Evidence used in determining whether to vaccinate children 5-11
Athina Andonatou made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
Response to this request is long overdue. By law Ministry of Health should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.
From: Athina Andonatou
Dear Ministry of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, Chris Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern,
Given that the government is currently determining whether to vaccinate children 12 and under with the Pfizer vaccination, even though:
- There is lack of long term safety data (1)
- That there is relatively low risk posed by acute COVID-19 in children, and uncertainty about the relative harms from vaccination and disease (1)
- That the WHO determine that children aged 12 and under are at miniscule risk of death from covid, and that according to the WHO even if they do get covid "...usually demonstrate fewer and milder symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection". (2)
-"In New Zealand's Delta outbreak (as of late October), 0-9-year-olds made up 17 per cent of all cases, with 483 kids testing positive. But they represented only 4 per cent of all hospitalisations, with 9 kids landing in hospital. None needed intensive care, or died" (3)
- "Paediatric infectious disease specialist Tony Walls agrees. “The risk of severe disease in [healthy] children under 12 from Covid-19 is probably lower than from influenza" (3)
- Children between 5-11 years were found to be at very low risk, with less than one death per million – there were just 14 deaths among children due to COVID-19. Moreover, about 40% of these deaths were in pediatric palliative care patients who had serious underlying illnesses already. (4)
- Statistics from CDC show the risk of a child being hospitalised from covid as .01% and dying from covid 19 to be .00002% (5)
- Studies from the United Kingdom and worldwide have shown that children and young people have made up a small proportion of those infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Less than 5% of total case numbers were in
children in studies from Italy (1•2%),1 USA (1•7%),2 China (2•2%),3
and UK (3•9%).(6)
- Pfizer the company who did the research is also the company selling the product, indicating a conflict of interest
I'd like to request the following:
1) Please provide me with all documentation, scientific studies and minute meetings being used to determine the value of vaccinating children aged 5-11, especially all documents, scientific studies and minute meetings showing that the benefits outweigh the risks.
2) Please provide me with the research and documents from Pfizer being used to determine whether to vaccinate children 5-11
3) All documentation between Minister Chris Hipkins and Medsafe regarding vaccinating children 5-11
Studies and articles used to formulate request:
(1) Should Children Be Vaccinated Against Covid https://adc.bmj.com/content/archdischild...
(2) Interim Statement on covid 19 vaccination in children and adolescents https://www.who.int/news/item/24-11-2021...
(3) Covid 19: Should we vaccinate the kids https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/...
(4) Pediatric COVID-19 and PIMS-TS: hospitalization, severe disease and mortality risk. https://www.news-medical.net/news/202112...
(5) Preliminary estimated COVID-19 cumulative incidence, by age group — United States, February 2020-September 2021
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nco...
(6) Immunocompromised children and young people are at no increased risk of severe COVID-19
https://www.journalofinfection.com/actio...
Yours faithfully,
Athina Andonatou
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora,
Thank you for your Official Information Act (the Act) request. This is
an automatic reply to let you know we received it.
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. We
will endeavour to acknowledge your request as soon as possible. Further
information about COVID-19 can be found on our
website: [1]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
Please be advised that due dates for requests received from 29 November
2021 onwards take into account the following periods:
Christmas (25 December 2021)
Summer Holidays (25 December to 15 January)
New Year's Day (1 January 2022)
Day after News Year's Day (2 January 2022)
If you'd like to calculate the due date for your request, you can use the
Ombudsman's online calculator here: [2]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
If you have any questions while we're processing your request, please let
us know via [3][email address]
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[4]Ministry of Health information releases
[5]Unite against COVID-19
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1. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
2. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Athina
Thank you for your request for official information, received on 7
December 2021 for:
1) Please provide me with all documentation, scientific studies and
minute meetings being used to determine the value of vaccinating
children aged 5-11, especially all documents, scientific studies and
minute meetings showing that the benefits outweigh the risks.
2) Please provide me with the research and documents from Pfizer being
used to determine whether to vaccinate children 5-11
3) All documentation between Minister Chris Hipkins and Medsafe
regarding vaccinating children 5-11
We are contacting you in accordance with section 18B of the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) as your request, as it is currently worded,
is for a very large volume of information. Your request may be refused
under section 18(f) of the Act as the information requested cannot be made
available without substantial collation or research.
If it is possible for you to narrow the scope of the third part your
request by selecting a time frame for the documentation between Minister
Hipkins and Medsafe about the vaccination of 5-11 year olds, we may be
able to provide you with information.
Please respond by 17 January 2022 so that we can consider your refinement
in our response to your request.
We look forward to receiving your response.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
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1. mailto:[email address]
From: Athina Andonatou
Dear OIA Requests,
You've requested that I refine question, rather than specify a time frame, I've narrowed down the scope of the information I'm requesting re communication between Chris Hipkins and Medsafe and the approving of Comirnaty for 5-11 year olds:
- all communications about when the topic of giving Comirnaty to 5-11 year olds was first discussed
- communication and research shared between Chris Hipkins and Medsafe outlining the rationale of giving Comirnaty to 5-11 year olds
Yours sincerely,
Athina Andonatou
From: OIA Requests
Thank you for your Official Information Act request. This is
an automatic reply to let you know we received it.
In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more
than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can
use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. This
means we may take some time in responding to your request. The Ministry
regularly updates information about the COVID-19 situation and publishes
OIA responses considered to be of public interest:
[2]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
Please also refer to the Unite Against Covid-19 website for copies of
papers, minutes, and key advice for the decisions the Government has made
relating to COVID-19.
Sometimes we may need to clarify aspects of a request. You can expect to
hear from us soon if that is the case here.
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [3][email address]
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. mailto:[email address]
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Athina
Thank you for your response.
We are contacting you in accordance with section 18B of the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) as your request, as it is currently worded,
is for a very large volume of information. Your request may be refused
under section 18(f) of the Act as the information requested cannot be made
available without substantial collation or research.
If it is possible for you to narrow the scope of the second part your
request as well by selecting a time frame or specifying a topic regarding
"the research and documents from Pfizer being used to determine whether to
vaccinate children 5-11".
Please respond by 18 January 2022 so that we can consider your refinement
in our response to your request.
We look forward to receiving your response.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Athina Andonatou <[FOI #17871 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 13 January 2022 16:33
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Refinement of your request for official information (ref:
H202117274)
Dear OIA Requests,
You've requested that I refine question, rather than specify a time frame,
I've narrowed down the scope of the information I'm requesting re
communication between Chris Hipkins and Medsafe and the approving of
Comirnaty for 5-11 year olds:
- all communications about when the topic of giving Comirnaty to 5-11 year
olds was first discussed
- communication and research shared between Chris Hipkins and Medsafe
outlining the rationale of giving Comirnaty to 5-11 year olds
Yours sincerely,
Athina Andonatou
show quoted sections
From: Athina Andonatou
Dear OIA Requests,
This is starting to feel like stalling. Should the information I've requested in the second part of my request not be readily available considering the unrolling of the injection to 5-11 year olds is starting 17th January 2022? Would that information not have been required and submitted to Medsafe so that they could make the decision to give it provisional consent?
Yours sincerely,
Athina Andonatou
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Athina
The Ministry does hold information about the vaccination of
11–15-year-olds, however, the amount of information is substantial. As
you have been advised, your request as it is currently worded, is for a
very large volume of information. Your request may be refused under
section 18(f) of the Act as the information requested cannot be
made available without substantial collation or research. If you narrow
down the scope of your request, by requesting a specific topic and
specifying a time frame, we may be able to provide you with information.
Please respond by 18 January 2022 so that we can consider your refinement
in our response.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Athina Andonatou <[FYI request #17871 email]>
Sent: Friday, 14 January 2022 11:18
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Refinement of your request for official information (ref:
H202117274)
Dear OIA Requests,
This is starting to feel like stalling. Should the information I've
requested in the second part of my request not be readily available
considering the unrolling of the injection to 5-11 year olds is starting
17th January 2022? Would that information not have been required and
submitted to Medsafe so that they could make the decision to give it
provisional consent?
Yours sincerely,
Athina Andonatou
show quoted sections
From: Athina Andonatou
Dear OIA Requests,
My request is narrowed to request specifically.
Risk profile analysis
Benefit profile analysis
Yours sincerely,
Athina Andonatou
From: OIA Requests
Thank you for your Official Information Act request. This is
an automatic reply to let you know we received it.
Please be advised that Monday 24 January 2022 is Wellington Anniversary
Day and the Ministry of Health Office will be closed and not responding to
any requests. The Ministry of Health will reopen on Tuesday 25 January
2022.
In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more
than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can
use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. This
means we may take some time in responding to your request. The Ministry
regularly updates information about the COVID-19 situation and publishes
OIA responses considered to be of public interest:
[2]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
Please also refer to the Unite Against Covid-19 website for copies of
papers, minutes, and key advice for the decisions the Government has made
relating to COVID-19.
Sometimes we may need to clarify aspects of a request. You can expect to
hear from us soon if that is the case here.
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [3][email address]
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. mailto:[email address]
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Athina
Thank you for your request for official information, received on 7
December 2021 requesting:
1) Please provide me with all documentation, scientific studies and minute
meetings being used to determine the value of vaccinating children aged
5-11, especially all documents, scientific studies and minute meetings
showing that the benefits outweigh the risks.
2) Please provide me with the research and documents from Pfizer being
used to determine whether to vaccinate children 5-11
3) All documentation between Minister Chris Hipkins and Medsafe regarding
vaccinating children 5-11
The Ministry of Health has decided to extend the period of time available
to respond to your request under section 15A of the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act) as further consultation is required.
You can now expect a response to your request on, or before, 9 February
2022.
You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to
review my decision to extend the time available to respond to your
request.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Athina
Thank you for your request for official information, received on 7
December 2021 requesting:
1) Please provide me with all documentation, scientific studies and minute
meetings being used to determine the value of vaccinating children aged
5-11, especially all documents, scientific studies and minute meetings
showing that the benefits outweigh the risks.
2) Please provide me with the research and documents from Pfizer being
used to determine whether to vaccinate children 5-11
3) All documentation between Minister Chris Hipkins and Medsafe regarding
vaccinating children 5-11
The Ministry of Health has decided to extend the period of time available
to respond to your request under section 15A of the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act) as further consultation is required.
You can now expect a response to your request on, or before, 9 February
2022.
You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to
review my decision to extend the time available to respond to your
request.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Athina
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]
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
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victor left an annotation ()
Could be narrowed to request specifically.
Risk profile analysis
Benefit profile analysis
Rationale as of immuno-bridging as surrogate and how the metrics were applied into the New Zealand context for the 5-11 cohort with:
0.040% CFR (includes post death PCR)
0.000% ICU
99.960% - 100% recovery rate
99.150% - 100% mild or no symptoms (not accounting for the admitted inflated hospital rates.
Benefit profile can't be created because the MOH admits to manufacturing the published statistics.
Link to this