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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References

Visible links
1. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. mailto:[email address]

Kia ora Chris,  

  

Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H2022006783.  

  

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 Team 

M[2]inistry of Health information releases 
U[3]nite against COVID-19 

 

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Kia ora Chris, 

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act (1982) to
Manatū Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 6 July 2022 for Information
relating to the Flu and COVID-19 vaccine. Please find a response to each
part of your request below. 

 

Can you please provide for the years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 &
2022 to date  

Total Flu Vaccinations Administered  

Total AEFI received  

  

The total number of flu vaccination administered is unknown as this is not
recorded on Manatū Hauora national immunisation register. However, the
number of influenza vaccine doses distributed is reported and can be found
at:
[1]www.medsafe.govt.nz/safety/reports-and-promotion/influenza-vaccine-ADR-statistics.asp  

  

The total number of adverse events following the influenza vaccination is
available on the link above.   

  

Summary of the Reported Deaths to CARM - to include and be broken down as
follows  

Unlikely related to vaccine  

Could not be determined due to insufficient information  

Cases still under investigation  

Likely due to vaccine  

Observed versus expected deaths within 21 days of vaccine   

Please break this down into age groups similar to Medsafe reporting  

 

Fatal cases related to the flu vaccine from 2016 to 2021 can be found on
the link above.  

Please note, there is little detail about deaths relating to the flu
vaccine as there are only a couple per year. As the number of deaths are
small the information is refused under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to
protect the privacy of natural person.   

Information regarding observed versus expected deaths within 21 days of
receiving the influenza vaccine is refused under section 18(e) of the Act,
as the information requested does not exist.   

  

Can you also please provide a list of the identified safety signals  

  

A list of the identified safety signals does not exist. However, I refer
you to Medsafe’s safety information which available on the following links
below:  

* [2]www.medsafe.govt.nz/safety/EWS/2018/ZosterAndInfluenza.asp#Update.   
* [3]www.medsafe.govt.nz/safety/EWS/2015/influenza-vaccine-hypersensitivity.asp.   
Can you also please provide the above information for the Covid-19
Pfizer vaccine which should be easily pulled from Medsafe reports
broken down into the years of administration.  
  

This information is publicly available in Medsafe’s safety reports, which
are published every month
at: [4]www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vaccine-report-overview.asp.  

 

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 documents or data. The information that you request
can be answered in the link above. As such your request is refused in full
under section 18(d) of the Act, as the information requested is publicly
available

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: [5][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.  

 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team 

M[6]inistry of Health information releases 
U[7]nite against COVID-19 

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/safety/report...
2. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/safety/EWS/20...
3. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/safety/EWS/20...
4. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vacc...
5. mailto:[email address]
6. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
7. https://covid19.govt.nz/

Kia ora Chris,
As requested, please find attached a response to your request for
information on letterhead. 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team 

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

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

From: Chris McCashin <[FOI #19836 email]>
Sent: Monday, 8 August 2022 14:12
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your request for official information, ref:
H2022006783
 
Dear OIA Requests,

Can you please put this on Ministry of Health letterhead
All of this needs to be public record

Yours sincerely,

Chris McCashin

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