133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T +64 4 496 2000
W www.medsafe.govt.nz
29 August 2023
Erika Whittome
By email: [FYI request #23407 email]
Ref:
H2023020040
Tēnā koe Erika
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū Hauora
(the Ministry of Health) on 1 August 2023 as a follow up to information provided to you under
reference H2023028694.
On 6 July 2023, you requested:
“The last safety report for Comirnaty is dated 30 Nov 2022 and contains a total of 184
reported deaths post vaccination for this medicine https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-
19/safety-report-46.asp#death
There have been no subsequent safety reports and today is the 6 of Jun 2023. Kindly share
the decision for ceasing to publish these and share all emails, correspondences, memos,
meeting minutes etc for the cessation of these safety reports.”
On 31 July 2023 Manatū Hauora provided you with a response to this request, copied below:
The vaccine safety reports were produced in conjunction with the national COVID-19
immunisation programme. Since the pandemic immunisation response has started reverting back
to the non-pandemic immunisation programme, so has the safety reporting. Therefore, no further
reports will be produced and published. The data will be moved to the Suspected Medicine
Adverse Reaction Search (SMARS) database with all other medicines in use in New Zealand.
The database can be found at:
www.medsafe.govt.nz/Projects/B1/ADRDisclaimer.asp
Please note, there are no documents related to the decision to cease the publication of safety
reports. Therefore, Your request is refused under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information
requested does not exist.
On 1 August 2023, you submitted further correspondence noting:
If there was a decision to revert back to something and adopt a different safety reporting
mechanism, then that is a decision for a change. Again answer the question and share the
details for this decision: when, by whom, meeting minutes etc.
Manatū Hauora stands by the response provided to you on 21 July 2023 and has nothing further
to add. Moreover, please be advised that repeated requests for the same information may be
construed as vexatious and result in such requests being refused under section 18(h) of the Act.
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].
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
Chris James
Group Manager
Medsafe
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