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/

Kia ora MRM

 

Thank you for your latest request under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act) for information about COVID-19 vaccination programme and other
related matters.

 

While the Act allows New Zealanders to ask for information from Ministers
and government agencies, there is no requirement for agencies to create
new information, compile information they do not hold or provide or prove
an opinion. Your questions and the statements that support them appear
designed to engage in a debate about the Government’s COVID-19 vaccination
programme, rather than a request for official information. The Act does
not support requests where an opinion, comment, argument, or hypothetical
statement is put to the Ministry for response, couched as a request for
information.  Most of your request is therefore refused under section
18(g) on the grounds that it is not held by the Ministry.  Moreover,
please be advised that using the Act in this manner could be construed as
vexatious and result in such requests being refused under section 18(h) of
the Act.

Regarding your request for information about additional vaccination doses
beyond the two currently prescribed, these matters are under active
consideration. Therefore is part of your request is withheld in full under
section 9(2)(f)(iv) to maintain the constitutional conventions that
protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials.

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: [1][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602. 

 

Ngâ mihi  

  
Nick Allan  

Manager, OIA Services  

Office of the Director-General 

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From: M.R.M. <[FOI #17442 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 3 November 2021 14:53
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Covid-19 vaccinations and purchase
of additional 4.7 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine
 
Dear Ministry of Health,

Please provide me with full disclosure information relative to the
"booster programme" that Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins referred to when
addressing media today (3/11/21).

Reportedly, "there are currently 2.8 million doses in (sic) country and
the Government expects another 1.5 million before the end of the year." 
On top of this, also in today's news, it has been announced that Minister
Chris Hipkins said the Government has signed a purchase agreement for an
additional 4.7 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine that "could also be
used in the Pacific if needed."  Why does this Government not know whether
or not these doses - enough to give each resident and citizen a "booster"
shot - are going to be needed by New Zealand or not?  And, under what
agreement or the legal arrangement is New Zealand responsible for
providing Covid-19 doses to Pacific nations?  Furthermore, who would pay
for these doses if they were used in the Pacific if needed? 

After being told that Covid-19 had arrived in NZ, residents and citizens
were asked to lock down for 2 weeks to "flatten the curve".  Later they
were told that they would need to have "a vaccination" against Covid-19. 
That subsequently became two vaccinations.  Then workers started to be
mandated to have the two vaccinations while businesses were also dictated
to in terms of how and when they could trade.  Now the Government has
disclosed it has a "booster programme", and, that it has purchased
millions more doses than NZ would need ... with it also being said  by
Minister Hipkins that "it could be up to 11 or 12 months before boosters
are doled out in NZ."  With us moving towards the 3rd anniversary of
Covid-19 being unleased on the world, I must ask at what point are we
going to be allowed to have our lives back ... no demands that we
"voluntarily" have vaccinations many of us do not agree with, no mandates
that we "must" have vaccinations many more of us do not agree with
 , and, no telling us any longer how we should and must live our lives? 
In this regard, I particularly want to know when the Government plans to
tell residents and citizens about the - thus far hidden - "booster
programme" that is clearly underway?  And, will the "booster" vaccinations
also be subject to the same as aforementioned in terms of lockdowns, etc.
until we "voluntarily" have them, or are mandated to have them?   in
addition, how many "booster" vaccinations is the Government proposing
residents and citizens will need and at what frequency?  Lastly, why has
the Government chosen to purchase Pfizer "booster" vaccinations when most
countries around the world have long ago realized that there is benefit in
using a different "booster" vaccination to the 1st and 2nd vaccinations?

Yours faithfully,

M.R.M.

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References

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