02 April 2025
C192739
Colin Whiting
[FYI request #29975 email] Tēnā koe Colin
Thank you for your email of 5 February 2025 to the Department of Corrections – Ara
Poutama Aotearoa, requesting information about COVID-19 vaccinations. Your request has
been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
You requested in response to our correspondence dated 22 January 2025 (our reference
C190493):
I would therefore like the Department of Corrections to explain that out of the 2,306
vaccinated Corrections staff who had contracted Covid-19, why only 220 staff were
required to undertake the process of receiving a Covid-19 Booster Exemption for their
return to work? (factoring in the 169 exemptions from the Director General of the
Ministry of Health prior to 15 May 2022, and those later authorised by the Chief
Executive from 15 May 2022 until 2 July 2022.)
As advised in our response dated 16 May 2024 (our reference C179663), the Ministry of
Health advised that people who tested positive for COVID-19 should wait three months
after they test positive before receiving their booster vaccination.
This resulted in some frontline staff who were not yet boosted contracting COVID-19 and
passing their original deadline date to be boosted. Under the Vaccinations Order prior to 15
May 2022, these staff had been unable to return to work inside the wire for up to three
months without a Ministry of Health temporary medical exemption, resulting in staff
needing to apply to the Ministry of Health for a temporary medical exemption. 169
Corrections staff members were granted a temporary medical exemption by the Director
General of the Ministry of Health prior to 15 May 2022.
On 15 May 2022, this was amended, and Corrections was able to authorise an affected
person to return to work. Where Corrections established it was safe and appropriate to do
so, staff members who passed their required booster date were able to continue to work
inside the wire while waiting to receive a booster vaccination. Any approved authorisation
applied for 100 days following the staff member’s positive test.
NATIONAL OFFICE, WELLINGTON
Mayfair House, 44 – 52 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011, Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140,
Phone +64 4 460 3000
www.corrections.govt.nz
2
Those fully vaccinated staff who tested positive prior to the authorisation regime being
enacted were placed on special leave for a period of 14 days. During this 14-day period,
evidence was gathered and submitted to the Director General of the Ministry of Health to
approve the exemption. Following the granting of an exemption, the person was permitted
to return to work following that 14-day period and the date requirement to receive their
booster was extended for six months, as per advice from the Ministry of Health.
Please note that our response dated 16 May 2024 (our reference, C179663) referred to 220
people returning to work under the version of clause 7A that came into force on 15 May
2022 and stated that this number included those who were granted a temporary medical
exemption by the Director General of the Ministry of Health prior to 15 May 2022. This was
incorrect and we apologise for this error. The 220 staff who returned to work under the
version of clause 7A that came into force on 15 May 2022, did not include the 169
Corrections staff members that were granted a temporary medical exemption by the
Director General of the Ministry of Health prior to 15 May 2022. In total, 169 Corrections
staff members were granted a temporary medical exemption by the Director General of the
Ministry of Health and 220 staff members were granted a temporary medical exemption by
Corrections, resulting in 389 staff members being given a temporary medical exemption for
receiving a COVID-19 vaccination booster.
Please note that this response may be published on Corrections’ website. Typically,
responses are published quarterly, or as otherwise determined. Your personal information
including name and contact details will be removed for publication
I trust the information provided is of assistance. I encourage you to raise any concerns
about this response with Corrections. Alternatively, you are advised of your right to also
raise any concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the
Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Ngā mihi
Leigh Marsh
Commissioner Custodial Services
Custodial Services
