11 July 2023
Phillip Hart
[FYI request #22691 email]
Tēnā koe Phillip
Your request for Official information, reference: HNZ00021534
Thank you for your request for information asking for the following which has been considered
under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act). As you know, this was transferred from Manatū
Hauora Ministry of Health and formally received by Te Whatu Ora on 6 June 2023:
“I am requesting the specific clinical evidence that supports the claim of elimination /
suppression of transmission made in the recent radio advertising for the flu jab”
There is an online resource titled,
Immunisation Handbook 2020.You can find this on the Ministry
of Health’s website at
https:/ www.health.govt.nz/publication/immunisation-handbook-2020. In
section 11.4.2 there is a subsection on herd immunity (pp.316) which references the following
paper,
Herd effect from influenza vaccination in nonhealthcare settings: a systematic review of
randomised controlled trials and observational studies (2016) – please note, this scholastic
document is reference 96 noted in the
Immunisation Handbook. This scholastic document reports
a significant effect on herd immunity in the community such as reduced transmission of the
influenza virus, even to those who have not been vaccinated.
How to get in touch
If you have any questions, you can contact us at
[email address].
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
by phoning 0800 802 602.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, Te Whatu Ora may
proactively release a copy of this response on our website. Al requester data, including your name
and contact details, wil be removed prior to release.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Matt Hannant
Interim Director, Prevention
National Public Health Service
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
PO Box 793, Wellington 6140
New Zealand
