NVX-CoV2373, Novavax’ recombinant nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine
M.R.M. made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
Response to this request is long overdue. By law Ministry of Health should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.
From: M.R.M.
Dear Ministry of Health,
I am needing to ask why the summary subject heading vaccination is not available in New Zealand?
At the webpage link shown below the government disclosed that it had agreed to purchase 10.72 million doses of the Novovax vaccine - 2 doses per person = enough for 5.36 million people, or slightly more than NZ's population. Against this background I wish to request the following information:-
1. Has Medsafe approved the safety and efficacy of Novovax vaccines? If not, what progress has been made in this area, and, when is this likely to happen?
2. What are the delivery timeframes of Novovax vaccines currently?
3. Has consideration been given to the use of Novavax vaccines in New Zealand, and if so what decision has been reached and the reasons for that.
4. Has a decision been reached not to use Novovax vaccines in New Zealand, and if so what are the reasons for that.
5. Has a decision been reached not to use Novovax vaccines in New Zealand, and what are the consequences of agreeing to purchase 10.72 million doses ... in particular will there be penalties payable for breaching the agreement by withdrawing from or cancelling the agreement?
6. Noting that it was also disclosed that New Zealand has bought enough vaccines for the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Sāmoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu, and if a decision has been reached not to use Novovax vaccines in New Zealand, will the abovementioned agreement be honoured by the New Zealand government through providing one or more of the aforementioned countries with Novovax vaccines, and, if so what are the reasons for that?
7. What is the cost to New Zealand of buying enough vaccines for the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Sāmoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu? Please provide the fullest possible answer with cost breakdowns and giving me complete disclosure of financial estimates, actual costings, etc.
8. Why is New Zealand responsible for buying vaccines for the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Sāmoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu when our health workers have had a 3 year moratorium placed on salary increases, the cost of living in New Zealand is robbing people of their hard-earned income and leaving many families hungry, and, - in my opinion - we need to take care of our own before we take care of anyone else? Again, please provide the fullest possible answer with cost breakdowns and giving me complete disclosure of financial estimates, actual costings, etc.
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
A meaningful number of New Zealanders have decided - as is their right - to wait until Novovax vaccines are offered as an alternative to the Pfizer vaccination. Having read that New Zealand will likely use Novovax as a "booster vaccination" following 2nd doses of Pfizer, can you please advise whether or not Novovax will be available to everyone who wants it as a first and second dose Covid-19 vaccination, and if not why not (your fullest possible answer is anticipated in response to this question). And, if Novovax will not be made available as aforementioned, then will it be possible for those who want it as a first and second dose Covid-19 vaccination to self-fund this treatment? If not, why not,, and, what would the likely cost of it be per vial if this is to be an option?
Lastly, according to data reported by Novovax, their vaccines were 100% effective against moderate and severe disease and 90.4% effective overall. While these results are yet to undergo peer review, these are remarkable results nonetheless that need to be paid serious attention by our government.
Yours faithfully,
M.R.M.
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora,
Thank you for your request for official information received on 19 October
2021 for:
"1. Has Medsafe approved the safety and efficacy of Novovax vaccines? If
not, what progress has been made in this area, and, when is this likely to
happen?
2. What are the delivery timeframes of Novovax vaccines currently?
3. Has consideration been given to the use of Novavax vaccines in New
Zealand, and if so what decision has been reached and the reasons for
that.
4. Has a decision been reached not to use Novovax vaccines in New
Zealand, and if so what are the reasons for that.
5. Has a decision been reached not to use Novovax vaccines in New
Zealand, and what are the consequences of agreeing to purchase 10.72
million doses ... in particular will there be penalties payable for
breaching the agreement by withdrawing from or cancelling the agreement?
6. Noting that it was also disclosed that New Zealand has bought enough
vaccines for the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Sâmoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu,
and if a decision has been reached not to use Novovax vaccines in New
Zealand, will the abovementioned agreement be honoured by the New Zealand
government through providing one or more of the aforementioned countries
with Novovax vaccines, and, if so what are the reasons for that?
7. What is the cost to New Zealand of buying enough vaccines for the Cook
Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Sâmoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu? Please provide the
fullest possible answer with cost breakdowns and giving me complete
disclosure of financial estimates, actual costings, etc.
8. Why is New Zealand responsible for buying vaccines for the Cook
Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Sâmoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu when our health workers
have had a 3 year moratorium placed on salary increases, the cost of
living in New Zealand is robbing people of their hard-earned income and
leaving many families hungry, and, - in my opinion - we need to take care
of our own before we take care of anyone else? Again, please provide the
fullest possible answer with cost breakdowns and giving me complete
disclosure of financial estimates, actual costings, etc.”
A secondary request for official information was received on 19 October
2021 for:
“..I, and I am certain millions of other Kiwi's do too, want to know what
caused such a radical change as to bring the Government to recently decide
it is now mandatory that teachers and workers in the health and disability
sectors be fully vaccinated as a condition of their employment (when most
if not all of the Individual and Collective Employment Agreements in New
Zealand do not require this as an health and safety related employment
term and condition).
Notably too, with the New Zealand Government accepting and acknowledging -
see 2. above - that Covid-19 vaccination is "medical treatment", can you
please advise me which law or laws in New Zealand compel people to undergo
Covid-19 treatment to address a public health issue but which recognizes
and upholds the right to consent or not to such treatment?
Lastly, what is the Government's position in relation to the punitive
measure for non-compliance which has and will continue to see workers
being fired from their jobs for simply exercising their Bill of Rights Act
endorsed right not to receive medical treatment by declining to have a
Covid-19 vaccination?”
A third request for official information was received on 19 October 2021
for:
1. On what date did the Pfizer Covid-19 and the BioNTech vaccine clinical
trials end?
2. If the Pfizer Covid-19 and the BioNTech vaccine clinical trials have
not yet ended, on what date will they end, or, on what date will they
likely end?
3. If the Pfizer Covid-19 and the BioNTech vaccine clinical trials have
not yet ended, did Pharmac nonetheless approve their use in New Zealand,
and if so under what conditions did this happen?
4. If the Pfizer Covid-19 and the BioNTech vaccine clinical trials have
not yet ended, this would mean that they are still in the experimental
phase of development. In such circumstances, and with the Government
having taken on the liability of claims that may arise from use of the
Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines, what laws, regulations, rules, guidelines
etc. make it the responsibility of the Accident Compensation Corporation
to accept cover of injuries that are in all probability caused by vaccines
that have a) not been fully and properly trialed and b) are still in the
experimental phase of development?
The Ministry of Health has consolidated your requests under reference
number: H202114662.
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 17 November 2021, being
20 working days after the day your request was received.
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. If
we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we will
notify you of an extension of that time frame.
If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora MRM,
Please find attached a response to your official information act request
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
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From: M.R.M.
Dear OIA Requests,
You have attached a duplicate copy of a reply to another information request. In other words my request under the subject heading had not been responded to. Please do this as a matter of urgency.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
M.R.M.
From: M.R.M.
Dear OIA Requests,
You have attached a duplicate copy of a reply to another information request. In other words my request under the subject heading had not been responded to. Please do this as a matter of urgency.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
M.R.M.
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora,
Thank you for your Official Information Act (the Act) request. This is
an automatic reply to let you know we received it.
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. We
will endeavour to acknowledge your request as soon as possible. Further
information about COVID-19 can be found on our
website: [1]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more
than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can
use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [2]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
If you have any questions while we're processing your request, please let
us know via [3][email address]
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[4]Ministry of Health information releases
[5]Unite against COVID-19
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5. https://covid19.govt.nz/
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora MRM
Thank you for email.
While you made three separate requests under the Official Information Act,
as they were all on the same subject matter, namely COVID-19 vaccines,
under section 18(A) of the Act, the Ministry of Health has consolidated
them and provided one response. Providing one response not only assists
requesters receive comprehensive information and meets our obligations
under section 12, but also reduces the administrative burden to the
Ministry. The Ministry has nothing further to add to the response
provided.
As noted in the response, you have the right under section 28(3) of the
Act to seek a review by the Ombudsman of any decisions made under this
request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email
at: [1][email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[2]Ministry of Health information releases
[3]Unite against COVID-19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: M.R.M. <[FOI #17257 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 3 November 2021 18:08
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your official information act request
(ref.H202114662)
Dear OIA Requests,
You have attached a duplicate copy of a reply to another information
request. In other words my request under the subject heading had not been
responded to. Please do this as a matter of urgency.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
M.R.M.
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora MRM,
Please find attached a response to your official information act request
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
References
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