133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
16 August 2021
Ross Francis
By email: [FYI request #16112 email]
Ref:
H202109625
Tēnā koe Ross
Partial transfer of your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 28 July 2021 for
information relating to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Part of your request asks:
“New Zealand has reportedly purchased 10 mil ion doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine. At
an estimated price of $28 per dose, the cost to New Zealand taxpayers would be in the
vicinity of $280 mil ion. Pfizer’s profit is estimated to be $80 mil ion from sale of the
vaccine in New Zealand. Before it agreed to purchase the vaccine, did the New Zealand
Government ask Pfizer, or any of its representatives, to pay (either partly or fully) for the
cost of treating possible serious side-effects in New Zealand? If so, what was the value of
any suggested contribution and what was Pfizer’s response?”
This part of your request is more closely connected with the functions of the Ministry of
Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). For this reason, I have decided to transfer your
request to MBIE under section 14(b)(i ) of the Act. You can expect a response from MBIE in due
course.
Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Nick Allan
Manager OIA Services
Office of the Director-General
Copy of OIA request
From: Ross Francis <[FYI request #16112 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 18 July 2021 8:32 am
To: Information [DPMC] <[DPMC request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Covid-19 Vaccines - Serious Side Effects
Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,
New Zealand has reportedly purchased 10 million doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine. At an estimated
price of $28 per dose, the cost to New Zealand taxpayers would be in the vicinity of $280 million. Pfizer’s
profit is estimated to be $80 million from sale of the vaccine in New Zealand.
Before it agreed to purchase the vaccine, did the New Zealand Government ask Pfizer, or any of its
representatives, to pay (either partly or fully) for the cost of treating possible serious side-effects in New
Zealand? If so, what was the value of any suggested contribution and what was Pfizer’s response?
During the Prime Minister’s meetings with Pfizer in 2021, was the issue of possible serious side-effects
discussed? If so, please provide me with al information held about any such discussion(s).
According to information held, how many people (if any) may suffer serious side-effects from the Covid-
19 vaccine(s) in New Zealand?
On 22 October 2020, Steven Anderson (Director, Office of Biostatistics and Epidemiology) presented
various slides to the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. One slide,
which appeared for no more than half a second, stated that there were possible adverse events from
Covid-19 vaccines. The adverse events included but were not limited to:
Arthritis and arthralgia/joint pain
Convulsions/seizures
Stroke
Narcolepsy and cataplexy
Anaphylaxis
Acute myocardial infarction
Autoimmune disease
Pregnancy and birth outcomes
Kawasaki disease
Vaccine enhanced disease
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Deaths
On 11 December 2020, the Food and Drug Administration in the US approved the Pfizer vaccine.
According to information held by your department, what information was produced between 22
October and 11 December 2020 to diminish concerns about the above adverse events?
Yours faithfully,
Ross Francis
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