Department Reference: FOI 3421
Christopher Thanos
via em
ail: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Mr Thanos
NOTICE OF DECISION UNDER SECTION 24A
OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982
I refer to your request of 29 November 2021 to the Department of Health (the
department) seeking access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (the
FOI Act) to the following documents:
I was wondering how many vials/doses of the SARS- COVID 19 vaccines (including
Pfizer, AZ, Moderna, JJ etc) have been purchased to help fight the delta variant of this
disease.
Information about COVID-19 vaccines
The Australian Government has invested over $9 billion in the national COVID-19
vaccine rollout and is rolling out several
approved vaccines. Australia has supply agreements in place for the Comirnaty (Pfizer), Spikevax
(Moderna) and Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) vaccines, which are TGA approved and
available now. However, those agreements do not relate to any specific variant of the
COVID-19 virus.
Additional information about the COVID-19 vaccines, including the vials and doses
purchased, is available on the department’s website here:
www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/about-
rollout/vaccine-agreements
Freedom of Information Unit (MDP 516) GPO Box 9848 Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6289 1666 ABN: 83 605 426 759
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FOI decision
I am authorised under subsection 23(1) of the FOI Act to make decisions in relation
to Freedom of Information requests. I am writing to notify you of my decision in
response to your request.
Appropriate steps have been taken to find the documents referred to in your request
including consultation with relevant departmental officers and searches of
departmental file management systems.
I am satisfied, on the basis of the consultation undertaken and the searches
conducted, that the department does not hold any documents referred to in your
request.
As a consequence, relying on section 24A of the FOI Act, I cannot provide access to
the documents you requested.
FOI review rights
If you are dissatisfied with my decision, you may apply for a review.
Internal review
Under section 54 of the FOI Act, you may apply in writing to the department for an
internal review of my decision. The internal review application must be made within
30 days of the date of this notice (or such further period as the department allows).
To assist in the internal review process, please provide reasons you consider review
of my decision is necessary. The internal review will be undertaken by another
officer of the department within 30 days of receipt of your application.
An application for an internal review can be sent to:
Email:
xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
Mail:
FOI Unit (MDP 516)
Department of Health
GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Information Commissioner review
Alternatively, under section 54L of the FOI Act, you may apply to the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for review of my decision. An
application for review must be made in writing within 60 days of this notice (if you
do not request an internal review).
You may also make a complaint to the OAIC about action taken by the department
in relation to your application.
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The OAIC can be contacted by:
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Phone:
1300 363 992
More information about OAIC review and making a complaint is available on the
OAIC website:
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews/
Relevant provisions of the FOI Act
The FOI Act, including the provisions referred to in this letter, can be accessed from
the Federal Register of Legislation website:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2021C00382
Contacts
If you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this letter you should
contact the department’s Freedom of Information Unit on (02) 6289 1666 or at
xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx. Yours sincerely
Allison Jones
A/g Assistant Secretary
Science and Investment Branch
COVID-19 Vaccine Taskforce
20 December 2021
