133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
17 December 2024
Liam Roche
By email: [FYI request #29264 email]
Ref:
H2024056781
Tēnā koe Liam
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 20 November 2024 for information regarding the
status of COVID-19 vaccinated individuals. Each part of your request is responded to below:
For data collection/reporting purposes are/were recipients of the COVID 19 vaccines
recorded as vaccinated (1 dose, 2 doses, boosted etc.) immediately having received the
jab or is/was there a specific period after injection in which recipients are considered
unvaccinated (unboosted etc.)?
There are several ways to interpret your questions. This is a complex topic; to provide clear
answers we have made several assumptions based on our reading of your questions. If we
have misunderstood your question, please send us another request with your clarifications.
Firstly, we have understood your question to refer to operational data collection/reporting and
not for other analytical purposes. Operational data usually has primary questions such as
“How
many people have been vaccinated in total?” and
“How many people have been vaccinated this
week?” etc. Secondly, we understand the term vaccinated to refer to the act of receiving a
COVID-19 vaccine dose as opposed to a person building an immune response after receiving a
dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Thirdly, we understand your question to be primarily about the
data collection/reporting for each dose (e.g., dose 1, dose 2, etc.) and not a descriptive
vaccination status of an individual (e.g., “partially vaccinated”) as they receive multiple doses.
Based on these assumptions, recipients are recorded to be vaccinated for each respective
dose, immediately after receiving the injection.
1. If so what is the officially recognized period of time between injection and being
considered vaccinated for COVID-19?
Please see point above. For data collection and reporting purposes, based on the same
assumptions, recipients are recorded immediately as being vaccinated for each dose they
receive.
2. Is it the same for subsequent doses, boosters?
For data collection and reporting purposes, based on the same assumptions, this is the same
for subsequent doses including boosters.
3. Has there been any revision of/changes to the officially recognised time between
receiving the COVID 19 vaccines and being identified as vaccinated for data
collection/reporting purposes?
For data collection and reporting purposes, based on the same assumptions, there has been no
change while the Ministry of Health was responsible for reporting COVID-19 vaccines. From 1
July 2022 New Zealand’s National Health system was formed and this responsibility transferred
to Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora.
I trust this information fulfils your request. 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-
official-information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Kristie Carter
Group Manager, Intelligence, Surveil ance and Knowledge
Public Health Agency | Te Pou Hauora Tūmatanui
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