133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
17 May 2023
Erika Whittome
Email:
[FYI request #22529 email]
Ref:
H2023024009
Tēnā koe Erika
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū Hauora
(the Ministry of Health) on 22 April 2023 for information regarding the COVID-19 Comirnaty
(Pfizer) vaccine supply contract. You requested:
1. ...all emails, contract information, procurement Information, communications and reports
pertaining to the purchaser’s limitations on itself and any of its third parties in the
contract with supplying the Pfizer Comirnaty medicine.
2. Please include any limitations on the organization known as “Medsafe” with regard to
performing its routine pharmacovigilance activity as stated in the procurement
agreement with Pfizer.
3. Include please any additional incentives or benefits to or from any other parties or
agents to induce any other parties to perform any part of the medicines procurement
agreement.
4. Provide all nature of those limitations and please provide any and all supporting
communications before and after the products procurement date.
5.
Please provide all the warranty information on this medicinal product from the
procurement agreement and any associated emails, communications regarding this.”
In relation to parts 1, 2 and 4 of your request, the contracts and associated documentation
between Pfizer and the New Zealand Government are withheld in full under the following
sections of the Act:
• Section 9(2)(b)(ii) as its release would likely unreasonably prejudice the commercial
position of the person who supplied the information.
• Section 9(2)(ba)(ii) to protect information that is subject to an obligation of confidence
and making it available would likely damage the public interest.
Manatū Hauora appreciates the high level of public interest in the Pfizer vaccination information,
however, I have considered the countervailing public interest in release in making the decision
to withhold the commercially sensitive information in the agreement and consider that it does
not outweigh the need to withhold at this time.
Please be assured Medsafe evaluates applications for all new medicines, including vaccines, to
make sure they meet international standards and local requirements. COVID-19 vaccines are
held to the same standards and requirements as all vaccines before they get full approval. The
Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) was approved for use after undergoing routine assessment by
Medsafe to ensure quality standards and that the benefits outweigh the risks of side effects.
Information related to the quality and approval process for the COVID-19 vaccines can be found
on Medsafe website here:
www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vaccine-approval-process.asp In response to part 3 of your request, Manatū Hauora, as the party that procured COVID-19
vaccines on behalf of New Zealand, did not give or receive any incentives or benefit in this
process. Therefore, this part of your request is refused under section 18(e) of the Act, being that
the information requested does not exist.
On 12 May 2023, you were advised that part 5 of your request, related to warranties, was
transferred to Pharmaceutical Management Agency (Pharmac), under section 14(b)(ii) of the
Act, as the information relating to this part of your request is more closely connected to the
functions of their Agency. You can expect a response from Pharmac in due course.
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
Manatū Hauora website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests. Nāku noa, nā
Allison Bennett
General Manager
Strategy, Policy and Legislation | Te Pou Rautaki
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