133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
6 August 2024
Catherine Jamieson
By email:
[FYI request #27389 email]
Ref:
H2024046068
Tēnā koe Catherine
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) which was
transferred from Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora to the Ministry of Health – Manatū
Hauora (the Ministry) on 10 July 2024 for information regarding COVID-19 Vaccines provided to
pacific islands. Please find a response to each part of your request below.
How many doses of Covid vaccines by manufacturer and type (adult, paediatric, infant)
has New Zealand provided to each of :
i) Cook Islands
i ) Tokelau
iii) Niue
iv) Samoa
v) Tonga
vi) Fiji?
Please see the table below which outlines New Zealand’s bilateral donation of Pfizer’s
Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine to date:
NZ’s bilateral donation of Pfizer’s Comirnaty COVID-19 Vaccine
Country
Infant
Paediatric
Adult (12+)
Total
Cook Islands
-
4,640
40,428
45,068
Niue
-
690
4,880
5,570
Tokelau
-
700
4,590
5,290
Fiji*
-
50,000
52,560
102,560
Samoa*
-
86,000
83,670
169,670
Tonga*
-
26,400
61,590
87,990
Total
0
168,430
247,718
416,148
New Zealand has donated other COVID-19 vaccines products, such as AstraZeneca, to Fiji,
Samoa, and Tonga through global mechanisms. Information regarding these donations which
may be of interest to you are publicly available through the following links:
•
www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/OIA/OIA-2021-22/OIA-27892-NZs-particiation-in-the-COVAX-
program.pdf.
•
fyi.org.nz/request/17271/response/67094/attach/html/4/H202114701.pdf.html.
Please supply a step by step overview of the logistics involved in transporting the
vaccines from when they first arrive in New Zealand to these final destinations. If this is
not able to be made available please supply documents that evidence this supply chain.
Please include documents to demonstrate all points in the delivery chain where ownership
transfers and to who.
All COVID-19 vaccines arriving in New Zealand are managed and distributed according to the
National Immunisation Operating Guidelines and National Standards for Vaccine Storage and
Transportation for Immunisation Providers 2017. These can be found through the following
links:
•
www.health.govt.nz/publication/national-standards-vaccine-storage-and-transportation-
immunisation-providers-2017.
•
www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/health-services-and-programmes/vaccine-information/vaccine-
service-delivery/covid-19-vaccine-delivery/vaccine-operating-and-planning-guidelines/.
Please see a step-by-step overview below:
1. COVID-19 vaccine and consumables requests to New Zealand are received by the
Ministry of Health from Pacific health officials.
2. Healthcare Logistics (one of the domestic storage and suppliers for vaccine in New
Zealand), processes the orders and dispatches the consignment to a contracted freight
forwarder via New Zealand Post courier. The vaccines are inside a Credo box that has
been validated to maintain the cold chain (2-8°C) for up to 72 hours.
3. The freight forwarder makes the delivery to the recipient country within 24 hours of
receipt, subject to flight availability, and handles the vaccines according to the Medsafe
datasheet and National Standards for Vaccine Storage and Transportation for
Immunisation Providers 2017.
4. Door-to-door logistical support is provided by the freight forwarder, which includes
booking air freight, generating customs clearance documents, and liaising with airlines
and other freight forwarders if/when necessary.
5. Pacific health officials confirm receipt of vaccines in good condition and without any
defect within 24 hours of receipt. Ownership of the donated vaccines is transferred to the
recipient government at this point, for use in accordance with the Medsafe datasheet
and international best practice.
6. Empty Credo boxes are returned to Healthcare Logistics.
Please note, each country has its own internal process for storing, handling, and distributing the
vaccine in line with suppliers’ instructions, the Medsafe datasheet (where applicable), and with
international best practices. For further information, please contact the appropriate health
authorities in the country of interest.
I trust this information fulfils your request. If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with
us, including this decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team on:
[email address].
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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
Manatū Hauora website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Dr Andrew Old
Deputy Director-General
Public Health Agency | Te Pou Hauora Tūmatanui
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