133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
Chuck Schooner
By email: [FYI request #19080 email]
Ref:
H202205215
Tēnā koe Chuck
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 7 April 2022 for
information relating to risk benefit analysis work of the COVID-19 vaccine. I wil respond to each
part of your request in turn.
Risk / Benefit analysis of the vaccine when it was approved
- If one was not completed then why not?
- Risk / Benefit analysis of the vaccine after the death of one person was confirmed
- If one was not completed then why not?
- Risk / Benefit analysis of the vaccine after the death of a second person was confirmed
- If one was not completed then why not?
- Risk / Benefit analysis of the vaccine at today's date taking into account all of the data
collected by Ministry of Health and Medsafe
- Can the Ministry of Health confirm if there are any control groups that were put in place
as a way to analyse their own data - if not why not?
The Ministry has not undertaken any risk benefit analysis work regarding vaccines. As such
your request is refused under section 18(g)(i) of the Act, as the information requested is not
held by the Ministry and there are no grounds for believing it is connected more closely with the
functions of another agency subject to the Act.
Are there any provisions in the Pfizer Contract that preclude the Ministry of Health from
completing Risk / Benefit analysis?
Copies of the contracts between Pfizer and the New Zealand Government are withheld in full
under the following sections of the Act. I have considered the countervailing public interest in
release in making this decision and consider that it does not outweigh the need to withhold at
this time.
• section 9(2)(b)(i) – where their release would likely unreasonably prejudice the
commercial position of the person who supplied the information; and
• section 9(2)(ba)(i ) – to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence
or which any person has been or could be compelled to provide under the authority of
any enactment, where the making available of the information would be likely otherwise
to damage the public interest.
Can you also provide the process document(s) relating to if there is a sudden death
following the vaccine then what is the process for the next of kin to obtain an autopsy of
the body
The Ministry does not hold information relating to coroners. Therefore, this part of your request
is refused under section 18(g)(i) of the Act. as the information is not held by the Ministry or
another agency subject to the Act. Information relating to coronial services is publicly available
here:
www.coronialservices.justice.govt.nz/
Can you also provide an update on the death of the 13 year old last year and what
process has been followed in an attempt to determine the child's death.
The Ministry is not in a position to comment on on-going coronial investigations. Coroners are
independent judicial officers, working in the Coroners Court, with administrative support
provided by the Ministry of Justice. As the Act binds only the executive arm of government
(e.g., departments, ministers etc), the courts and tribunals in their judicial functions are
specifically excluded from the ambit of the Act under section 2(6)(a). It would be inappropriate
for the Ministry to comment on an ongoing coronial inquiry as to do so might constitute a
contempt of court. The Act specifically recognises under section 18(c) that agencies can refuse
to provide information if it would involve a contempt of court.
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.
Nāku noa, nā
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