133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
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New Zealand
T +64 4 496 2000
W www.medsafe.govt.nz
31 January 2024
R Kingi
By email: [FYI request #25176 email]
Ref:
H202303461
Tēnā koe R Kingi
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health - Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 14 December 2023 for information regarding the
COVID-19 Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine. You requested:
“Several papers have been published on amyloidogenic or prionergic segments of the sars-
cov2 spike protein (e.g. "Amyloidogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein", J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 2022, 144, 20, 8945–8950)
These epitopes also occur as a consequence of the expression the pfizer injectable
products, such as bnt162b2.
Of note is that the spike from expression of the pfizer injectable can be detected in some
individuals for quite some time (see "Detection of recombinant Spike protein in the blood of
individuals vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2: Possible molecular mechanisms”)
Given that, I request any internal reports, notes, communications or risk assessments
related to the expression of these amyloidogenic or prionergic segments by way of
commercial product, such as bnt162b2.”
Information relating to the approval of Comirnaty can be found in response to a previous OIA
request, which is publicly available at:
www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/information-
release/h202106950_-_response.pdf
All other information relating to the approval of Comirnaty is withheld in full under section
9(2)(ba)(i) of the Act, to protect information that is subject to an obligation of confidence and
making it available would likely prejudice the supply of similar information, or information from the
same source. I have considered the countervailing public interest in releasing information and
consider that it does not outweigh the need to withhold at this time.
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
Derek Fitzgerald
Acting Group Manager
Medsafe
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