Pregnant and breastfeeding

Summary

The requester asked for the specific data used by the Isle of Man government to advise that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The authority responded that the information was already reasonably accessible to the public and provided links to relevant guidance from the JCVI, MHRA, and other health bodies.

Key Facts

• The request was refused under Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 because the information is already reasonably accessible.
• The UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published advice on 16 April 2021 recommending vaccines for pregnant women.
• The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has raised no specific safety concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy.
• The response included links to guidance from the Isle of Man Government, GOV.UK, and the Royal College of Midwives.
• The request was received on 16 June 2021 and closed on 8 July 2021.

Data Disclosed

• 1846293
• 2021-06-16
• 2021-07-08
• 16 April 2021
• 30 December 2020
• 30 April 2021
• Section 20
• 3 pages
• 1 document

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information reasonably accessible)

Original Request

I wld like the 'data' the government is using to inform the island residents that it is 'safe' to take a vaccine for covid 19 while pregnant and breastfeeding.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Kathryn Magson Freedom of Information Team Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3QA

Our ref: 1846293 8 July 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received 16 June 2021 and which states:

"I wld like the 'data' the government is using to inform the island residents that it is 'safe' to take a vaccine for covid 19 while pregnant and breastfeeding."

Our response to your request is as follows: While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (the ‘Act’), we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee. To provide advice and assistance, on the 16th April 2021, the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (the ‘JCVI’) published new advice on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. This is that COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to pregnant women at the same time as the rest of the population, based on their age and clinical risk group. Women should discuss the benefits and risks of having the vaccine with their healthcare professional and reach a joint decision based on individual circumstances. The information you have requested is available within the following public domains: Isle of Man Government – Coronavirus COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccination: a guide for all women of childbearing age, pregnant or breastfeeding https://covid19.gov.im/vaccination/covid-19-vaccination-a-guide-for-all-women-of- childbearing-age-pregnant-or-breastfeeding/ GOV.UK – Department of Health & Social Care Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation: advice on priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination, 30 December 2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19- vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-30-december-2020/joint-committee-on-vaccination-

and-immunisation-advice-on-priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-30-december- 2020 GOV.UK – Public Health England JCVI issues new advice on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women [Published 16 April 2021] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jcvi-issues-new-advice-on-covid-19- vaccination-for-pregnant-women GOV.UK – Public Health England The safety of COVID-19 vaccines when given in pregnancy [Updated 30 April 2021] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-of-covid-19-vaccines-when-given- in-pregnancy/the-safety-of-covid-19-vaccines-when-given-in-pregnancy The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that pregnant women should be offered COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as people of the same age or risk group. Evidence so far reviewed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (the ‘MHRA’), the UK regulatory agency responsible for licencing medicines including vaccines, has raised no specific concerns for safety in pregnancy. The Royal College of Midwives – Guidance for Pregnant Women https://www.rcm.org.uk/guidance-for-pregnant-women/ Please quote the reference number 1846293 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.

In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at: www.gov.im/foi

I will now close your request as of this date.