133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
7 July 2022
J Bruning
By email: [FYI request #19635 email]
Ref: H202207772
Tēnā koe J Bruning
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 10 June 2022 regarding monkeypox. I wil respond to each part of your
request in turn.
Please supply information from January 2020 to the current date:
Al information and evidence associating/evidencing monkeypox as an airborne virus. This
includes reports, reviews, information received by email, as reports or appendices.
The Ministry has no evidence that Monkeypox is an airborne virus. Therefore, this part of your
request is refused under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information request does not exist.
Protocols and processes for information communication and public testing that ensure that
cases of monkeypox are not confused with early stage shingles/ varicella zoster virus
family - either in clinical situations, by media or the general public.
The Ministry has published guidance on Monkeypox, which includes guidance on public testing.
This is available here:
www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/monkeypox-mpx.
Please also refer to a document published by the New Zealand Microbiology Network (NZMN)
regarding monkeypox virus laboratory testing and recommendations. This is available here:
www.nzmn.org.nz/
Al information, reports, communications received by the Ministry detailing prospective or
current orders of Monkeypox vaccines. This includes quantities and financial value of each
vaccine brand that has been either quoted for or that a purchasing arrangement has been
signed. Please include dates on all documents.
Pharmac is responsible for the purchasing of medicines. Therefore, the Ministry does not hold
the information you have requested. We have been advised that the quotes and the quantities
are not available as they are stil under negotiation. We suggest that you contact Pharmac for
any further questions regarding this aspect of your request.
Al information, reports, communications received by the Ministry detailing prospective or
current orders of RT-CPR or other testing kits for orthopoxviruses.
There is a publicly available document published by the NZMN regarding monkeypox virus
laboratory testing and recommendations. This is available here:
www.nzmn.org.nz/
Al information/directives to New Zealand DHBs and IANZ accredited medical laboratories
relating to serological testing for orthopoxviruses.
The Ministry does not hold this information. This part of your request is therefore refused under
section 18(e) of the Act, as the information request does not exist.
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
Graham Cameron
Acting Director
Public Health Agency
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