133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T +64 4 496 2000
W www.medsafe.govt.nz
30 June 2025
Erika Whittome
By email: [FYI request #31192 email]
Ref:
H2025067924
Tēnā koe Erika
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 3 June 2025 for:
Would you please share all the meeting minutes, memos, correspondence, and
promulgation of this report at Medsafe, DHBs and the Ministry of Health ie "Pfizer-Biotech
COVID-19 Vaccine safety report on Myocarditis and Pericarditis" for 1-29 Apr 2021 SMSR
5?
The document you provided the link to appears to be a Freedom of Information (FOI) release
from the USA. The document in the link mentions the BioNTech-Pfizer Summary Monthly Safety
Report (SMSR) 5, which contained a review of myocarditis and pericarditis. Medsafe, the
business unit in the Ministry responsible for the regulation of therapeutic products, was provided
this document in confidence by the company. It was not ‘promulgated’ or shared in meetings or
included in memos or correspondence. Therefore, your request is refused under section 18(g)(i)
of the Act, that the information requested is not held by the department and there is no reason for
believing it is held by another department in New Zealand, subject to the Official information 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 calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Chris James
Group Manager
Medsafe
