Headaches after a new medicine, a rash after a vaccine, strange symptoms after an e-cigarette or a faulty glucose meter. In the UK you can report such situations yourself. This is what the Yellow Card scheme, run by the medicines regulator MHRA, is for.
The MHRA is reminding people of this ahead of the #MedSafetyWeek campaign. It runs from 2 to 8 November 2026. This year’s slogan is: don’t ignore side effects, report them. This is the eleventh edition of the campaign.
Reports can be sent not only by doctors and pharmacists, but also by patients and carers. A suspicion is enough – you do not need to be sure the medicine caused the symptom. The online form takes a few minutes. You can fill it in on the Yellow Card website or in the free Yellow Card app (App Store and Google Play).
You can report side effects of medicines and vaccines, problems with medical devices (including apps and software, among them AI-based ones), suspected counterfeit or defective products, and problems with e-cigarettes and their refills.
The MHRA points out that symptoms can appear immediately, but also after weeks, after a dose change or in combination with another medicine, food or herbal products. Every report helps detect a new risk sooner.
What it means for you
Many Polish families in the UK buy medicines in both countries and combine them with supplements or herbal products. If something worrying happens after such a combination, it is worth reporting. A report does not replace a visit to the doctor – look after your health first, then send a Yellow Card. The form is in English, but simple information is enough: the name of the medicine, the dose and when the symptom appeared.
Our assessment
It is a simple way to have a real influence on medicine safety. The system only works when people use it. We believe it is worth having the app on your phone, especially if there are children at home or elderly parents taking several medicines at once.
What to do
- If symptoms are serious, call 999; otherwise contact your GP, a pharmacist or NHS 111.
- Report a suspected side effect on the Yellow Card (MHRA) website or in the Yellow Card app.
- Keep the packaging of the medicine or product – the batch number will be useful.
- If the MHRA asks for more information, reply – it is part of the report.
Source: MHRA, Drug Safety Update: #MedSafetyWeek (2 to 8 November 2026) (26 October 2026).
We assess factual corrections and substantive responses. Verified changes are reflected in our reporting.
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