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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Kia ora Micky,

 

Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H202116568.

 

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/

 

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.

 

Ngā mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [2][email address]

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Micky Turner <[FOI #17557 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 13 November 2021 6:53 pm
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - COVID-19 Early Treatment Options

 

Dear Ministry of Health,

 

Can you please advise if you are offering people with Covid-19 any of the
following: 

 

Fluvoxamine 89%

Budesonide 81%

Vitamin D 81%

Vitamin A 79%

Quercetin 79%

Melatonin 78%

Zinc 74%

Povidone-Iodine 71%

Sotrovimab 67%

Ivermectin 67%

Vitamin C 43%

Aspirin 21%

 

I have included their early treatment efficacy % beside each one.  This
information can be found at
[3]http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...

 

These vitamins and OTC meds should be given in a pack to every one with
Covid 19 and their close contacts:

 

Vitamin D 81%

Vitamin A 79%

Quercetin 79%

Melatonin 78%

Zinc 74%

Povidone-Iodine 71%

Vitamin C 43%

Aspirin 21%

 

The Ministry of Health should also have enough Budesonide and inhalers for
100,000 people.

 

- Micky Turner

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[4][FOI #17557 email]

 

Is [5][Ministry of Health request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Ministry of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:

[6]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
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[7]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

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References

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2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
4. mailto:[FOI #17557 email]
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6. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
7. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

hide quoted sections

Tçnâ koe Micky

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) on 13 November 2021 for:

 

“Can you please advise if you are offering people with Covid-19 any of the
following: 

 

Fluvoxamine 89%

Budesonide 81%

Vitamin D 81%

Vitamin A 79%

Quercetin 79%

Melatonin 78%

Zinc 74%

Povidone-Iodine 71%

Sotrovimab 67%

Ivermectin 67%

Vitamin C 43%

Aspirin 21%

 

I have included their early treatment efficacy % beside each one.  This
information can be found at
[1]http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...

 

These vitamins and OTC meds should be given in a pack to every one with
Covid 19 and their close contacts:

 

Vitamin D 81%

Vitamin A 79%

Quercetin 79%

Melatonin 78%

Zinc 74%

Povidone-Iodine 71%

Vitamin C 43%

Aspirin 21%

 

The Ministry of Health should also have enough Budesonide and inhalers for
100,000 people.”

 

As COVID-19 is a viral illness, there is no specific treatment. Most
people who develop COVID-19 will recover fully while isolating at home or
in managed isolation and quarantine and they do not require
hospitalisation. Supportive treatment with fluid, rest, and antifever
medication is useful in aiding recovery and can be successfully managed by
a general practitioner (GP). A GP is best placed to provide care for those
who are recovering from COVID-19 at home, as they are familiar with
underlying conditions that may impact recovery and can manage these
appropriately. 

  

For patients who are hospitalised with serious cases of COVID-19, there is
currently one Medsafe approved medication which is dexamethasone. It is an
anti-inflammatory medication that is indicated in the treatment of
COVID-19 for patients who require supplemental oxygen therapy. You can
find the Medsafe datasheet for the approved medicine
here: [2]www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/d/Dexmethsonetab.pdf. 

  

Medical practitioners are permitted to use any medicine for a particular
patient in their care at their discretion; however, unapproved medicines
have not been evaluated by Medsafe for safety and efficacy. If your
healthcare professional chose to prescribe other agents to treat a patient
with COVID-19 it would be their responsibility to ensure that they are
aware of any safety issues and that they communicate the risks and
benefits to their patients.
See [3]www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/medicine-approval-process.asp.    

  

The Ministry of Health is aware that therapeutics will have a role to play
in managing the pandemic for people who are not vaccinated. Medicines and
other ways to treat and manage patients who have COVID-19 are being
continually developed and researched. You can find more information on
COVID-19 treatments on the Ministry of Health website
here: [4]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/about-covid-19. 

  

However, as previously advised, the Ministry of Health does not conduct
the treatment of patients, therefore cannot provide guidance regarding the
treatment protocols that is in the hospitals, general practitioners or
district health boards. 

 

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

Ngâ mihi,

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [email address]

 

 

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distribute or copy this message or attachments.
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2. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datash...
3. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/medi...
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
5. mailto:[email address]

hide quoted sections

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...

 

Please be advised that due dates for requests received from 29 November
2021 onwards take into account the following periods:

 

Christmas (25 December 2021)

Summer Holidays (25 December to 15 January)

New Year's Day (1 January 2022)

Day after News Year's Day (2 January 2022)

 

If you'd like to calculate the due date for your request, 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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References

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2. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Micky

 

Thank you for your follow up email regarding your request for information.

 

Please refer to the following pages on the Pharmac website for information
about Remdesivir:
[1]www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/covid19/funded-treatments-tocilizumab-and-remdesivir/
and
[2]www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations-and-decisions/decision-2021-09-16-remdesivir-to-treat-covid-19/.

 

Medsafe has provided provisional approval of the Pfizer vaccine. Further
information can be found on their website:
[3]www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/status-of-applications.asp and
specifically the Gazette
notice: [4]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/Com...

You might also be interested in the information available on the Beehive
website regarding the Government’s approval for Pfizer to be used in New
Zealand:
[5]www.beehive.govt.nz/release/ministers-sign-use-first-covid-19-vaccine.

 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for New Zealand's COVID-19 response is
sourced and distributed as part of a nationally coordinated approach,
managed by the Ministry of Health. Further information can be found on our
website:
[6]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-specific-audiences/covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-central-supply.

 

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

 

Ngā mihi,

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [email address]

 

 

From: Micky Turner <[8][FOI #17557 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 2 December 2021 10:06
To: OIA Requests <[9][email address]>
Subject: Re: Your request for information, ref: H202116568

 

Dear MOH OIA Requests,

If the Ministry of Health is not responsible for ensuring medical supplies
are available for the treatment of patients and the prevention of virus
infection in the population:

Who authorized the Pfizer vaccine and Remdesivir?
Who has overseen the bulk supply of PPE during this pandemic?

Yours sincerely,

Micky Turner

-----Original Message-----

Tçnâ koe Micky

  

 Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
 Act) to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) on 13 November 2021 for:

  

 “Can you please advise if you are offering people with Covid-19 any of
the
 following: 

  

 Fluvoxamine 89%

 Budesonide 81%

 Vitamin D 81%

 Vitamin A 79%

 Quercetin 79%

 Melatonin 78%

 Zinc 74%

 Povidone-Iodine 71%

 Sotrovimab 67%

 Ivermectin 67%

 Vitamin C 43%

 Aspirin 21%

  

 I have included their early treatment efficacy % beside each one.  This
 information can be found at
 [1][10]http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...

  

 These vitamins and OTC meds should be given in a pack to every one with
 Covid 19 and their close contacts:

  

 Vitamin D 81%

 Vitamin A 79%

 Quercetin 79%

 Melatonin 78%

 Zinc 74%

 Povidone-Iodine 71%

 Vitamin C 43%

 Aspirin 21%

  

 The Ministry of Health should also have enough Budesonide and inhalers
for
 100,000 people.”

  

 As COVID-19 is a viral illness, there is no specific treatment. Most
 people who develop COVID-19 will recover fully while isolating at home or
 in managed isolation and quarantine and they do not require
 hospitalisation. Supportive treatment with fluid, rest, and antifever
 medication is useful in aiding recovery and can be successfully managed
by
 a general practitioner (GP). A GP is best placed to provide care for
those
 who are recovering from COVID-19 at home, as they are familiar with
 underlying conditions that may impact recovery and can manage these
 appropriately. 

   

 For patients who are hospitalised with serious cases of COVID-19, there
is
 currently one Medsafe approved medication which is dexamethasone. It is
an
 anti-inflammatory medication that is indicated in the treatment of
 COVID-19 for patients who require supplemental oxygen therapy. You can
 find the Medsafe datasheet for the approved medicine
 here: [2][11]www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/d/Dexmethsonetab.pdf. 

   

 Medical practitioners are permitted to use any medicine for a particular
 patient in their care at their discretion; however, unapproved medicines
 have not been evaluated by Medsafe for safety and efficacy. If your
 healthcare professional chose to prescribe other agents to treat a
patient
 with COVID-19 it would be their responsibility to ensure that they are
 aware of any safety issues and that they communicate the risks and
 benefits to their patients.
 See [3][12]www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/medicine-approval-process.asp.    

   

 The Ministry of Health is aware that therapeutics will have a role to
play
 in managing the pandemic for people who are not vaccinated. Medicines and
 other ways to treat and manage patients who have COVID-19 are being
 continually developed and researched. You can find more information on
 COVID-19 treatments on the Ministry of Health website
 here: [4][13]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/about-covid-19. 

   

 However, as previously advised, the Ministry of Health does not conduct
 the treatment of patients, therefore cannot provide guidance regarding
the
 treatment protocols that is in the hospitals, general practitioners or
 district health boards. 

  

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

 Ngâ mihi,

  

 OIA Services

 Government Services

 Office of the Director-General

 Ministry of Health

 E: [email address]

  

  
 
 
References

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[14]http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
 2. [15]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datash...
 3. [16]http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/medi...
 4.
[17]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
 5. [18]mailto:[email address]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[19][FOI #17557 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[20]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
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References

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2. http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-reso...
3. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/sta...
4. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/Com...
5. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/mini...
6. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
7. mailto:[email address]
8. mailto:[FOI #17557 email]
9. mailto:[email address]
10. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
11. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datashe...
12. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/medi...
13. http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/disea...
14. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
15. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datash...
16. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/medi...
17. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
18. mailto:[email
19. mailto:[FOI #17557 email]
20. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

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