#MedSafetyWeek

#MedSafetyWeek 2026 (2-8 November)

#MedSafetyWeek is a social media campaign that takes place annually usually in November and each year there is a different focus or theme to encourage the reporting of suspected side effects.

This year will be the eleventh annual #MedSafetyWeek social media campaign and it will take place on 2 to 8 November 2026. The theme will be ‘side effects - don't ignore them, report them’. With key messages being there are many different types of side effects and if you think you’re experiencing a side effect, do not suffer in silence – report it. This year there are over 120 countries taking part in over 60 languages. MHRA is partnering with organisations globally alongside the Uppsala Monitoring Centre. Please do get involved on social media and help raise awareness locally using the materials below and you can also extra materials available under our resources page including our new partner toolkit.

In the UK, we will focus on the importance of reporting suspected adverse reactions to medicines and vaccines but we are also encouraging the reporting of suspected problems with medical devices or other healthcare products to the Yellow Card scheme. We ask healthcare professionals to support the campaign and talk to their patients and colleagues about healthcare products and how they can report suspected problems to the MHRA by using the Yellow Card scheme.

Patients and healthcare professionals can also show their support by sharing the MHRA messages and material below and from the MHRA social media channels. When posting please always use the #MedSafetyWeek and #MHRAYellowCard hashtag to help extend and magnify the message.

• Facebook

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

• X (Twitter)

• YouTube

  In addition to supporting on social media, please feel free to use these useful links to support and raise awareness locally.

2026 Materials

#MedSafetyWeek banner

Please hyperlink the following banners to https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/MedSafetyWeek

• E-mail signature banner

#MedSafetyWeek virtual background

• Virtual background for Microsoft Teams or Zoom

#MedSafetyWeek digital materials for TVs, screens and patient waiting areas

• Digital advert for screensavers, patient waiting areas and TV screens #MedSafetyWeek MHRA

• An explainer video animation for TVs , screens and patient waiting areas - what to report animation

#MedSafetyWeek posters

• A4 Poster

• A5 Poster

• Three new themed posters with blob characters to print:

  • polkadot

  • round

  • square

#MedSafetyWeek print for T-shirts and scrubs

• Three themed blob character templates with black and white text of the campaign theme to print on t-shirts are available here to download with example mock ups depending on the colour of the t-shirts or scrubs you are going to print them on.

#MedSafetyWeek stickers

• You can download Stickers to print which have a variety of uses e.g. on laptops, dispensing bags, books, windows, to give to patients, children or colleagues etc as a prompt to discuss the importance of reporting to the Yellow Card scheme.

• Two social media question cards that can also be used as a poster.

  • Patient Question Card

  • Healthcare Professional Question Card

• We will publish a Drug Safety Update article on the week which can be shared and used for copy for articles to help raise awareness.

• you can also see our case studies page for examples of regulatory action taken by the MHRA after receiving Yellow Card reports

• e-learning modules for healthcare professionals which count for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) credits including the new British Pharmacological Society Assessment (BPSA) free online learning resource

• information on #MedSafetyWeek on the Uppsala Monitoring Centre’s website and more detail on how med safety cycle works

New animations for #MedSafetWeek will be posted during the campaign week on MHRA social media channels.