Link between vaccine and higher mortality rate
Dear Department of Health, Disability and Ageing,
Can you please advise if your agency has ever undertaken a study to determine in mRNA Covid vaccines are associated with higher mortality within 42 (or similar number) days?
I do not wish to know of other entities that may have undertaken the study, unless such entity is part of the Australian Government.
If you have such a study could you please share the findings?
Yours faithfully,
Michael Betts
OFFICIAL
Good morning Mr Betts,
Thank you for contacting the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
The FOI team has consulted the relevant business areas within the
department to determine whether such a study has ever been undertaken. We
can confirm that the department has not conducted any study specifically
examining whether mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are associated with higher
mortality within 42 days.
However, the department previously commissioned the National Centre for
Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) to analyse the
effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination. Their findings indicated that
COVID-19 vaccination was effective in reducing COVID-19-related mortality.
You can find more information about NCIRS at [1]https://ncirs.org.au/.
Additionally, you may wish to visit the Database of Adverse Event
Notifications (DAEN) at
https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/adverse-ev...,
where you may find documents relevant to your query.
In light of the above, we would appreciate your confirmation to withdraw
your request. Alternatively, please advise if you wish to maintain your
request with the department.
Jordan
Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666| E: [2][email address]
This email comes to you from Ngunnawal Country
Location: Level 3
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First Nations
peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and
present.
OFFICIAL
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Betts <[FOI #14042 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 25 November 2025 9:31 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Link between vaccine and higher
mortality rate
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, Disability and Ageing,
Can you please advise if your agency has ever undertaken a study to
determine in mRNA Covid vaccines are associated with higher mortality
within 42 (or similar number) days?
I do not wish to know of other entities that may have undertaken the
study, unless such entity is part of the Australian Government.
If you have such a study could you please share the findings?
Yours faithfully,
Michael Betts
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[3][FOI #14042 email]
Is [4][Department of Health, Disability and Ageing request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Department of Health, Disability and Ageing? If so, please
contact us using this form:
[5]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:
[6]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. https://ncirs.org.au/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[FOI #14042 email]
4. mailto:[Department of Health, Disability and Ageing request email]
5. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
6. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Dear Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing,
Please be advised that I do not wish to withdrawl my request, I seek to ammend the request to include any study the department has undertaken that include any number of days.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Betts
OFFICIAL
Good morning Mr Betts,
Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health, Disability
and Ageing (the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). We have interpreted your scope to be:
Documents that include any study the department has undertaken in relation
to determining if mRNA COVID vaccines are associated with higher mortality
in any number of days
The reference number for your request is FOI 26-2460. Please ensure that
you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning this
request. Could you please confirm if you are amenable to the above
interpretation of the scope of your request.
Request for a 21 day extension
Your request was received on 25 November 2025. The FOI Act requires the
department to provide you with an access decision by 29 December 2025 (30
days).
Many areas of the department, including the FOI Section, will be closed
from 23 December 2025 to 2 January 2026.
To ensure the department has sufficient time to process your request and
provide access to all relevant documents, we are seeking your agreement to
extend the period for completing your FOI request by 21 days (under
section 15AA of the FOI Act). If you agree to this extension, the
department would be required to provide you with an access decision by 15
January 2026.
If you agree to this extension, could let us know by return email to
[1][Department of Health, Disability and Ageing request email].
Request to exclude irrelevant information from your request
To assist with processing your request, can you also please advise by COB
8 December 2025, if you agree that information regarding any public
service employee names below Senior Executive Service level and direct
telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the scope of your
request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act
Other Information
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 any draft and duplicate documents will be
excluded from the scope of your request.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[2]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)
You can contact the FOI team via email at [3][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Jordan
Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666| E: [4][email address]
This email comes to you from Ngunnawal Country
Location: Level 3
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First Nations
peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and
present.
OFFICIAL
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Betts <[FOI #14042 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 4 December 2025 7:46 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Link between vaccine and
higher mortality rate [SEC=OFFICIAL]
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 Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing,
Please be advised that I do not wish to withdrawl my request, I seek to
ammend the request to include any study the department has undertaken that
include any number of days.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Betts
-----Original Message-----
OFFICIAL
Good morning Mr Betts,
Thank you for contacting the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
The FOI team has consulted the relevant business areas within the
department to determine whether such a study has ever been undertaken. We
can confirm that the department has not conducted any study specifically
examining whether mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are associated with higher
mortality within 42 days.
However, the department previously commissioned the National Centre for
Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) to analyse the
effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination. Their findings indicated that
COVID-19 vaccination was effective in reducing COVID-19-related mortality.
You can find more information about NCIRS at [1][5]https://ncirs.org.au/.
Additionally, you may wish to visit the Database of Adverse Event
Notifications (DAEN) at
[6]https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/adverse-ev...,
where you may find documents relevant to your query.
In light of the above, we would appreciate your confirmation to withdraw
your request. Alternatively, please advise if you wish to maintain your
request with the department.
Jordan
Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666| E: [2][email address]
This email comes to you from Ngunnawal Country
Location: Level 3
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First
Nations peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout
Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past
and present.
OFFICIAL
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #14042 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:
[8]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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICIAL
"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:[Department of Health, Disability and Ageing request email]
2. http://www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-d...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. https://ncirs.org.au/
6. https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/adverse-ev...
7. mailto:[FOI #14042 email]
8. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Betts,
I refer to your FOI request 26-2460 dated 25 November 2025.
Please see attached a decision on access.
If you have any questions, please contact the FOI section on the below
details.
Kind regards,
Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First Nations
peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and
present.
OFFICIAL
From: FOI <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 5 December 2025 9:56 AM
To: Michael Betts <[FOI #14042 email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information Request 26-2460 – Acknowledgement of
Receipt and Request for an Extension of Time [SEC=OFFICIAL]
OFFICIAL
Good morning Mr Betts,
Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health, Disability
and Ageing (the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). We have interpreted your scope to be:
Documents that include any study the department has undertaken in relation
to determining if mRNA COVID vaccines are associated with higher mortality
in any number of days
The reference number for your request is FOI 26-2460. Please ensure that
you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning this
request. Could you please confirm if you are amenable to the above
interpretation of the scope of your request.
Request for a 21 day extension
Your request was received on 25 November 2025. The FOI Act requires the
department to provide you with an access decision by 29 December 2025 (30
days).
Many areas of the department, including the FOI Section, will be closed
from 23 December 2025 to 2 January 2026.
To ensure the department has sufficient time to process your request and
provide access to all relevant documents, we are seeking your agreement to
extend the period for completing your FOI request by 21 days (under
section 15AA of the FOI Act). If you agree to this extension, the
department would be required to provide you with an access decision by 15
January 2026.
If you agree to this extension, could let us know by return email to
[2][Department of Health, Disability and Ageing request email].
Request to exclude irrelevant information from your request
To assist with processing your request, can you also please advise by COB
8 December 2025, if you agree that information regarding any public
service employee names below Senior Executive Service level and direct
telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the scope of your
request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act
Other Information
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 any draft and duplicate documents will be
excluded from the scope of your request.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[3]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)
You can contact the FOI team via email at [4][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Jordan
Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666| E: [5][email address]
This email comes to you from Ngunnawal Country
Location: Level 3
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First Nations
peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and
present.
OFFICIAL
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Betts <[6][FOI #14042 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 4 December 2025 7:46 PM
To: FOI <[7][email address]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Link between vaccine and
higher mortality rate [SEC=OFFICIAL]
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 Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing,
Please be advised that I do not wish to withdrawl my request, I seek to
ammend the request to include any study the department has undertaken that
include any number of days.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Betts
-----Original Message-----
OFFICIAL
Good morning Mr Betts,
Thank you for contacting the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
The FOI team has consulted the relevant business areas within the
department to determine whether such a study has ever been undertaken. We
can confirm that the department has not conducted any study specifically
examining whether mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are associated with higher
mortality within 42 days.
However, the department previously commissioned the National Centre for
Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) to analyse the
effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination. Their findings indicated that
COVID-19 vaccination was effective in reducing COVID-19-related mortality.
You can find more information about NCIRS at [1][8]https://ncirs.org.au/.
Additionally, you may wish to visit the Database of Adverse Event
Notifications (DAEN) at
[9]https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/adverse-ev...,
where you may find documents relevant to your query.
In light of the above, we would appreciate your confirmation to withdraw
your request. Alternatively, please advise if you wish to maintain your
request with the department.
Jordan
Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666| E: [2][email address]
This email comes to you from Ngunnawal Country
Location: Level 3
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First
Nations peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout
Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past
and present.
OFFICIAL
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[10][FOI #14042 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:
[11]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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICIAL
"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:[Department of Health, Disability and Ageing request email]
3. http://www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-d...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[FOI #14042 email]
7. mailto:[email address]
8. https://ncirs.org.au/
9. https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/adverse-ev...
10. mailto:[FOI #14042 email]
11. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...