Dear NZDF,
This is a request for information under the Official Information Act 1982, as a follow-up to your response dated 15 January 2026 to OIA request 33203 (OIA-2025-5616) from Mr Richards.

Please provide:
The full outcome, findings, recommendations, and final decision from the routine review of the NZDF baseline vaccination schedule completed by 5 February 2026.

Any reports, minutes, briefing papers, risk assessments, or other documents created for, considered in, or resulting from that review.

Confirmation of whether COVID-19 vaccination remains in (or has been removed from) the NZDF baseline vaccination schedule for serving members and new recruits.

If any changes were decided, the implementation date and how the change will be communicated and applied.

All documents and analysis setting out the justification for keeping (or removing) COVID-19 from the baseline schedule, including:
Current and projected COVID-19 disease prevalence, severity, and transmission risk in New Zealand and likely deployment areas;
Vaccine effectiveness data (against infection, hospitalisation, or transmission) relevant to 2025–2026;
Any NZDF-specific data on adverse events, myocarditis/pericarditis, or other side effects in serving personnel;
Comparison of COVID-19 risk versus other vaccines already in the baseline schedule;
Assessment of operational effectiveness impact if COVID-19 were removed.

Whether the review considered:
Decisions by other militaries (e.g. US DoD removing the requirement in January 2023 and reinstating personnel);
Current New Zealand Ministry of Health immunisation schedule advice on COVID-19;
Any modelling or data on recruitment/retention impacts of the requirement.

Whether the review took into account that the New Zealand Defence Force is the only Five Eyes nation that retains COVID-19 vaccination as a mandatory requirement in its baseline schedule for all personnel (while the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have removed or significantly relaxed theirs), and any analysis of the implications for interoperability, alliance commitments, recruitment competitiveness, or operational effectiveness.

The total number of NZDF personnel discharged, separated, or who left service specifically due to refusal or non-compliance with COVID-19 vaccination requirements from 2021 to present (broken down by year, Regular Force vs Territorial Force, and service branch if available). Reference is made to the approximately 164 discharged personnel noted in request 33203.

The number of personnel who were not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 but were retained in service (via exemptions, waivers, medical/operational reasons, or otherwise) during the same period, including the criteria applied and any assessment of consistency in decision-making.

Any current or planned pathway for reinstatement or re-enlistment of personnel discharged for COVID-19 vaccine refusal/non-compliance, including eligibility criteria, application process, timelines, and any internal analysis or documents considering reinstatement of the approximately 164 discharged personnel (or similar cohorts).

If any part of this request is held by another agency, please transfer it accordingly.

Thank you.

Mr Richards.