Documents describing probabilities considered in formulating the recommendation that adults under 60 years of age strongly consider getting vaccinated with AstraZeneca
Dear Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI),
Could you please provide any information on the probabilities that were considered in formulating the updated recommendation on 24 July that 'All individuals aged 18 years and above in greater Sydney, including adults under 60 years of age, should strongly consider getting vaccinated with any available vaccine including COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.'
In particular, what information did ATAGI consider in relation to the probability of:
- developing TTS,
- death after developing TTS,
- catching covid before being vaccinated with AstraZeneca,
- catching covid after being vaccinated with AstraZeneca, and
- death after catching covid?
Please also provide any information considered on how these probabilities vary by age.
Yours faithfully,
James Nugent
Thank you for contacting the ATAGI Secretariat.
We will endeavour to respond to your email within 5 working days.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
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If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
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Dear Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI),
Could you please provide an update on this request and confirm that the information will be provided by 24 August 2021 (i.e., one month from the date of the original request).
Yours faithfully,
James Nugent
Thank you for contacting the ATAGI Secretariat. We will endeavour to
respond to your email within 5 working days.
If your email is related to COVID- 19 vaccine eligibility, supply and
demand or any other COVID-19 vaccine related query, your email will be
forwarded to the COVID taskforce for their response. Please note, due to
the high number of queries relating to this, you may experience some
delays with receiving a response.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
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receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
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Dear Mr Nugent
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST – NOTIFICATION OF RECEIPT AND REQUEST FOR
AN EXTENSION OF TIME
I am writing to notify you that your Freedom of Information (FOI) request
to the ATAGI Secretariat on 25 July 2021 was received by the FOI team in
the Department of Health (department) on 23 August 2021. You are seeking
access to the following documents under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (Cth) (FOI Act):
"any information on the probabilities that were considered in formulating
the updated recommendation on 24 July that 'All individuals aged 18 years
and above in greater Sydney, including adults under 60 years of age,
should strongly consider getting vaccinated with any available vaccine
including COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.'"
In particular, what information did ATAGI consider in relation to the
probability of:
- developing TTS,
- death after developing TTS,
- catching covid before being vaccinated with AstraZeneca,
- catching covid after being vaccinated with AstraZeneca, and
- death after catching covid?
The statutory timeframe for processing your request is 30 calendar days
within which a decision on access to the requested documents is to be
notified.
The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge you will be
notified in writing.
Unless you advise otherwise, duplicate documents and Commonwealth employee
names and contact details below Senior Executive Service level and mobile
telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the scope of your
request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.
Request for extension of time
As a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the department is dealing
with a very high volume of FOI requests. To ensure the department can
process your request in accordance with the requirements of the FOI Act,
including locating and providing access to all relevant documents, the
department would be grateful if you would agree to an extension of 14
calendar days for processing your request. If you agree, the department
will endeavour to provide a decision to you by 6 October 2021.
Next Steps
Please advise the department by COB 10 September 2021 if you agree to the
14 day extension of processing time.
You can contact the FOI Unit via email at [1][email address], should you
have any questions. We also advise that all future FOI requests be
directed to the FOI inbox directly.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [2][email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
References
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1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
Dear Mr Nugent
I refer to your request to the Department of Health (department) seeking
access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) to the
following:
any information on the probabilities that were considered in formulating
the updated recommendation on 24 July that 'All individuals aged 18 years
and above in greater Sydney, including adults under 60 years of age,
should strongly consider getting vaccinated with any available vaccine
including COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.'
In particular, what information did ATAGI consider in relation to the
probability of:
- developing TTS,
- death after developing TTS,
- catching covid before being vaccinated with AstraZeneca,
- catching covid after being vaccinated with AstraZeneca, and
- death after catching covid?
Notice of Liability to Pay a Charge
The Director of the Department’s Freedom of Information Unit (the
Director), an officer authorised under subsection 23(1) of the FOI Act to
make decisions in relation to freedom of information requests, has decided
you are liable to pay a charge in respect of the processing of your
request.
Preliminary Assessment
In accordance with section 29 of the FOI Act and the Freedom of
Information (Charges) Regulations 2019, the Director’s preliminary
assessment of the charge you are liable to pay is $120.00.
This has been calculated as follows:
search and retrieval time 8 hours @ $15.00 per hour $120.00
(including time spent locating
relevant files and collating
relevant documents contained on
those files)
decision making time (including 5 hours @ $20.00 per hour $100.00
time spent examining the documents,
considering exemptions, undertaking
consultation, writing the decision
and preparing any documents for Less first 5 hours free ($100.00)
release)
TOTAL $120.00
Deposit
The Director has also decided you are required to pay a deposit of $30.00.
Payment of a deposit is taken as your authority to proceed with processing
of your request and your agreement to pay the full charge in which case
you will become liable to the Commonwealth for the full cost of processing
the charge.
Payment
The department can accept credit card, money order or cheque payments.
If you choose to pay by cheque (personal or bank) or money order it should
be sent to the following:
FOI Unit (MDP 516)
Department of Health
GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601
If you wish to pay by credit card, please send an email to
[1][email address] indicating that you agree to pay the charge and
providing a contact number we can call you on to obtain your credit card
details.
Response
Under the FOI Act, you have 30 days to respond in writing to this notice.
You must, within 30 days after this notice is given, do one of the
following things:
(i) agree with the department’s estimate and pay the deposit or
whole charge if no deposit is listed, or
(ii) advise the department in writing you contend the charge has
been wrongly assessed, or should be reduced or not imposed, giving reasons
for your contention, or
(iii) advise the department in writing you withdraw the request
for access to the documents concerned.
Please send your response to the above postal address or [2]this email
address. If you do not provide a response within 30 days, your freedom of
information request will be taken to have been withdrawn.
If you choose to make a contention the charge should be reduced or not
imposed, the department must, in making a decision on your contention,
take into account the matters set out in section 29(5) of the FOI Act or
any relevant matter.
Processing time
Processing of your request is suspended from the date you receive this
notice and resume either when you pay the deposit or when any contention
you make about the charge has been resolved.
Relevant provisions
The FOI Act, including the provisions referred to in this email, can be
accessed from the Federal Register of Legislation website:
[3]https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C....
If you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this email
you should contact the department’s FOI Unit by email at
[4][email address].
Kind regards
Celeste
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [5][email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[email address]
Hi,
I contend the charge should not be imposed on the basis of section 29(5)(b) of the FOI Act - that access to the document in question is in the general public interest or in the interest of a substantial section of the public. This is manifest, but if you need examples of public interest in this topic these articles should suffice:
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-25/l...
- https://theconversation.com/yes-you-can-...
- https://www.afr.com/politics/how-to-halv...
- https://www.theaustralian.com.au/science...
I also note that I made this request on 25 July 2021, that the timeframe for a response has already been substantially extended, and that a response was due to be provided on 6 October 2021 (i.e., in 3 business days' time). That I have only just been notified that the Director has determined that a charge is payable makes me concerned that little has been done to address my request. I'd therefore ask that a decision on the charges payable be expedited and a response to my original request be provided as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
James
Dear Mr Nugent
Thank you for your email below.
The department will consider your request for internal review of the decision to impose charges for your FOI request (2917). You will be notified out a decision within 30 days of the date of your request for internal review of the charges decision.
Please note the statutory deadline for providing a decision in response to your FOI request is suspended from the date of your request for internal review until the date the department makes a decision.
Karen
FOI Unit
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
Please note that this email and attachments may contain confidential or legally privileged information. Please consult with Legal Division before disclosing any part of this email, or attachment, outside the Department. If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the sender immediately.
Dear Nr Nugent
Please find attached the department’s response to your request for waiver
of the FOI processing charge for this FOI request.
FOI Unit
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
Please note that this email and attachments may contain confidential or
legally privileged information. Please consult with Legal Division before
disclosing any part of this email, or attachment, outside the Department.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
Dear Mr Nugent
Please find attached a letter responding to your request for a waiver of
charges.
FOI Unit
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
Please note that this email and attachments may contain confidential or
legally privileged information. Please consult with Legal Division before
disclosing any part of this email, or attachment, outside the Department.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
Dear Mr Nugent
Please find attached correspondence in relation to your Freedom of
Information Request to the Department of Health.
Due to the size of the files, the remaining documents will be sent in 4
subsequent emails.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [1][email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear Mr Nugent
Please see attached for the second batch of documents relating to FOI
2917. The remaining documents will be sent in 3 subsequent emails.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [1][email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear Mr Nugent
Please see attached for the third batch of documents relating to FOI 2917.
The remaining documents will be sent in 2 subsequent emails.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [1][email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear Mr Nugent
Please see attached for the fourth batch of documents relating to FOI
2917. The remaining documents will be sent in 1 subsequent email.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [1][email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear Mr Nugent
Please see attached for the fifth and final batch of documents relating to
FOI 2917.
This is the last email. Please confirm receipt of all five emails.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [1][email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]