Genetic content of Comirnaty and its half life
Erika Whittome made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
Response to this request is long overdue. By law Ministry of Health should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.
From: Erika Whittome
Dear Ministry of Health,
I note that the product Comirnaty which Medsafe approved has the following description on its data sheet:
"The active ingredient is a single-stranded, 5’-capped messenger RNA (mRNA) produced using a cell-free in vitro transcription from the corresponding DNA templates, encoding the viral spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). "
https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/datash...
1. Is the messenger ribonucleic acid or mRNA a genetic material?
2. What is the excretion and half-life of this active ingredient?
3. When does the messenger ribonucleic acid cease to give instructions to DNA in the human recipient? Is it hours? Days, Months, years?
Yours faithfully,
Erika Whittome
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Erika,
Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2025059340.
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry of
Health-Manatū Hauora will endeavour to respond to your request no later
than 20 working days after the day your request was received. If you'd
like to calculate the timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online
calculator here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
------------------- Original Message
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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
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References
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1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/datash...
3. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
4. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Erika
Please find attached a letter regarding your request for information.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[1]inistry of Health information releases
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References
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1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
From: Erika Whittome
Dear OIA Requests,
Your responses have not supplied the requested info under the Act.
1. the link says RNA "can be genetic material". The request for info is a "yes" or "no" question. I would like to narrow down the scope of this question: Is the mRNA in this particular product genetic material?
2. When I look at the safety data sheet of other medicines, eg Panadol, the excretion is shared and published on the safety data sheet. Kindly share the grounds for this product information being withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) , before I consider a complaint to the Ombudsman.
3. This is a generic article not pertaining to this particular product. The link with no substantial answer for this product. Again, when I look at the safety data sheet of other medicines, eg Panadol, the excretion and half-life is published.
Kindly supply the requested info under the Act.
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Erika,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), received by the Ministry of Health on 13 February 2025. You
requested:
"Your responses have not supplied the requested info under the Act. 1. the
link says RNA "can be genetic material". The request for info is a "yes"
or "no" question. I would like to narrow down the scope of this question:
Is the mRNA in this particular product genetic material?
2. When I look at the safety data sheet of other medicines, eg Panadol,
the excretion is shared and published on the safety data sheet. Kindly
share the grounds for this product information being withheld under
section 9(2)(b)(ii) , before I consider a complaint to the Ombudsman.
3. This is a generic article not pertaining to this particular product.
The link with no substantial answer for this product. Again, when I look
at the safety data sheet of other medicines, eg Panadol, the excretion and
half-life is published."
The reference number for your request is H2025061333. As required under
the Act, the Ministry will endeavour to respond to your request no later
than 20 working days after the day your request was received:
http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/.
If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch ([1][email address]).
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
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References
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1. mailto:[email address]
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Erika,
Please find attached our response to your official information request.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
M[1]inistry of Health information releases
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References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
From: Erika Whittome
Dear OIA Requests,
Pharmacokinetics is the science of how substances get absorbed, distributed, metabolised in, and excreted from the body.
It is irrelevant that the Ministry says "Pharmacokinetic properties is not required for vaccines." I have requested the information on the substance and how it breaks down in the body.
I have made a complaint to the Ombudsman on this OIA not being answered under the Act.
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
From: Erika Whittome
Dear OIA Requests,
Regarding my question #2:
What is the excretion and half-life of this active ingredient?
The response 13 February 2025 from the MOH says:
"This part of your request is withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the Act where its release would
likely unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied the information. "
I have recently received a response on the advertising briefs for Covid19 vaccination (https://fyi.org.nz/request/30879/respons...)
On Page 20 it says:
"Top 7 facts about the Covid-19 and vaccination
1. COVID-19 vaccines are already the most well- studied vaccines ever made.
2. This is no evidence that this vaccine has any effects on children’s development.
3. Once the vaccine has done its job, it is quickly eliminated from the body.
4. The Pfizer vaccine has a good safety record and has proven to be effective after millions of
doses have been administered worldwide.
5. Over 2 million children have been vaccinated in US and Canada.
6. The clinical trials showed that 10% of 5-11 year olds have side effects. "
I would like to draw your attention to Top 7 fact #3 which saysL "Once the vaccine has done its job, it is quickly eliminated from the body. "
Would you kindly reconsider providing the information my question 2 given the information in this advertising brief with the Ministry of Health's name on it?
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Erika,
Here are the redacted reports which includes non-clinical and clinical
data.
[1]https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
Medsafe did not have input into the document you refer to.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatû Hauora
M[2]inistry of Health information releases
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #29775 email]>
Sent: Friday, 4 July 2025 16:33
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your official information request ref:
H2025061333 CRM:0294262
Dear OIA Requests,
Regarding my question #2:
What is the excretion and half-life of this active ingredient?
The response 13 February 2025 from the MOH says:
"This part of your request is withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the
Act where its release would
likely unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of the person who
supplied the information. "
I have recently received a response on the advertising briefs for Covid19
vaccination
([3]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...)
On Page 20 it says:
"Top 7 facts about the Covid-19 and vaccination
1. COVID-19 vaccines are already the most well- studied vaccines ever
made.
2. This is no evidence that this vaccine has any effects on children’s
development.
3. Once the vaccine has done its job, it is quickly eliminated from the
body.
4. The Pfizer vaccine has a good safety record and has proven to be
effective after millions of
doses have been administered worldwide.
5. Over 2 million children have been vaccinated in US and Canada.
6. The clinical trials showed that 10% of 5-11 year olds have side
effects. "
I would like to draw your attention to Top 7 fact #3 which saysL "Once the
vaccine has done its job, it is quickly eliminated from the body. "
Would you kindly reconsider providing the information my question 2 given
the information in this advertising brief with the Ministry of Health's
name on it?
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
show quoted sections
From: Erika Whittome
Dear OIA Requests,
This response "Medsafe did not have input into the document you refer to" is obfuscating. This request for information is to the MoH. I have shared what the MoH put as a "fact" in its advertising brief. Kindly provide the requested information, or assist on who does have it as is required under the Act.
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
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