133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T +64 4 496 2000
W www.medsafe.govt.nz
18 July 2023
Jody Muntz
Email:
[FYI request #23215 email]
Ref:
H2023027385
Tēnā koe Jody
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū Haoura
(the Ministry of Health) on 21 June 2023. Each part of your request is responded to below:
Which vaccines administered in Nz are made using or contain fetal cell line HEK293, MRC-
5 or WI-38.
I have interpreted your request as pertaining to COVID-19 vaccines available in New Zealand. Of
the two COVID-19 vaccine vaccines currently available in New Zealand, Comirnaty (Pfizer) and
Nuvaxovid (Novavax), neither are made using or contain HEK293, MRC-5 or WI-38 cells.
HEK293 cells are used for testing of Comirnaty vaccines and MRC-5 cel s are used for testing of
Novavax vaccine, however in neither case do the cells come into contact with vaccine that is
supplied. No COVID-19 vaccines approved in New Zealand contain foetal cells or tissues.
Was the aborted fetal cell line HEK293, from an aborted baby that was abnormal or
deformed? (E.g intestines on the outside of the body).”
Medsafe does not hold any information in scope of this part of your request. As such, this part of
your request is refused under section 18(g)(ii) of the Act, as the information requested is not held
by Medsafe and there are no grounds for believing it is connected more closely with the functions
of another agency subject to the Act.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel free
to contact the OIA Services Team on: [email address].
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 cal ing 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
Derek Fitzgerald
Acting Group Manager
Medsafe
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