Kia ora

 

Thank you for taking the time to write to Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister for
COVID-19 Response, Minister of Education, Minister for the Public Sector
and Leader of the House.

We are receiving a significant amount of correspondence at the moment and,
although your email will be carefully considered and noted, it is not
possible to respond to each individual email. However, please note that
this is an automatic response and we will endeavour to respond to your
individual queries as soon as we can.

You can find the latest information and guidance about Alert Levels at
[1]https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and...
The locations of interest are set out
at [2]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
encourage anyone who has been at one of the locations of interest at the
time specified to self-isolate and call Healthline on 0800 358 5453. You
can find the nearest testing centre to you
at [3]https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19/.

We appreciate that this is a challenging time. If you need to talk, you
can call or text 1737 at any time. Mental health and wellbeing resources
are also available
at [4]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
about the financial support available to individuals and businesses can be
found at [5]https://covid19.govt.nz/business-and-mon....

We also understand that there are several other aspects to the response
that are very important to people. You can find more information about:

o Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ)
at [6]https://www.miq.govt.nz/, including how to request an emergency
allocation
at [7]https://www.miq.govt.nz/travel-to-new-ze...
make a complaint or request a review of your application by
emailing [8]https://www.miq.govt.nz/about/contact-us....
o Travel with Australia
at [9]https://covid19.govt.nz/travel/quarantin...
you are in Australia, please register
at [10]https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/ and if it is an emergency,
contact the Consulate on +64 99 20 20 20.
o Vaccines at [11]https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/, including
how to book your vaccine
at [12]https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz/... by calling 0800 28
29 26.
o Vaccine data and statistics
at [13]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
Medsafe’s vaccine safety monitoring reports
at [14]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vac...
o The Government’s plan to reconnect New Zealand with the rest of the
world
at [16]https://covid19.govt.nz/reconnecting-new....

Please remember to take care, and be kind. We have beaten COVID-19 before,
and we can do it again.

Ngā mihi,

Office of Hon Chris Hipkins

Minister for COVID-19 Response | Minister of Education | Minister for the
Public Sector | Leader of the House | MP for Remutaka

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References

Visible links
1. https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
3. https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19/
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/business-and-mon...
6. https://www.miq.govt.nz/
7. https://www.miq.govt.nz/travel-to-new-ze...
8. https://www.miq.govt.nz/about/contact-us...
9. https://covid19.govt.nz/travel/quarantin...
10. https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/
11. https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/
12. https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz/
13. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
14. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vac...
15. file:///C:/Users/TasolaM/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/556O8F80/Updated%20Document1.docx
16. https://covid19.govt.nz/reconnecting-new...

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Kia ora M.R.M

On behalf of Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister for COVID-19 Response, thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). You have requested:

"Request A ---
Please provide me with the following information:

1. The date on which the abovementioned agreement was signed.

1.a. The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

1.b. The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the abovementioned doses. (If more than one date applies please provide all of the dates).

2. The date on which the Pfizer / BioNTech agreement was signed.

2.a. The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

2.b. The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the abovementioned doses. (If more than one date applies please provide all of the dates).

3. The date on which the Janssen Pharmaceutica agreement was signed.

3.a. The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

3.b. The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the abovementioned doses. (If more than one date applies please provide all of the dates).

4. The date on which the Novavax agreement was signed.

4.a. The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

4.b. The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the abovementioned doses. (If more than one date applies please provide all of the dates).

Request B ---
At the website link provided below it is stated that; "An Advance Purchase Agreement of 7.6 million doses was signed with AstraZeneca. This vaccine needs two doses, so this amount is enough to fully vaccinate 3.8 million people."

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

Please provide me with the following additional information:

5. A full disclosure explanation as to why the New Zealand public were not given the choice of at least two vaccines from the start of the vaccination programme on 20 February 2021.

6. A full disclosure explanation as to why the AstraZeneca vaccine is only being made available almost 9 months after the Pfizer vaccine was first made available (on 20 February 2021), and, at a time when the majority of the New Zealand public have already had two Pfizer vaccinations.

7. A full disclosure explanation as to why your office/department only made it known to the New Zealand public in recent days that it had signed an agreement for 7.6 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine, and, - more importantly - that delivery of same would happen by around the end of November 2021. In other words, why was this crucial information withheld from the New Zealand public given the likelyhood that a large number of the New Zealand public would probably have chosen the Astra Zeneca - a viral vector (non-MRNA) - vaccine rather than the Pfizer - a MRNA - vaccine.

8. Given your comment about the "very small" number of people who will be able to have the Astra Zeneca vaccine, a full disclosure explanation as to why an undisclosed limit has been placed on this vaccine, how it was calculated what number of doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccines would be needed by the New Zealand public, and why New Zealand agreed to purchase 7.6 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine when a) its arrival in New Zealand comes too late for the very large number of employees who have been mandated to be vaccinated by today's date or lose their jobs, and b) large numbers of New Zealanders have complained over the past months that they were not given a choice of vaccine with the Pfizer vaccine still being the only one currently available.

Lastly, please provide me with a copy of the criteria document which clearly sets out who does and who does not qualify for having the Astra Zeneca vaccine given your "over 18s who are unable to have the Pfizer vaccine for medical reasons, and for people hesitant to receive the Pfizer vaccine" comment."

This information appears to be more closely associated with the functions and responsibilities of the Ministry of Health. Accordingly, I am transferring your request to the Ministry of Health under section 14(b)(ii) of the Act. You can expect a response from the Ministry of Health in due course.

You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to review this decision to transfer your request for information.

Ngā mihi

Tiffany Vail | Private Secretary, Health
Office of Hon Chris Hipkins
Minister for COVID-19 Response

-----Original Message-----
From: M.R.M. [mailto:[FOI #17594 email]]
Sent: Tuesday, 16 November 2021 8:41 AM
To: C Hipkins (MIN) <[Chris Hipkins request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Astra Zeneca

Dear Chris Hipkins,

In the newspapers during recent days I have read that you announced that work is underway to make the Astra Zeneca vaccination for Covid-19 available as an alternative option for the “very small” number of over 18s who are unable to have the Pfizer vaccine for medical reasons, and for people hesitant to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Request A ---
Please provide me with the following information:

1. The date on which the abovementioned agreement was signed.

1.a. The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

1.b. The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the abovementioned doses. (If more than one date applies please provide all of the dates).

2. The date on which the Pfizer / BioNTech agreement was signed.

2.a. The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

2.b. The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the abovementioned doses. (If more than one date applies please provide all of the dates).

3. The date on which the Janssen Pharmaceutica agreement was signed.

3.a. The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

3.b. The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the abovementioned doses. (If more than one date applies please provide all of the dates).

4. The date on which the Novavax agreement was signed.

4.a. The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

4.b. The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the abovementioned doses. (If more than one date applies please provide all of the dates).

Request B ---
At the website link provided below it is stated that; "An Advance Purchase Agreement of 7.6 million doses was signed with AstraZeneca. This vaccine needs two doses, so this amount is enough to fully vaccinate 3.8 million people."

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

Please provide me with the following additional information:

5. A full disclosure explanation as to why the New Zealand public were not given the choice of at least two vaccines from the start of the vaccination programme on 20 February 2021.

6. A full disclosure explanation as to why the AstraZeneca vaccine is only being made available almost 9 months after the Pfizer vaccine was first made available (on 20 February 2021), and, at a time when the majority of the New Zealand public have already had two Pfizer vaccinations.

7. A full disclosure explanation as to why your office/department only made it known to the New Zealand public in recent days that it had signed an agreement for 7.6 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine, and, - more importantly - that delivery of same would happen by around the end of November 2021. In other words, why was this crucial information withheld from the New Zealand public given the likelyhood that a large number of the New Zealand public would probably have chosen the Astra Zeneca - a viral vector (non-MRNA) - vaccine rather than the Pfizer - a MRNA - vaccine.

8. Given your comment about the "very small" number of people who will be able to have the Astra Zeneca vaccine, a full disclosure explanation as to why an undisclosed limit has been placed on this vaccine, how it was calculated what number of doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccines would be needed by the New Zealand public, and why New Zealand agreed to purchase 7.6 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine when a) its arrival in New Zealand comes too late for the very large number of employees who have been mandated to be vaccinated by today's date or lose their jobs, and b) large numbers of New Zealanders have complained over the past months that they were not given a choice of vaccine with the Pfizer vaccine still being the only one currently available.

Lastly, please provide me with a copy of the criteria document which clearly sets out who does and who does not qualify for having the Astra Zeneca vaccine given your "over 18s who are unable to have the Pfizer vaccine for medical reasons, and for people hesitant to receive the Pfizer vaccine" comment.

Yours faithfully,

M.R.M.

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #17594 email]

Is [Chris Hipkins request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Chris Hipkins? 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:
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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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________________________________

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Kia ora M.R.M,

 

Thank you for your request for official information which was transferred
from Minister Chris Hipkins Office and received by the Ministry of Health
on 17 November 2021. The Ministry’s reference number for your request is
H202116355.

 

If you need to contact us at any stage about your request, please quote
this reference number in your correspondence. You requested:

 

“In the newspapers during recent days I have read that you announced that
work is underway to make the Astra Zeneca vaccination for Covid-19
available as an alternative option for the “very small” number of over 18s
who are unable to have the Pfizer vaccine for medical reasons, and for
people hesitant to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

 

Request A ---

Please provide me with the following information:

 

1.  The date on which the abovementioned agreement was signed.

1.a.  The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

1.b.  The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the
abovementioned doses.  (If more than one date applies please provide all
of the dates).

2.  The date on which the Pfizer / BioNTech agreement was signed.

2.a.  The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

2.b.  The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the
abovementioned doses.  (If more than one date applies please provide all
of the dates).

3.  The date on which the Janssen Pharmaceutica agreement was signed.

3.a.  The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

3.b.  The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the
abovementioned doses.  (If more than one date applies please provide all
of the dates).

4.  The date on which the Novavax agreement was signed.

4.a.  The number of doses ordered under the abovementioned agreement.

4.b.  The anticipated, targeted or agreed delivery date of the
abovementioned doses.  (If more than one date applies please provide all
of the dates).

 

Request B ---

At the website link provided below it is stated that; "An Advance Purchase
Agreement of 7.6 million doses was signed with AstraZeneca. This vaccine
needs two doses, so this amount is enough to fully vaccinate 3.8 million
people."

 

[1]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

 

Please provide me with the following additional information:

 

5.  A full disclosure explanation as to why the New Zealand public were
not given the choice of at least two vaccines from the start of the
vaccination programme on 20 February 2021.

6.  A full disclosure explanation as to why the AstraZeneca vaccine is
only being made available almost 9 months after the Pfizer vaccine was
first made available (on 20 February 2021), and, at a time when the
majority of the New Zealand public have already had two Pfizer
vaccinations.

7.  A full disclosure explanation as to why your office/department only
made it known to the New Zealand public in recent days that it had signed
an agreement for 7.6 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine, and, -
more importantly - that delivery of same would happen by around the end of
November 2021.  In other words, why was this crucial information withheld
from the New Zealand public given the likelyhood that a large number of
the New Zealand public would probably have chosen the Astra Zeneca - a
viral vector (non-MRNA) - vaccine rather than the Pfizer - a MRNA -
vaccine.

8.  Given your comment about the "very small" number of people who will be
able to have the Astra Zeneca vaccine, a full disclosure explanation as to
why an undisclosed limit has been placed on this vaccine, how it was
calculated what number of doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccines would be
needed by the New Zealand public, and why New Zealand agreed to purchase
7.6 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine when a) its arrival in New
Zealand comes too late for the very large number of employees who have
been mandated to be vaccinated by today's date or lose their jobs, and b)
large numbers of New Zealanders have complained over the past months that
they were not given a choice of vaccine with the Pfizer vaccine still
being the only one currently available.

 

Lastly, please provide me with a copy of the criteria document which
clearly sets out who does and who does not qualify for having the Astra
Zeneca vaccine given your "over 18s who are unable to have the Pfizer
vaccine for medical reasons, and for people hesitant to receive the Pfizer
vaccine" comment.”

 

Your request has been logged and you can expect a reply no later than 15
December 2021 as required under the Official Information Act 1982.

 

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. If
we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we will
notify you of an extension of that time frame.

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.

 

Ngâ mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [2][email address]

 

 

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Kia ora M.R.M

Please find attached a letter regarding your request for information.

Ngā mihi

OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
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Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
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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.
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