Scientific evidence for latest decision on vaccine passport requirements

The request was partially successful.

Dear Department of Health (Northern Ireland),

It was announced today by the First Minister & Deputy First Minister that vaccine passports will be scrapped for all settings except nightclubs and indoor unseated and partially-seated events with 500 or more people in attendance.

Can you please provide me with a copy of the evidence the DoH used regarding the effectiveness of vaccine passports in these specific settings when coming to this decision.

I am aware of this document on the DoH website: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/defau...
However this document appears outdated in relation to Omicron given that only 2 vaccine doses are required for a valid Covid passport and as per the UKHSA, 2 doses have almost no effectiveness in preventing infection or infectiousness of an individual with the Omicron variant. UKHSA states: AZ no effect after 20 weeks, Pfizer/Moderna 10%. As per the UKHSA “vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease with the Omicron variant is significantly lower than compared to the Delta variant and wanes rapidly.” https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk...

Data from Scotland also shows a higher case rate per 100k in individuals with 2 doses and 3 doses compared to the unvaccinated (see page 30). https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/...

Given these different circumstances, I would imagine updated information was utilised in the latest decision-making process to ensure scientific accuracy and would appreciate a copy.

Yours faithfully,

Mark Houston

Burns, Jeff, Department of Health (Northern Ireland)

Mark

 

I refer to your request below, but must firstly apologise for the lateness
of our response. I am sure you will understand that the Covid19 pandemic
has created a large backlog of requests and we are trying to respond as
quickly as possible to those outstanding.

 

However I have been asked to point out that Northern Ireland has never
used COVID “vaccine passports”. Domestic COVID certification was based on
evidence of vaccination, a negative COVID test or recent COVID infection.

 

Secondly decisions around certification were made by the [1]NI Executive,
not the Department of Health (DOH), although taking into account DoH
advice and advice from other Departments, such as Department for the
Economy and Education.

 

Settings likely to have poor ventilation and social distancing; where face
coverings cannot easily be employed; where there is likely to be loud
music and aerobic activity, fall into the highest risk category for virus
transmission. Reducing the likelihood that individuals in such settings
were not infectious will tend to reduce virus transmission.

All the scientific evidence considered by the DoH in advising the NI
Executive, has been published on the DoH website [2]here along with
numerous other information such as the minutes from the [3]Strategic
Intelligence Group (SIG) who’s role it was to consider the scientific and
technical concepts and processes that were key to understanding the
evolving COVID-19 situation and potential impacts in Northern Ireland.

I hope this is helpful and again apologises for the late response.

If you feel that the information I have provided above does not fully meet
your request, you have the right to request that the Department formally
review this decision within two calendar months of the date of this
letter.  If you wish to do so, please write to Mr Brendan O’Neill
([4][email address]), Annexe 3, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast
BT4 3SQ.

 

If after such an internal review you are still unhappy with the response,
you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at Wycliffe
House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, CHESHIRE SK9 5AF, who will undertake an
independent review.

Regards

Jeff

Jeff Burns

Information Management Branch

Department of Health (NI)

 

 

 

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