19 January 2022
Chuck Schooner
Via email: [FYI request #18200 email]
Tēnā koe Chuck
Request for information: COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) contractual agreement with
Pfizer
Thank you for your request dated 15 January 2022 under the Official Information Act 1982
(OIA) for information relating to the contractual agreement with Pfizer for the COVID-19
vaccine (Comirnaty). You wrote:
Without disclosing any commercial sensitivity are you able to answer the following
questions which are yes or no answers.
If you refuse to answer then I will assume that these questions are in the affirmative.
- Are there any clauses that require the NZ government to waive the sovereignty of
their assets abroad - yes or no? If not answered I’m assuming yes
- That NZ law does not apply to Pfizer? Yes or No
- Pfizer is exempted from all liability even if it was found
shortcuts/malfeasance/negligence occurred in the development? Yes or No
As noted above, I will be assuming these are in the affirmative if these questions
refuse to be answered.
The Ministry of Health is responsible for deciding which COVID-19 vaccines to fund and
procuring the vaccines for New Zealand. Details about the
Ministry’s vaccine strategy are
available on its website. As such, I have transferred your request to the Ministry of Health, as
allowed under section 14 of the OIA, as it is more closely aligned with the functions of the
Ministry. You should hear from the Ministry regarding your request shortly.
Please note you have the right, by way of complaint under section 28(3) of the OIA to an
Ombudsman, to seek an investigation and review of our decision.
Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about this.
Yours sincerely
Rachel Read
Manager, Policy and Government Services
2021-22-080; A1561430
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