133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
6 October 2021
Simon Brown
By email: [FYI request #16617 email]
Ref:
H202111756
Tēnā koe Simon
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 4 September
2021 for:
“I would like to learn what discussions were had by the COVID Vaccine Technical
Advisory Group regarding the potential long term detrimental safety implications of using a
two-dose regimen of the BioNTech/Pfizer mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine. I am specifically
interested in any and all discussions regarding the use of a "leaky" vaccine as described
in Pfizers original application for FDA Emergency use Authorization, subsequently
confirmed by numerous international studies, including the most recent Israeli study by
Gazit et al
(https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&d=pNiy4Yvg__LcRQMMJH6LLgXtNWbyt2D80
FeJtlxGuw&u=https%3a%2f%2fwww%2emedrxiv%2eorg%2fcontent%2f10%2e1101%2f2
021%2e08%2e24%2e21262415v1)
I specifically would like the minutes of meetings and any formal papers/submissions by
CV-TAG members that address the following issues with the vaccinated and why they are
not considered either a short and/or long term public health risk:
1. increased risk of escape variants
2. disease reservoirs and increased risk for reverse zoonosis 3. high viral loads and
viraemia 4. increased risk of coagulopathies 5. increased risk of autoimmunities, antibody-
dependent enhancement (ADE) and acute lung injury (ALI).”
The stated concerns have not been identified through clinical trials or through the large number
of real-world studies of the Pfizer vaccine, including before and after formal approval, at a
sufficiently robust level that would trigger an assessment from COVID-19 Vaccine Technical
Advisory Group. As such the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) does not hold the information you
have requested. Therefore, your request is refused in full under section 18(g) of the Act on the
grounds that the information sought is not held by the Ministry.
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.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry of Health website at: www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases.
Nāku noa, nā
Nick Allan
Manager, OIA Services
Office of the Director-General
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