133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
28 July 2021
Athina Andonatou
By email: [FYI request #14982 email]
Ref:
H202108633
Tēnā koe Athina
Partial transfer of your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 18 July 2021 for:
“Follow up from H202103354: The link you provided me only covered Sittings of 7
November 2017 to 2 September 2020, so I was not able to see the Statements of
Indemnity informing the public of those decisions that were provided to the House of
Representatives on 11 February 2021. Please send me the correct link.
Also, please provide me with:
1) The due diligence process used to assess the performance and delivery of Pfizer’s
vaccine
2) What information you used to inform your decision that Pfizer has not been reckless in
the development of its vaccine?
3) You quote that "This assessment has been reinforced through Medsafe’s extensive
review of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, with Medsafe granting provisional
approval for its use on 3 February 2021". However, not all of the conditions of Medsafe's
provisional approval have been addressed so how can you truly say their has been an
extensive review of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine?
4) You quote that " It is not unexpected for pharmaceutical companies to seek indemnities
from governments in circumstances where clinical trials are restricted, or where a
purchase agreement is concluded before full trials are completed". Which of these
categories does the indemnity granted for the Pfizer vaccination fall under?
5) Please provide the criteria ACC uses to diagnose a "treatment injury" and what
evidence one would have to supply to be provided treatment and support for injuries
caused by a vaccination.
6) Finally, please provide me with details of how many people have successfully been
awarded treatment and support for any vaccine related injury.”
The Ministry of Health does not hold any information relating to parts 5 and 6 of your request;
however, I have been advised that this information is held by the Accident Compensation
Corporation (ACC). For this reason, I have decided to partially transfer parts 5 and 6 of your
request to ACC under section 14(b)(i) of the Act. You can expect a response to this part of your
request from ACC 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 cal ing 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Nick Allan
Manager, OIA Services
Office of the Director-General
Page 2 of 3
COPY OF OIA REQUEST
Athina Andonatou <[FYI request #14982 email]>
Sun 18/07/2021 13:30
To: OIA Requests
Dear OIA Requests,
This request for further information is in relation to the reply I received from MBIE as it needs
further clarification and information
The link you provided me only covered Sittings of 7 November 2017 to 2 September 2020, so I
was not able to see the Statements of Indemnity informing the public of those decisions that
were provided to the
House of Representatives on 11 February 2021. Please send me the correct link.
Also, please provide me with:
1) The due diligence process used to assess the performance and delivery of
Pfizer’s vaccine
2) What information you used to inform your decision that Pfizer has not been reckless in the
development
of its vaccine?
3) You quote that "This assessment has been reinforced through Medsafe’s extensive review of
the safety
and effectiveness of the vaccine, with Medsafe granting provisional approval for its use
on 3 February 2021". However, not all of the conditions of Medsafe's provisional approval have
been addressed so how can you truly say their has been an extensive review of the safety and
effectiveness of the vaccine?
4) You quote that " It is not unexpected for pharmaceutical companies to seek indemnities from
governments in circumstances where clinical trials are restricted, or where a purchase
agreement is concluded before full trials are completed". Which of these categories does the
indemnity granted for the Pfizer vaccination fall under?
5) Please provide the criteria ACC uses to diagnose a "treatment injury" and what evidence one
would have to supply to be provided treatment and support for injuries caused by a vaccination.
6) Finally, please provide me with details of how many people have successful y been awarded
treatment and support for any vaccine related injury.
Yours sincerely,
Athina Andonatou
Page 3 of 3
