Covid-19 vaccine status relative risk calculation
Mr T. Baker made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
The request was successful.
From: Mr T. Baker
Dear Ministry of Health,
During a press conference on 27 July 2022, the Director General of Health stated (quote taken from transcript):
"It shows convincingly here in Aotearoa that getting boosted is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of death from COVID-19.
Very consistent with the international evidence.
Across the population, people not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 - that is they've had less than two doses - are six times more likely to die if they catch COVID-19 compare would someone who has had at least one boost dose, that's once you adjust for all other factors.
For people under 60, this risk seven higher, more than 13 times greater for those who are unvaccinated or less than two doses compared with someone who's boosted.
Many of those who have died under 60 have had underlying health conditions and getting boosted is particularly vital for those people."
Please provide all information (calculations, reports, data, memos etc) that substantiate these claims.
Yours faithfully,
Mr T. Baker
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Mr. T Baker,
Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H2022008814.
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
M[2]inistry of Health information releases
U[3]nite against COVID-19
show quoted sections
From: OIA Requests
Tēnā koe Mr T. Baker,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to Manatū Hauora (Ministry of Health) on 27 July 2022 for:
“"It shows convincingly here in Aotearoa that getting boosted is one of
the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of death from
COVID-19.
Very consistent with the international evidence.
Across the population, people not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 - that
is they've had less than two doses - are six times more likely to die if
they catch COVID-19 compare would someone who has had at least one boost
dose, that's once you adjust for all other factors.
For people under 60, this risk seven higher, more than 13 times greater
for those who are unvaccinated or less than two doses compared with
someone who's boosted.
Many of those who have died under 60 have had underlying health conditions
and getting boosted is particularly vital for those people."
Please provide all information (calculations, reports, data, memos etc)
that substantiate these claims”
Regarding the statements during the press conference on 27 July 2022, the
Director-General was referring to preliminary results contained within a
forthcoming report. The report titled “Inequities in COVID-19 Mortality”
will be publicly released on the Ministry website here:
[1]www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases by 20 October
2022. Therefore, your request is withheld in full under section 18(d) of
the Act, as the information requested will soon be publicly available.
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: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
M[3]inistry of Health information releases
U[4]nite against COVID-19
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
4. https://covid19.govt.nz/
From: Mr T. Baker
Dear OIA Requests,
Thank you for your response.
Please note that my request was for "all information (calculations, reports, data, memos etc) that substantiate these claims." As such, I expect all necessary information to substantiate the claims shall be provided in noted forthcoming report.
I also note that the report is planned to be released more than 8 weeks after OIA request refusal, and more than 12 weeks after the Director-general made the much-reported stated claims at his final press conference. Previous Ombudsman rulings have indicated that greater than 8 weeks after refusal is typically not considered "soon" under section 18(d), thus I reserve my right to refer this response to Ombudsman in due course subject to actual release date and completeness of requested information contained within report.
Yours sincerely,
Mr T. Baker
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