133 Molesworth
Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
20 September 2022
Athina Andonatou
By email:  [FYI request #20312 email]
Ref:
H2022010851
Tēnā koe Athina
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū
Hauora (Ministry of Health) on 23 August 2022 for information regarding the AstraZeneca
vaccine. Each part of your request is responded to below.
The Governments purchase of AstraZeneca. How many doses were purchased?
New Zealand has an agreement in place to purchase 7.6 million doses of the AstraZeneca
vaccine. Further information on the purchase of AstraZeneca’s vaccine can be found on the
Manatū Hauora website at: www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-
vaccines/covid-19-vaccines-available-new-zealand/covid-19-purchasing-vaccines
What was the cost?
Details of the agreement with AstraZeneca are withheld in full under the following sections of
the Act:
• section 9(2)(b)(ii) where its release would likely unreasonably prejudice the
commercial position of the person who supplied the information, and
• section 9(2)(ba)(i) to protect information that is subject to an obligation of confidence
and making it available would likely prejudice the supply of similar information, or
information from the same source.
Where information is withheld under section 9 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
How many doses have been used?
As of 30 August 2022, an estimated 9,075 doses of AstraZeneca have been administered as
primary, booster and secondary boosters.

Please provide me with the documents discussing why AstraZeneca will no longer be
available in New Zealand from 5 September 2022?
I have identified one document within scope of this part of your request, titled ‘Briefing –
COVID-19 Vaccine Portfolio Update – Concluding the AstraZeneca Advance Purchase
Agreement’. Excerpts of this document have been released in accordance with section
16(1)(e) of the Act, with information deemed out of scope of your request excluded. Some
information is withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy of natural
persons. Where information is withheld under section 9 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.
What will happen with the stock on hand at 5th September 2022?
Manatū Hauora does not hold expired stock. Expired vaccines are disposed of in line with
any manufacturer, contractual and legislative requirements.
Disposal of any unused doses in New Zealand, which expire on 5 September 2022, is
managed by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand’s National Immunisation Programme.
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
Steve Waldegrave
Associate Deputy Director-General
Strategy, Policy and Legislation
Page 2 of 2

Document 1
Briefing
COVID-19 Vaccine Portfolio Update – Concluding the AstraZeneca Advance
Purchase Agreement
Date due to MO:  8 July 2022
Action required by:
15 July 2022
Security level:
Commercially Sensitive
Health Report number:  HR 20221014
To:
Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister
ACT 1982
Hon Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance
Hon Andrew Little, Minister of Health
Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon Peeni Henare, Associate Minister of Health
Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall, Minister for COVID-19 Response
Hon Aupito William Sio, Associate Minister of Health
INFORMATION
Contact for telephone discussion
Name
Position
Telephone
Maree Roberts
Deputy Director-General, Strategy, Policy
s 9(2)(a)
and Legislation
Allison Bennett
Acting Group Manager, Strategy, Policy
s 9(2)(a)
and Legislation
Minister’s office to complete:
RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL
☐ Approved
☐ Decline
☐ Noted
☐ Needs change
☐ Seen
☐ Overtaken by events
☐ See Minister’s Notes
☐ Withdrawn
Comment:

Document 1
COVID-19 Vaccine Portfolio Update –
Concluding the AstraZeneca Advance
Purchase Agreement
Security level:
Commercially Sensitive
Date:
8 July 2022
To:
Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister
Hon Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance
1982
Hon Andrew Little, Minister of Health
Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Foreign Affairs
ACT
Hon Peeni Henare, Associate Minister of Health
Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall, Minister for COVID-19 Response
Hon Aupito William Sio, Associate Minister of Health
Purpose of report
1.
This paper provides an update on the management of the Advance Purchasing
INFORMATION
Agreement (APA) with AstraZeneca for its COVID-19 vaccine. This paper seeks your
agreement to:
b. conclude the use of AstraZeneca in the COVID-19 Vaccine Immunisation Programme
(CVIP).
OFFICIAL
Summary
THE
3.
In December 2020, New Zealand signed an APA with AstraZeneca to secure access to 7.6
million doses of its viral vector COVID-19 vaccine as part of a broader portfolio of
potential COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
UNDER
4.
New Zealand has since implemented a COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (the
Programme) primarily based around the Pfizer vaccine. Small volumes of AstraZeneca’s
vaccine have been made available as an alternative, non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine since
November 2021.
The Programme has noted the remaining doses in New Zealand are due to expire in
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9.
September 2022. The programme is planning for no further AstraZeneca deliveries and
assurance that those who previously received or are eligible for AstraZeneca have access to
Novavax or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines.
Briefing: HR 20221014

Document 1
Recommendations
We recommend you:
Phasing out AstraZeneca from the vaccination programme
m)
Note  that  AstraZeneca  has  been  made  available  domestically  since
November  2021  when  100,000  doses  were  imported  from  Australia  [HR
20212271 refers]
n)
Note  that  the  existing  doses  will  expire  on  5  September  2022  and  New
Zealand does not currently have access to further doses (additional purchase
arrangements would be required)
1982
o)
Note  that  demand  for  AstraZeneca’s  vaccine  is  low  and  Ministers  have
previously agreed to Novavax being the non-mRNA option in the portfolio
longer term [HR 20220023 refers]
ACT
p)
Agree that officials phase out AstraZeneca from the programme, primarily Yes/No
through proactive communications and engagement with the health sector
INFORMATION
OFFICIAL
THE
UNDER
RELEASED
Briefing: HR 20221014

Document 1
Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern
Hon Grant Robertson
Prime Minister
Minister of Finance
1982
…../…../…..
…../…../…..
ACT
Hon Andrew Little
Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Health
Minister of Foreign Affairs
…../…../
8 7 …..
22
…../…../…..
INFORMATION
Hon Peeni Henare
Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
OFFICIAL
Associate Minister of Health
Minister for COVID-19 Response
THE
…../…../…..
…../…../…..
UNDER
Hon Aupito William Sio
Dr Ashley Bloomfield
Associate Minister of Health
Director-General of Health
…../…../…..
7/07/2022
RELEASED
Briefing: HR 20221014

Document 1
COVID-19  Vaccine  Portfolio  Update  –
Concluding  the  AstraZeneca  Advance
Purchase Agreement
Background
Vaccine Portfolio utilisation to date
1.
The four COVID-19 vaccines in our vaccine portfolio (supplied by Pfizer, Novavax,
AstraZeneca, and Janssen) have been utilised in different ways to support our national
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response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2.
Vaccine Ministers have agreed to maintain an mRNA-based COVID-19 immunisation
ACT
programme in 2022 through the primary use of the Pfizer vaccine, but previously agreed
to the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine as an alternative non-mRNA vaccine for those
hesitant or unable to receive Pfizer from November 2021.
3.
The programme has managed all 7.6 million doses of the AstraZeneca’s vaccine
purchased through our APA as part of the portfolio approach. These volumes were
agreed to in the early stages of the pandemic to secure access to doses, subject to
successful development.
INFORMATION
Phasing out AstraZeneca doses from the programme
19.
As agreed by Ministers, the programme has maintained a small volume of AstraZeneca
doses to support primary and booster doses (off-label) to those unable or hesitant to
OFFICIAL
receive the Pfizer mRNA vaccine. As of 27 June 2022, 8,800 AstraZeneca doses have been
administered.1
THE
20.
In the Programme, 5,400 doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine remains in central storage with a
shelf life until 5 September 2022. Officials judge this is sufficient to provide the remaining
primary and boosters doses to those who have received at least one dose of
AstraZeneca. UNDER
21.
As the remaining supply of AstraZeneca doses held in New Zealand is set to expire in
September 2022 and no further deliveries are planned, it is recommended officials begin
planning to phase out the domestic use of AstraZeneca from the Programme.
22.
The Programme estimates a small number of people who are eligible but have yet to
complete their courses of AstraZeneca may be affected.2 Planning will be centred on
RELEASED
ensuring they are notified of the intended change and encouraged to complete their
vaccination before it takes effect.
23.
The Programme will also seek to support vaccination providers and sites in managing the
phasing. Changes to the booking systems, training requirements and clinical guidance as
required will be made in coordination with the proposed timeline.
1 As of 21 June 2022, a total of 8,800 AstraZeneca has been administered by way of 1st primary (3,312), 2nd primary
(3,616), 3rd primary (27) and booster (1,845)
Briefing: HR 20221014

Document 1
1982
ACT
INFORMATION
OFFICIAL
THE
UNDER
RELEASED

Document Outline