Thank you for contacting Pharmac, we have received your enquiry and will
endeavour to have a reply to you as soon as we can.

 

Pharmac cannot provide medical advice. If you have questions about your
health or are experiencing side effects from medicines, please call:

·        Your usual healthcare provider.

·         Healthline on 0800 611 116.

·         111 for medical emergencies. 
This e-mail message and any accompanying attachments may contain
confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please do
not read, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message or
attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the
sender immediately and delete this message.

Kia ora John

Thank you for your request for official information, which Pharmac received on 7 September 2025. The reference number for your request is: 2025-26-061

You should receive a response from us on or before 3 October 2025. This is within the 20 working day limit set out in the Official Information Act.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Ngā mihi,

Government Services | Pharmac
___________________________________________________________________
Pharmac - Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington
http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/
________________

-----Original Message-----
From: John Armstrong <[FOI #32255 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 7 September 2025 4:28 pm
To: Web Enquiry <[email address]>
Subject: F-1830 Official Information request - Supply agreement with Pfizer for supply of Cominarty brand of Covid-19 vaccine

[You don't often get email from [FOI #32255 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Pharmaceutical Management Agency,

This information pertains to your media release, dated 1 September 2025 as per the link: https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-res...

In particular I have questions with regards the following statement in the media release: "The Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine, funded by Pharmac, has been approved by Medsafe as meeting New Zealand and international standards of safety and effectiveness".

Q1/ Can you please supply all documentation, memos, emails, approval questionnaire and meeting minutes for Medsafe approval?

Q2/ Pharmac has stated "meets NZ and international standards of safety and effectiveness".
Can you please cite the applicable standards for NZ and applicable international standards and supply documentation for and / or links to these standards?

Q3/ What is / has been the cost to the taxpayer for this purchase?

Q4/ Can you please supply all documentation, memos, emails and meeting minutes for the procurement process which should include: conflict of interest assessment, product risk assessment and competitive procurement principles (open and Effective Competition or Fair Competition?

Q5/ Please supply the unredacted Pfizer contract.

Yours faithfully,

John Armstrong

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #32255 email]

Is [PHARMAC request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Pharmaceutical Management Agency? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

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hide quoted sections

Kia ora John

Thank you for your request for official information, received 7 September 2025

The information in scope of parts 1 and 2 of your request is held by the Ministry of Health. These parts of your request have been transferred to the Ministry of Health under section 14 of the Act. You can expect a response from the Ministry of Health in due course.

You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review our decision (Section 28 of the OIA). You can email the Ombudsman at: [email address] or call on 0800 802 602.

Ngā mihi

Government Services | Pharmac
___________________________________________________________________
Pharmac - Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington
http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/

-----Original Message-----
From: John Armstrong <[FOI #32255 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 7 September 2025 4:28 pm
To: Web Enquiry <[email address]>
Subject: F-1830 Official Information request - Supply agreement with Pfizer for supply of Cominarty brand of Covid-19 vaccine

[You don't often get email from [FOI #32255 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Pharmaceutical Management Agency,

This information pertains to your media release, dated 1 September 2025 as per the link: https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-res...

In particular I have questions with regards the following statement in the media release: "The Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine, funded by Pharmac, has been approved by Medsafe as meeting New Zealand and international standards of safety and effectiveness".

Q1/ Can you please supply all documentation, memos, emails, approval questionnaire and meeting minutes for Medsafe approval?

Q2/ Pharmac has stated "meets NZ and international standards of safety and effectiveness".
Can you please cite the applicable standards for NZ and applicable international standards and supply documentation for and / or links to these standards?

Q3/ What is / has been the cost to the taxpayer for this purchase?

Q4/ Can you please supply all documentation, memos, emails and meeting minutes for the procurement process which should include: conflict of interest assessment, product risk assessment and competitive procurement principles (open and Effective Competition or Fair Competition?

Q5/ Please supply the unredacted Pfizer contract.

Yours faithfully,

John Armstrong

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #32255 email]

Is [PHARMAC request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Pharmaceutical Management Agency? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This e-mail message and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this message.

hide quoted sections

Kia ora John

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), received by the Ministry of Health on 12 September 2025. You
requested:

 

Q1/ Can you please supply all documentation, memos, emails, approval
questionnaire and meeting minutes for Medsafe approval?

Q2/ Pharmac has stated "meets NZ and international standards of safety and
effectiveness".
Can you please cite the applicable standards for NZ and applicable
international standards and supply documentation for and / or links to
these standards?
 

The reference number for your request is H2025072586. 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: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch ([2][email address]).

 

 

Ngā mihi 
 
OIA Services Team 
[3]Ministry of Health information releases 

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

hide quoted sections

Kia ora John

 

Thank you for your request for official information, which Pharmac
received on 7 September 2025. I am contacting you to refine your request.

 

As currently worded, your request is for a very large volume of
information. In particular, Part 4 of your request would require
collating thousands of documents. A significant portion of these are
emails, which also require individual assessment of each piece of
correspondence to discern its contents. This would place an unreasonable
degree of strain on the team responsible and would interfere with the
day-to-day workings of Pharmac.

 

If your request remains very large, we may need to refuse your request
under section 18(f) of the Act because providing the information you have
requested requires substantial collation or research.

 

Please respond by 19 September 2025 so that we can consider your refined
request.

 

Ngā mihi

 

Reuben

 

Government Services | Pharmac

___________________________________________________________________
Pharmac - Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington
[1]www.pharmac.govt.nz

________________

 

-----Original Message-----

From: John Armstrong <[2][FOI #32255 email]>

Sent: Sunday, 7 September 2025 4:28 pm

To: Web Enquiry <[3][email address]>

Subject: F-1830 Official Information request - Supply agreement with
Pfizer for supply of Cominarty brand of Covid-19 vaccine

 

[You don't often get email from
[4][FOI #32255 email]. Learn why this is
important at [5]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

Dear Pharmaceutical Management Agency,

 

This information pertains to your media release, dated 1 September 2025 as
per the link:
[6]https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-res...

 

In particular I have questions with regards the following statement in the
media release: "The Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine, funded by Pharmac, has
been approved by Medsafe as meeting New Zealand and international
standards of safety and effectiveness".

 

Q1/ Can you please supply all documentation, memos, emails, approval
questionnaire and meeting minutes for Medsafe approval?

 

Q2/ Pharmac has stated "meets NZ and international standards of safety and
effectiveness".

Can you please cite the applicable standards for NZ and applicable
international standards and supply documentation for and / or links to
these standards?

 

Q3/ What is / has been the cost to the taxpayer for this purchase?

 

Q4/ Can you please supply all documentation, memos, emails and meeting
minutes for the procurement process which should include: conflict of
interest assessment, product risk assessment and competitive procurement
principles (open and Effective Competition or Fair Competition?

 

Q5/ Please supply the unredacted Pfizer contract.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

John Armstrong

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[7][FOI #32255 email]

 

Is [8][PHARMAC request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Pharmaceutical Management Agency? If so, please contact us
using this form:

[9]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[10]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This e-mail message and any accompanying attachments may contain
confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please do
not read, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message or
attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the
sender immediately and delete this message.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/
2. mailto:[FOI #32255 email]
3. mailto:[PHARMAC request email]
4. mailto:[FOI #32255 email]
5. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
6. https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-res...
7. mailto:[FOI #32255 email]
8. mailto:[PHARMAC request email]
9. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
10. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora John,
Thank you for your request for official information.
At this stage, the following part of your request may be refused under
section 18(f) of the Act, as the information cannot be made available
without substantial collation.
Q1/ Can you please supply all documentation, memos, emails, approval
questionnaire and meeting minutes for Medsafe approval? 
Can you consider how you may wish to refine the scope of your request?
We would appreciate a response by the end of Tuesday 30 September if
possible.

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Ministry of Health  | Manatū Hauora 

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 12 September 2025 15:14
To: John Armstrong <[FOI #32255 email]>
Subject: Acknowledgement of your request for official information, ref:
(H2025072586) CRM:0461266
 

Kia ora John

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), received by the Ministry of Health on 12 September 2025. You
requested:

 

Q1/ Can you please supply all documentation, memos, emails, approval
questionnaire and meeting minutes for Medsafe approval?

Q2/ Pharmac has stated "meets NZ and international standards of safety and
effectiveness".
Can you please cite the applicable standards for NZ and applicable
international standards and supply documentation for and / or links to
these standards?
 

The reference number for your request is H2025072586. 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: [2]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch ([3][email address]).

 

 

Ngā mihi 
 
OIA Services Team 
[4]Ministry of Health information releases 

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

hide quoted sections

Kia ora John

 

Please find attached a response to your request for official information.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Government Services | Pharmac

___________________________________________________________________
Pharmac - Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington
[1]www.pharmac.govt.nz

________________

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Armstrong <[2][FYI request #32255 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 17 September 2025 8:54 am
To: Web Enquiry <[3][email address]>
Subject: F-1918 Refinement of your request for official information -
2025-26-061

 

Dear Web Enquiry,

 

In response to simplification of Question 4.  I will reword the question
as follows:

 

Q4/ Can you please supply documentation for the procurement process which
should include: conflict of interest assessment, product risk assessment
and competitive procurement principles (open and Effective Competition or
Fair Competition)?

 

Yours sincerely,

 

John Armstrong

 

-----Original Message-----

 

Kia ora John

 

 

 

Thank you for your request for official information, which Pharmac 
received on 7 September 2025. I am contacting you to refine your request.

 

 

 

As currently worded, your request is for a very large volume of 
information. In particular, Part 4 of your request would require 
collating thousands of documents. A significant portion of these are 
emails, which also require individual assessment of each piece of 
correspondence to discern its contents. This would place an unreasonable 
degree of strain on the team responsible and would interfere with the 
day-to-day workings of Pharmac.

 

 

 

If your request remains very large, we may need to refuse your request 
under section 18(f) of the Act because providing the information you have 
requested requires substantial collation or research.

 

 

 

Please respond by 19 September 2025 so that we can consider your refined 
request.

 

 

 

Ngā mihi

 

 

 

Reuben

 

 

 

Government Services | Pharmac

 

___________________________________________________________________

Pharmac - Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington 
[1][4]www.pharmac.govt.nz

 

________________

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[5][FYI request #32255 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This e-mail message and any accompanying attachments may contain
confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please do
not read, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message or
attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the
sender immediately and delete this message.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/
2. mailto:[FYI request #32255 email]
3. mailto:[PHARMAC request email]
4. http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/
5. mailto:[FYI request #32255 email]
6. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora John, 
Please find attached the response for your request for official
information. 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Ministry of Health  | Manatū Hauora 

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

hide quoted sections