25 August 2022
Scout Barbour-Evans
Via email: [FYI request #20033 email]
Tēnā koe Scout
Request for information: COVID-19 vaccine availability for children under five years of
age
Thank you for your request dated 27 July 2022 under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA)
for information relating to 5 COVID-19 vaccination. You asked:
1. Can you please provide an outline of the process for an under-5 COVID-
19 vaccination to be approved in Aotearoa New Zealand?
2. Has either Pfizer or Moderna applied for their under-5 COVID-19 vaccines
to be used in Aotearoa New Zealand?
3. If neither Pfizer or Moderna have made this application yet, does Pharmac
and the NZ government have the ability to reach out?
4. Is there an intention or hope from Pharmac to roll out COVID-19 vaccines
to our youngest New Zealanders this year?
I am advised that your request is more closely aligned with the functions of Manatū Hauora
(Ministry of Health) and Medsafe (a business unit of the Ministry). This is because Manatū
Hauora is responsible for determining the eligibility criteria, and Medsafe is responsible for
evaluating and approving the COVID-19 vaccine for use in New Zealand.
We have transferred your request to Manatū Hauora and Medsafe under section 14(b)(ii) of
the OIA. You should receive a response to your request from the Ministry in due course. I
apologise for the delay getting our response to you. Please get in touch with us if you have
any questions about this.
Please note you have the right, by way of complaint under section 28(3) of the OIA to an
Ombudsman, to seek an investigation and review of our decision.
Nāku noa, nā
Allanah Andrews
Manager, Policy and Government Services
2022-23-113; A1613145
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