133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
5 October 2023
Mr T. Baker
By email: [FYI request #24089 email]
Ref:
H2023031571
Tēnā koe Mr T. Baker
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 10 September 2023 for information regarding the report
titled
COVID-19 mortality in Aotearoa New Zealand: inequities in risk. You requested:
“On 30 September 2022, the Ministry of Health released the report COVID-19
MORTALITY IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND: Inequities in Risk.
In the "Conclusion and next steps" section the following statements were made:
"Monitoring and evaluation of indicators of health care access, uptake of therapeutics,
vaccination and severe outcomes (for example, hospitalisation and mortality) following
infection could also provide insight into related factors contributing to health inequity.
Manatū Hauora wil continue to analyse data on these indicators. It wil undertake
further exploration of vaccine effectiveness and is identifying options for reporting on
disabilities in collaboration with partner agencies. The Public Health Agency wil
publish the results of future analyses." Further, in the Discussion section is was that
"Manatū Hauora is planning a further analysis of vaccination as a separate report.
Please provide status of the further analysis of vaccine effectiveness, and where or
when these analyses wil be published."
Manatū Hauora has not yet completed the COVID-19 hospitalisation and vaccine
effectiveness analysis. As such, this information is withheld in full under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of
the Act to maintain the constitutional conventions that protect the confidentiality of advice
tendered by Ministers and officials. Upon completion of this work, by June 2024, it will be
published on the Manatū Hauora website.
However, the analysis of the effectiveness of the vaccine, as discussed in the conclusion
and next steps of the
COVID-19 Mortality in Aotearoa New Zealand: Inequities in Risk report
you have referenced and further exploration of vaccine effectiveness and identification of
available options for reporting on disabilities is included in Manatū Hauora's publication of
COVID-19 Risk Among Disabled People. This is a more recent analysis undertaken by the
Public Health Agency, Manatū Hauora, regarding the burden of COVID-19 disease in the
disabled population who receive Disability Support Services (DSS). This was released on 6
March 2023 and can be found on the Manatū Hauora website here:
www.health.govt.nz/publication/covid-19-risk-among-disabled-people
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 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-of icial-information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Ross Bell
Acting Deputy Director-General
Public Health Agency | Te Pou Hauora Tūmatanui
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