Vaccination reporting methods, by active DHB patients or by provider patient databases?

Erika Whittome 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: Erika Whittome

Dear Ministry of Health,

The Ministry is reporting vaccination rates by DHB. How is this data being collected and reported?

There are several different DHBs each with their own patient management system. General Practitioners also have their own patient management systems and there is no "one source of truth" for all New Zealand patients. There is a vaccine record system which captures doses given. How are the unvaccinated numbers assessed please?

For example, If a person has not been to the doctor in say 5 years, how do you know which DHB this person resides in?

If a person has not been to a DHB provided service in 5 say years (a hospital or xray clinic), how do you have a vaccination record of this person?

Are you collating unvaccinated data from the thousands of doctors and their patient management systems?

When a patient has not been to their GP for 3 years, the person becomes unregistered with that GP. How do you count such a patient in your vaccination percentage rates?

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

Link to this

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...

 

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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5. https://covid19.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: Erika Whittome

Dear Ministry of Health,
It has come to my attention that mid central DHB are using the Health Service User database for their vaccination estimates. (https://www.facebook.com/265474945315/po...)

So those who are healthy and have not been to a doctor or hospital for over a year are not being counted if they are not vaccinated at mid central DHB. Are all DHBs using this method? What is the difference between the total people in the Health Service User database and the latest total population Census data?

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

Link to this

From: OIA Requests



Kia ora 

 

Thank you for your email. The Ministry of Health is closed from Thursday
23 December 2021—Monday 10 January 2022. We will respond to your email
when the Ministry reopens. Thank you for your patience. 

 

OIA requests

Please note that under the Official information Act 1982, the days from 25
December 2021 to Saturday 15 January 2022 (inclusive), are not ‘working
days’ for the purposes of the law and therefore do not form part of the 20
working days required to respond.  For more information on this, please
visit the OIA calculator at: [1]ombudsman.parliament.nz/

 

COVID-19 information 

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pandemic, please go to [2]covid19.govt.nz 

·    for information about COVID-19 locations of interest:
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·    for information on COVID-19 vaccination (including bookings) go to:
[5]health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines

·    for information on managed isolation, including exemptions from
managed isolation, please go to [6]miq.govt.nz 

 

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Ngā mihi 

OIA Services 

 

 

 

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5. http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/disea...
6. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
7. http://mentalhealth.org.nz/
8. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Erika,

 

Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H20220108.

 

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]

 

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

From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #18028 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 22 December 2021 10:28
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Vaccination reporting methods, by
active DHB patients or by provider patient databases?
 
Dear Ministry of Health,

The Ministry is reporting vaccination rates by DHB. How is this data being
collected and reported?

There are several different DHBs each with their own patient management
system. General Practitioners also have their own patient management
systems and there is no "one source of truth" for all New Zealand
patients. There is a vaccine record system which captures doses given. How
are the unvaccinated numbers assessed please?

For example, If a person has not been to the doctor in say 5 years,  how
do you know which DHB this person resides in?

If a person has not been to a DHB provided service in 5 say years (a 
hospital or xray clinic), how do you have a vaccination record of this
person?

Are you collating unvaccinated data from the thousands of doctors and
their patient management systems?

When a patient has not been to their GP for 3 years, the person becomes
unregistered with that GP. How do you count such a patient in your
vaccination percentage rates?

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

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

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #18028 email]

Is [Ministry of Health request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Ministry of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[3]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[4]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.

show quoted sections

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2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
4. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

Link to this

From: OIA Requests

Tēnā koe Erika, 
Thank you for your request for information. So that we can ensure we are
providing you with the right information, can you please clarify if you
are referring to the reporting for only COVID-19 vaccines or all
vaccinations?
Ngā mihi, 
OIA Services 

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

From: Erika Whittome <[FYI request #18028 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 22 December 2021 10:28
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Vaccination reporting methods, by
active DHB patients or by provider patient databases?
 
Dear Ministry of Health,

The Ministry is reporting vaccination rates by DHB. How is this data being
collected and reported?

There are several different DHBs each with their own patient management
system. General Practitioners also have their own patient management
systems and there is no "one source of truth" for all New Zealand
patients. There is a vaccine record system which captures doses given. How
are the unvaccinated numbers assessed please?

For example, If a person has not been to the doctor in say 5 years,  how
do you know which DHB this person resides in?

If a person has not been to a DHB provided service in 5 say years (a 
hospital or xray clinic), how do you have a vaccination record of this
person?

Are you collating unvaccinated data from the thousands of doctors and
their patient management systems?

When a patient has not been to their GP for 3 years, the person becomes
unregistered with that GP. How do you count such a patient in your
vaccination percentage rates?

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

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

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #18028 email]

Is [Ministry of Health request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Ministry of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[1]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

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

Link to this

Erika Whittome left an annotation ()

This request is for the Comirnaty Covid 19 vaccine

Link to this

From: OIA Requests


Attachment image001.png
7K Download


Kia ora Erika,

 

Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H202200195.

 

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]

 

 

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Erika 

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) on 8 January 2022 for: 

 

It has come to my attention that mid central DHB are using the Health
Service User database for their vaccination estimates.
(https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

So those who are healthy and have not been to a doctor or hospital for
over a year are not being counted if they are not vaccinated at mid
central DHB. Are all DHBs using this method? What is the difference
between the total people in the Health Service User database and the
latest total population Census data? 

 

The information you have requested is publicly available on the Ministry
of Health’s website at:
[1]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-vaccine-data.
A spreadsheet containing key vaccination data, including Health Service
User (HSU) based population estimates for calculating vaccine update
rates, is under the Details of vaccination data heading. To find the
difference between the total people in the HSU database and the latest
total population Census data, you can compare the spreadsheet data with
the Census data, available at: [2]https://www.stats.govt.nz/2018-census/. 

 

For information about district health boards (DHBs), please contact them
directly. A list of the DHB websites is available at:
[3]www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-health-system/key-health-sector-organisations-and-people/district-health-boards/district-health-board-websites.
 

 

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.  

Ngâ mihi 

OIA Services Team 

  

[4]Ministry of Health information releases 

[5]Unite against COVID-19 

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1. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
2. https://www.stats.govt.nz/2018-census/
3. http://www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-he...
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Erika,

 

A reminder that we are awaiting clarification of your request for
information as per below so that the Ministry can provide a response to
your request.

 

We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Ngā mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

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

From: OIA Requests <[2][email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 January 2022 11:38
To: Erika Whittome <[3][FOI #18028 email]>
Cc: OIA Requests <[4][email address]>
Subject: Re: Official Information request - Vaccination reporting methods,
by active DHB patients or by provider patient databases?

 

Tēnā koe Erika, 

 

Thank you for your request for information. So that we can ensure we are
providing you with the right information, can you please clarify if you
are referring to the reporting for only COVID-19 vaccines or all
vaccinations?

 

Ngā mihi, 

 

OIA Services 

 

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

From: Erika Whittome <[5][FOI #18028 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 22 December 2021 10:28
To: OIA Requests <[6][email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Vaccination reporting methods, by
active DHB patients or by provider patient databases?

 

Dear Ministry of Health,

The Ministry is reporting vaccination rates by DHB. How is this data being
collected and reported?

There are several different DHBs each with their own patient management
system. General Practitioners also have their own patient management
systems and there is no "one source of truth" for all New Zealand
patients. There is a vaccine record system which captures doses given. How
are the unvaccinated numbers assessed please?

For example, If a person has not been to the doctor in say 5 years,  how
do you know which DHB this person resides in?

If a person has not been to a DHB provided service in 5 say years (a 
hospital or xray clinic), how do you have a vaccination record of this
person?

Are you collating unvaccinated data from the thousands of doctors and
their patient management systems?

When a patient has not been to their GP for 3 years, the person becomes
unregistered with that GP. How do you count such a patient in your
vaccination percentage rates?

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

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

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #18028 email]

Is [8][Ministry of Health request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Ministry of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[9]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[10]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.

show quoted sections

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by the Ministry of Health's Content and Virus Filtering Gateway

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

References

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2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[FOI #18028 email]
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5. mailto:[FOI #18028 email]
6. mailto:[email address]
7. mailto:[FOI #18028 email]
8. mailto:[Ministry of Health request email]
9. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
10. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

Link to this

From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA Requests,

You have deferred your response by sharing a link to the HSU database. My original question has some use cases. How does the HSU database count the following individuals? (Copied from my original request):

If a person has not been to the doctor in say 5 years, how do you know which DHB this person resides in?

If a person has not been to a DHB provided service in 5 say years (a hospital or xray clinic), how do you have a vaccination record of this person?

When a patient has not been to their GP for 3 years, the person becomes unregistered with that GP. How do you count such a patient in your vaccination percentage rates?

Kindly answer how such individuals would be counted.
Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

Link to this

From: OIA Requests

Thank you for your Official Information Act request. This is
an automatic reply to let you know we received it.

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: [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. This
means we may take some time in responding to your request. The Ministry
regularly updates information about the COVID-19 situation and publishes
OIA responses considered to be of public interest:
[2]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

Please also refer to the Unite Against Covid-19 website for copies of
papers, minutes, and key advice for the decisions the Government has made
relating to COVID-19.

Sometimes we may need to clarify aspects of a request. You can expect to
hear from us soon if that is the case here.

Ngā mihi,

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [3][email address]

 

 

 

 

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2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. mailto:[email address]

Link to this

From: OIA Requests


Attachment image001.jpg
2K Download


Kia ora Erika,

 

Thank you for your email. We understand your questions about the HSU
database. However, we need clarification on whether you are referring to
the reporting for COVID-19 vaccines specifically or all vaccinations in
order to provide you with information.

 

Can you please confirm whether you want information on reporting for
COVID-19 vaccines only or for all vaccinations.

 

We look forward to your response.

 

Ngā mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

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

From: Erika Whittome <[2][FOI #18028 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 1 February 2022 13:11
To: OIA Requests <[3][email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Vaccination reporting methods,
by active DHB patients or by provider patient databases?

 

Dear OIA Requests,

You have deferred your response by sharing a link to the HSU database. My
original question has some use cases.  How does the HSU database count the
following individuals? (Copied from my original request):

If a person has not been to the doctor in say 5 years, how do you know
which DHB this person resides in?

If a person has not been to a DHB provided service in 5 say years (a
hospital or xray clinic), how do you have a vaccination record of this
person?

When a patient has not been to their GP for 3 years, the person becomes
unregistered with that GP. How do you count such a patient in your
vaccination percentage rates?

Kindly answer how such individuals would be counted.
Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA Requests,

As stated 11 Jan 2022, This request is for the Comirnaty Covid 19 vaccine.

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

Link to this

From: OIA Requests


Attachment image003.jpg
2K Download


Kia ora Erika,

 

Thank you for your clarification. Please note that we did not receive a
response from you on 11 January 2022, so please ensure that any
communications are sent to [1][email address] in order for the
Ministry to receive them and avoid further delays to you receiving
information.

 

Under section 15 of the Official Information Act 1982, any clarification
or amendments made to a request within seven days after the date it is
received, that request may be treated as a new request and the time limit
for the response restarts.

 

You can now expect a response by, or on 3 March 2022.

 

Ngā mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [2][email address]

 

 

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

From: Erika Whittome <[3][FOI #18028 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 2 February 2022 10:47
To: OIA Requests <[4][email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Vaccination reporting methods,
by active DHB patients or by provider patient databases?

 

Dear OIA Requests,

As stated 11 Jan 2022, This request is for the Comirnaty Covid 19 vaccine.

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: OIA Requests


Attachment Outlook d2lod3dk.png
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Attachment H202200108 Appendix 1.pdf
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Attachment H202200108 Appendix 2.pdf
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Attachment H202200108 letter.pdf
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Kia ora Erika
Please find attached a response to your official information act request.

Ngā mihi

 

OIA Services Team

 

[1]Ministry of Health information releases

[2]Unite against COVID-19

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2. https://covid19.govt.nz/

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