Tom Binet Covid 19 Vaccines (FOI)

Request 670890264

​I am writing to formally request information under the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 regarding the following matter:

I request any documents, emails, memoranda, or other communications related to or involving the Health Minister, Tom Binet, that reference advice or information regarding concerns about the safety of the Covid-19 vaccines, specifically in relation to potential contamination of the vaccines that may have exceeded legal DNA limits.

I am particularly interested in any communications or advice received by or forwarded to Minister Binet that reference the Special Council Meeting held on 11 October 2024 in Port Hedland, Australia, during which matters relating to contamination concerns and potential exceedance of legal DNA limits in the Covid-19 vaccines were reportedly considered.

The information I am requesting may include, but is not limited to:

Emails or correspondence between Minister Binet and any individuals, bodies, or organizations regarding the safety of the Covid-19 vaccines, specifically in relation to contamination or legal DNA limits.

Records of any discussions, including any formal advice, reports, or risk assessments regarding the concerns raised during the Special Council Meeting in Port Hedland on 11 October 2024.

Any other documents or reports presented to Minister Binet or the Health Department regarding this issue.

If the information I request is not fully available or is withheld due to exemptions under the FOI Law, I request that any part of the information that can be disclosed be released, with redactions only to the extent necessary under the exemptions in the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.

Please let me know if further clarification of this request is needed. I understand that, in accordance with the Law, you are required to respond to this request within 20 working days.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.

Response

The Minister for Health and Social Services was contacted by a member of the public in relation to the meeting in Port Hedland, and the specific points outlined in the query. 

​Attached correspondence has been reviewed, and information in scope of this request has been prepared for disclosure.  Duplicate emails have been removed and correspondence has been redacted in consideration of Freedom of Information legislation.

Correspondence Pack_Redacted.pdf​

Personal information of individuals, including Government of Jersey employees below Tier 2, is exempt from disclosure under Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011. Redactions based on this exemption are shown in yellow.

Certain materials provided to the Minister are available publicly, including the letter prepared by NORTH Group, which references the meeting held in Port Hedland, Australia. As this attachment is available elsewhere, Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Article applied

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.