Unite against COVID-19 messaging: meaning of "eligible"

Mark Hanna made this Official Information request to Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

The request was refused by Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

From: Mark Hanna

Tēnā koe,

I understand the "Unite against COVID-19" website and social media accounts are operated by the COVID-19 Group under the DPMC.

Since 20 January 2022, the "COVID-19 Update" infographics produced daily by the COVID-19 Group and shared on the @covid19nz Twitter account have reported "1st Dose" and "2nd Dose" uptake percentages for the COVID-19 vaccine using the label "% Eligible* Population" and the footnote "* eligible population includes those aged 12 and over".

At the time of writing, these three tweets have used this format of infographic:

https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...
https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...
https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...

"COVID-19 Update" infographics shared on this account prior to January 20 2022 appear to have used a different format, where the labels used were "1st Doses*" and "2nd Doses*" and a footnote read "* Percentage of population aged 12 and over". For example:

https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...
https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...
https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...
https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...

On 17 January 2022, eligibility to receive the COVID-19 vaccination was extended from 12+ year olds to include 5-11 year olds: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/gove...

"This will happen from 17 January. There are 476,000 children between ages 5-11 who will become eligible to get their first dose from this date, and their second dose at least eight weeks later."

I would like to request all documents, including correspondence, regarding the decision to use the label "% Eligible* Population", with a footnote providing a definition of "eligible" that is inconsistent with the relevant eligibility rules, in the "COVID-19 Update" infographics shared by the @covid19nz Twitter account from 20 January 2022 onwards.

I hope the COVID-19 Group will also consider updating the format of their "COVID-19 Update" infographics to use labels that are accurate and not misleading. Where the Ministry of Health has continued to report on vaccination rates of the 12+ population it has used the label "12+" instead of "eligible":

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

I appreciate the work that the COVID-19 Group puts into keeping the public updated and as prepared as we can manage for a potential outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. But I also think it is important that these updates be produced in a way that will not mislead anyone.

Ngā mihi,
Mark Hanna

Link to this

From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

[IN-CONFIDENCE]

Kia ora

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 which was received on 22 January 2022, copied below. A response will be provided in accordance with the Act.

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Ngā mihi,

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

E    [DPMC request email]

The information contained in this email message is for the attention of the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute this message or the information in it. If you have received this message in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Hanna <[FOI #18288 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 22 January 2022 7:34 pm
To: Information [DPMC] <[DPMC request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Unite against COVID-19 messaging: meaning of "eligible"

Tēnā koe,

I understand the "Unite against COVID-19" website and social media accounts are operated by the COVID-19 Group under the DPMC.

Since 20 January 2022, the "COVID-19 Update" infographics produced daily by the COVID-19 Group and shared on the @covid19nz Twitter account have reported "1st Dose" and "2nd Dose" uptake percentages for the COVID-19 vaccine using the label "% Eligible* Population" and the footnote "* eligible population includes those aged 12 and over".

At the time of writing, these three tweets have used this format of infographic:

https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...
https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...
https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...

"COVID-19 Update" infographics shared on this account prior to January 20 2022 appear to have used a different format, where the labels used were "1st Doses*" and "2nd Doses*" and a footnote read "* Percentage of population aged 12 and over". For example:

https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...
https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...
https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...
https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/148...

On 17 January 2022, eligibility to receive the COVID-19 vaccination was extended from 12+ year olds to include 5-11 year olds: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/gove...

"This will happen from 17 January. There are 476,000 children between ages 5-11 who will become eligible to get their first dose from this date, and their second dose at least eight weeks later."

I would like to request all documents, including correspondence, regarding the decision to use the label "% Eligible* Population", with a footnote providing a definition of "eligible" that is inconsistent with the relevant eligibility rules, in the "COVID-19 Update" infographics shared by the @covid19nz Twitter account from 20 January 2022 onwards.

I hope the COVID-19 Group will also consider updating the format of their "COVID-19 Update" infographics to use labels that are accurate and not misleading. Where the Ministry of Health has continued to report on vaccination rates of the 12+ population it has used the label "12+" instead of "eligible":

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

I appreciate the work that the COVID-19 Group puts into keeping the public updated and as prepared as we can manage for a potential outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. But I also think it is important that these updates be produced in a way that will not mislead anyone.

Ngā mihi,
Mark Hanna

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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet


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[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Kia ora koe,

 

Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E    [1][DPMC request email]
 
[2]cid:image002.png@01D43609.296F69C0
 
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.

 

 

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