133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
25 January 2022
ASE
By email: [FYI request #17762 email]
Ref:
H202116888
Tēnā koe ASE
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health (the Ministry) on 29 November 2021 for:
“Can The Ministry of Health disclose all changes between these two documents, and the
reasons for all such changes?
Can The Ministry of Health disclose what basis of evidence was used to support its 19
Nov position statement (eg data, research, and other information)? In particular, what
basis of evidence was used to substantiate the assertions which were removed or de-
emphasised from version 2.0 of this position statement?
Can The Ministry of Health disclose how such changes/revisions to this position statement
are beneficial to public health, on the basis of evidence-based public health policies? Or,
were such changes based on something other than evidence-based public health
policies?
Aside from public health goals, supported by evidence-based risk/benefit and cost/benefit
analyses, what other influences led The Ministry of Health to revise this position?”
The position statement was produced to support healthcare professionals in their day-to-day
work. The statement was revised following feedback from and consultation with healthcare
professionals, to ensure the position was clear and to avoid confusion. We also became aware
of the mis-use of information by those opposed to vaccination by quoting sentences out of
context, which the revision has addressed. There has been no change to the overall meaning or
intent of the statement. A copy of the original document has been provided to you for your
convenience. This is attached to this letter as Document 1.
Please note, 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. 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. These questions are therefore refused under
section 18(g) of the Act on the grounds that the information sought is not held by the Ministry.
I trust this information fulfils your request. 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 website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Robyn Carey
Chief Medical Officer
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