133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T +64 4 496 2000
W www.medsafe.govt.nz
15 June 2021
Tracy Livingston
By email:
[FYI request #15591 email]
Ref:
H202106535
Dear Tracy Livingston
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 (the Ministry) on 27 May 2021.
Information in response to each part of your request is outlined below.
“1) What diagnostic criteria, i.e. blood tests etc is in place to assess COVID vaccine
adverse events in E.D., and medical centres?
2) What tests are applicable for testing for COVID vaccine adverse events?
The Ministry does not hold information pertaining to these parts of your request. Individual
general practitioners and/or hospitals will administer the appropriate tests to help diagnose illness
in their patients. As such, this part of your request is refused under section 18(g) of the Act.
3) what treatments have hospital staff found effective, and are being used, in NZ for
recovering from a covid vaccine adverse event?”
The Ministry does not hold information pertaining to this part of your request. Information relating
to treatments of adverse effect of the COVID-19 vaccine is held by hospitals. As such, this part of
your request is refused under section 18(g) of the Act.
“4) What pathological effects have been found on autopsy following a covid vaccine related
death?”
There have been no recorded deaths in New Zealand considered to have been caused by the
COVID-19 vaccine.
“5) How many ACC claim forms have been received to date for covid vaccine adverse
events, and what were the adverse events?”
On 3 June 2021, this part of your request was transferred to the Accident Compensation
Corporation as the information is held by their agency. You should receive a response to this part
of your request in due course.
I trust this information fulfils your request. 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. Yours sincerely
Chris James
Group Manager
Medsafe
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