccine you have received.)

Alternatively, please call 0800 619 6222 whether or not you have been vaccinated.