The vaccine is not related to a recent outbreak of coronavirus as a Basingstoke care home, a government agency has said. 

As reported by The Gazette, at least 22 residents of Pemberley House Care Home have died in the last three weeks after contracting Covid. 

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHPRA) said their surveillance does not suggest that the Covid-19 vaccines have contributed to the deaths.

The agency is responsible for ensuring that medicines, medical devices, and vaccines meet applicable standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.

An outbreak was declared at the Viables residential home on January 5, 2020. Public Health England said the home's manager has been in contact with them and other stakeholders and assistance is not currently needed. 

It is understood the outbreak started as residents began to have their first coronavirus vaccines though this is thought to be unrelated, according to the agency.

Read more: Coronavirus outbreak at Pemberley House Care Home sees one third of residents die in three weeks

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said there was no suggestion the vaccine was responsible for the deaths.

A spokesperson for the MHRA said there was no suggestion the deaths were linked to the vaccine, saying: “We are saddened to hear about any deaths which have occurred since receiving Covid-19 vaccination. However, our surveillance does not suggest that the Covid-19 vaccines have contributed to any deaths.

“It is not unexpected that some of these people may naturally fall ill due to their age or underlying conditions shortly after being vaccinated, without the vaccine playing any role in that.

"We have robust surveillance systems in place to rapidly review all reports of suspected side effects to determine whether these are possible new risks, or coincidental.”

Government advice states that one “can not catch Covid-19 from the vaccine but it is possible to have caught Covid-19 and not realise you have the symptoms until after your vaccination appointment”, adding that it may take “a week or two” after the first dose to build up protection.

Pemberley House Care Home is a privately-run residential home that specialises in nursing, dementia and respite care. At its last CQC inspection, it was rated 'good' in all areas.

It costs around £1,350 a week per resident to live at the home, though prices vary depending on the care required. 

Who is the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and what does it do?

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is a separate agency that sits within the Department of Health and Social Care.

It is a government body that employs more than 1,200 civil servants and has facilities in London, York and South Mimms, Hertfordshire.

The MHPRA is tasked with improving public health and supports innovation through scientific research and development.