Historical Vaccine Schedules
Dear Department of Health,
I'm requesting a copy of each National Immunisation Program Schedule[1], Childhood Vaccination Schedule, or equivalently named documents that exist historically.
To clarify the website [1] contains documents for 2021, I'm requesting similar documents that exist but for all other years.
I've managed to find a document on school based vaccinations [2] however this does not cover vaccinates given to babies, at doctors and outside school.
No personal information is requested.
I realise some documents may not exist anymore, that is okay.
If you know of a better department to ask for some or all of these documents I'm happy to continue the search.
I submit there is an overriding public interest in releasing proactive or otherwise the "National Immunisation Program Schedule, or equivalently named documents" and that all costs should be waived:
[1] https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/...
[2] https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main...
Yours faithfully,
Steven
Dear Mr Roddis
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST – NOTIFICATION OF RECEIPT AND REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME
I am writing to notify you that the Department of Health (department) received your request on 16 September 2021 for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) being:
a copy of each National Immunisation Program Schedule[1], Childhood Vaccination Schedule, or equivalently named documents that exist historically
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, draft and duplicate documents along with 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 30 calendar days for processing your request. If you agree, the department will endeavour to provide a decision to you by 15 November 2021.
Please contact the department by 22 September 2021 with your decision to the 30 day extension of processing time.
You can contact the FOI Unit on via email at [email address], should you have any questions.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
FOI and Legislation Support Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [Health request email]
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.
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Roddis <[FOI #7868 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 16 September 2021 12:36 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Historical Vaccine Schedules
REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Department of Health,
I'm requesting a copy of each National Immunisation Program Schedule[1], Childhood Vaccination Schedule, or equivalently named documents that exist historically.
To clarify the website [1] contains documents for 2021, I'm requesting similar documents that exist but for all other years.
I've managed to find a document on school based vaccinations [2] however this does not cover vaccinates given to babies, at doctors and outside school.
No personal information is requested.
I realise some documents may not exist anymore, that is okay.
If you know of a better department to ask for some or all of these documents I'm happy to continue the search.
I submit there is an overriding public interest in releasing proactive or otherwise the "National Immunisation Program Schedule, or equivalently named documents" and that all costs should be waived:
[1] https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/...
[2] https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main...
Yours faithfully,
Steven
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #7868 email]
Is [Health request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Department of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
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"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 FOI Officer,
> Unless you advise otherwise, draft and duplicate documents along with 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.
This is fine. Also please exclude any documents that were never published to the public from the request as well. The documents I'm looking for should have been made public in the past. I sympathise with the increase in workload, you may have an extension till 15 November 2021.
To clarify as I'm sure there are a lot of covid related requests, I'm not looking for anything covid019 related.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Roddis
Dear Mr Roddis,
I refer to your request of 16 September 2021 to the Department of Health
(department) seeking access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(Cth) (FOI Act) to the following documents:
‘I'm requesting a copy of each National Immunisation Program Schedule[1],
Childhood Vaccination Schedule, or equivalently named documents that exist
historically.
To clarify the website [1] contains documents for 2021, I'm requesting
similar documents that exist but for all other years.
I've managed to find a document on school based vaccinations [2] however
this does not cover vaccinates given to babies, at doctors and outside
school.’
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 $90.00.
This has been calculated as follows:
search and retrieval time (including 6 hours @ $15.00 per hour $90.00
time spent locating relevant files and
collating relevant documents contained
on those files)
decision making time (including time 3 hours @ $20.00 per hour $60.00
spent examining the documents,
considering exemptions, undertaking
consultation, writing the decision and
preparing any documents for release) Less first 3 hours free ($60.00)
TOTAL $90.00
Deposit
The Director has also decided you are required to pay a deposit of $20.00.
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][Health request email] 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 wish to pay by credit card, please contact the department’s FOI
unit on (02) 6289 1666 to be further advised.
Processing time
Processing of your request and counting the 60 calendar days are 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.
If you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this email
you should contact the department’s FOI Unit by email at
[3][email address].
Kind regards
FOI
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [4][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:[Health request email]
2. mailto:[Health request email]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[email address]
Dear FOI,
Can you clarify:
* The term "The Director", ie. director of what? Was this delegated authority?
The costs given are with out justification, could you please justify:
* "search and retrieval time (including 6 hours)"
What will you be doing that will take 6 hours? Can we limit this to a simple keyword search to save time?
"decision making time (including time 3 hours)"
What you will spend 3 hours doing?
Given, by the very nature of these documents they have been released proactively publicly, and widely disseminated by those that released it; I find it hard to believe it will take 3 hours.
I believe these charges have been wrongly assessed and request an internal review.
Thanks,
Steven Roddis
Dear Mr Roddis
Please find attached a response to your request for internal review of the decision to impose charges in relation to FOI request 3079.
Kind regards
FOI
________________________________________
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [Health request email]
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."
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Roddis <[FOI #7868 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 10 November 2021 11:21 AM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Historical Vaccine Schedules
REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear FOI,
Can you clarify:
* The term "The Director", ie. director of what? Was this delegated authority?
The costs given are with out justification, could you please justify:
* "search and retrieval time (including 6 hours)"
What will you be doing that will take 6 hours? Can we limit this to a simple keyword search to save time?
"decision making time (including time 3 hours)"
What you will spend 3 hours doing?
Given, by the very nature of these documents they have been released proactively publicly, and widely disseminated by those that released it; I find it hard to believe it will take 3 hours.
I believe these charges have been wrongly assessed and request an internal review.
Thanks,
Steven Roddis
-----Original Message-----
Dear Mr Roddis,
I refer to your request of 16 September 2021 to the Department of Health
(department) seeking access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(Cth) (FOI Act) to the following documents:
‘I'm requesting a copy of each National Immunisation Program Schedule[1], Childhood Vaccination Schedule, or equivalently named documents that exist historically.
To clarify the website [1] contains documents for 2021, I'm requesting similar documents that exist but for all other years.
I've managed to find a document on school based vaccinations [2] however this does not cover vaccinates given to babies, at doctors and outside school.’
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 $90.00.
This has been calculated as follows:
search and retrieval time (including 6 hours @ $15.00 per hour $90.00 time spent locating relevant files and collating relevant documents contained on those files) decision making time (including time 3 hours @ $20.00 per hour $60.00 spent examining the documents, considering exemptions, undertaking consultation, writing the decision and preparing any documents for release) Less first 3 hours free ($60.00) TOTAL $90.00
Deposit
The Director has also decided you are required to pay a deposit of $20.00.
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][Health request email] 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 wish to pay by credit card, please contact the department’s FOI unit on (02) 6289 1666 to be further advised.
Processing time
Processing of your request and counting the 60 calendar days are 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.
If you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this email you should contact the department’s FOI Unit by email at [3][email address].
Kind regards
FOI
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [4][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:[Health request email]
2. mailto:[Health request email]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[email address]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #7868 email]
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"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 FOI,
The document you sent appears to be a scan of a print out.
Could you please provide an accessible format?
Yours sincerely,
Steven Roddis
Dear Mr Roddis,
Please find attached accessible version of the decision on internal review of charges in relation to FOI request 3079.
Kind regards
FOI
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [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.
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Roddis <[FOI #7868 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 18 November 2021 4:07 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Notice of Decision - Internal Review of Charges - Freedom of Information request 3079 - Historical Vaccine Schedules [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]
REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear FOI,
The document you sent appears to be a scan of a print out.
Could you please provide an accessible format?
Yours sincerely,
Steven Roddis
-----Original Message-----
Dear Mr Roddis
Please find attached a response to your request for internal review of the decision to impose charges in relation to FOI request 3079.
Kind regards
FOI
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #7868 email]
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"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 FOI,
Thanks,
Is there a way to pay via something modern eg, Card via the Web, NPP [1], BPay or Bank Transfer?
Will paying by card incur a fee? If so please wait while I order a chequebook.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Roddis
Dear Mr Roddis,
Please be advised that the options previously provided to you for payment
are the only ones currently at the Department of Health’s disposal.
In response to your question on whether payment by card will incur a
charge I have spoken with our Finance Team and they have advised me that
it will not.
Please contact the FOI Team if you have any further questions in relation
to payment or your request.
Kind regards
FOI
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support 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.
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Roddis <[FOI #7868 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 23 November 2021 2:43 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Notice of Decision - Internal Review of Charges - Freedom of
Information request 3079 - Historical Vaccine Schedules [SEC=OFFICIAL]
REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our
organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the
sender and know the content is safe.
Dear FOI,
Thanks,
Is there a way to pay via something modern eg, Card via the Web, NPP [1],
BPay or Bank Transfer?
Will paying by card incur a fee? If so please wait while I order a
chequebook.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Roddis
[1] [2]https://nppa.com.au/
-----Original Message-----
Dear Mr Roddis,
Please find attached accessible version of the decision on internal review
of charges in relation to FOI request 3079.
Kind regards
FOI
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group Legal Advice &
Legislation Branch Australian Government Department of Health
E: [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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[3][FOI #7868 email]
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[4]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"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. https://nppa.com.au/
3. mailto:[FOI #7868 email]
4. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Dear Mr Roddis,
Please find attached correspondence and documents from the Department of
Health in relation to your Freedom of Information Request.
Kind regards
FOI
Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][Health request email]
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."
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Health request email]