Covid and pcr figures

Summary

The requester asked for PCR settings, mortality figures, undertaker death data, vaccine reaction reports, and legal resolution compliance; the Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that it does not hold most of this data, directing the requester to other bodies like Manx Care and Public Health, while confirming the use of the UK Yellow Card scheme for vaccine reactions.

Key Facts

• PCR testing information up to 15 June 2021 is available via the FOI disclosure log, but data after that date is not held by the Department.
• Overall mortality figures for 2019, 2020, and 2021 are not held by the Department and should be requested from Public Health within the Cabinet Office.
• The Department does not receive statistical information regarding deaths from undertakers.
• The Isle of Man uses the UK Yellow Card scheme for adverse vaccine reactions rather than a bespoke local scheme.
• The Department does not hold separated data on IOM residents' adverse vaccine reactions, which are aggregated under England in weekly summaries.

Data Disclosed

• 15 June 2021
• 16 June 2021
• 8 July 2021
• 1 April 2021
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 08/04/2021
• Resolution 2361-2021
• paragraphs 7.3.1 and 7.3.2
• Section 20 of the Act
• Section 11(3)a of the Act
• UK Freedom of Information Act 2000

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Act (Information reasonably accessible)
• Section 11(3)a of the Act (Practical refusal: information not held or cannot be found)

Original Request

Hi, Pls forward me the following details; 1) current IOM PCR settingfrom Jan21-current. 2) overall mortality figure for IOM 2019, 2020 and current 2021? 3)overall deaths from undertakers? 4) is there an IOM adverse vaccine reaction reporting scheme? If so, can I have a copy of the data. 5) Does the Isle of man follow the UK in relation to Council of Europe legal Resolution 2361-2021, specifically paragraphs 7.3.1 and 7.3.2? https://pace.coe.int/en/files/29004/html

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: 1849795 8 July 2021

Dear ###

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

"Hi, Pls forward me the following details; 1) current IOM PCR setting from Jan21-current. 2) overall mortality figure for IOM 2019, 2020 and current 2021? 3) overall deaths from undertakers? 4) is there an IOM adverse vaccine reaction reporting scheme? If so, can I have a copy of the data. 5) Does the Isle of man follow the UK in relation to Council of Europe legal Resolution 2361-2021, specifically paragraphs 7.3.1 and 7.3.2? https://pace.coe.int/en/files/29004/html" Our response: Q1 Current IOM PCR setting from Jan21-current. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of 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. The information that you have requested, up to the 15 June 2021, is available within the Freedom of Information disclosure log (View the latest FOI Responses) at the following website address: https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/search
To further assist, when you access the above link, in ‘Keywords (optional)’, type PCR, which will provide various responses in regards to PCR testing. In particular, PCR test cycle threshold – date submitted 08/04/2021.

For information held after the 15 June 2021, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care ('the Department') is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. You may wish to re-submit your request to Manx Care, which is an option available on the Freedom of Information request portal, who will process your request accordingly. To provide advice and assistance, The Department of Health and Social Care redesigned on 1 April 2021 as a direct result of Sir Jonathan Michael’s Independent Review of the Isle of Manx Health and Care System. This Review continues to be a catalyst for change and improved service provision. The redesigned DHSC ensures the separation between the setting of policy and strategy and the delivery of services by Manx Care. Further details on what services Manx Care deliver is available at: www.gov.im/about- the-government/statutory-boards/manx-care/
Q2 Overall mortality figure for IOM 2019, 2020 and current 2021? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care ('the Department') is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. You may wish to re-submit your request to Public Health, which forms part of the Cabinet Office, which is an option available on the Freedom of Information request portal, who will process your request accordingly (Please select Cabinet Office on the Freedom of Information request portal). Q3 Overall deaths from undertakers? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care ('the Department') is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. The Department is not notified of deaths or receive statistical information regarding deaths from undertakers. Q4 Is there an IOM adverse vaccine reaction reporting scheme? If so, can I have a copy of the data. The Isle of Man does not have a bespoke adverse vaccine reaction reporting scheme, the adverse reaction reporting scheme utilised is the UK Yellow Card scheme, details regarding the Yellow Card scheme are available within the public domain at:

Isle of Man Government – Coronavirus COVID-19; What to expect after your vaccination: https://covid19.gov.im/vaccination/what-to-expect-after-your-vaccination/ The Department does not receive copies of data regarding IOM residents who have reported an adverse vaccine reaction via the Yellow Card scheme. The total number of reports received from the Isle of Man are contained within the Coronavirus weekly summaries under England, however, are not currently routinely separated. However, the Department does hold data that was provided from an applicant who submitted a Freedom of Information request under the UK Freedom of Information Act 2000 to the Medical & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. To provide advice and assistance, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (the ‘MHRA’) regulates medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK. The MHRA is an executive agency, sponsored by the UK Department of Health and Social Care. The MHRA works closely with the UK devolved administrations as well as the governments of the Crown Dependencies. All individuals receiving a vaccine are encouraged to report side effects to COVID-19 vaccines to the Yellow Card scheme by the governments in these territories. Whilst the Department does hold this data, the following exemption applies, namely, under section 20 of 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.
The information that you have requested regarding ‘can I have a copy of the data’ is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information- responses-from-the-mhra-week-commencing-10-may-2021 Freedom of Information responses from the MHRA - week commencing 10 May 2021 (Landing page) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-responses-from- the-mhra-week-commencing-10-may-2021 Freedom of interest request on the number of yellow card reports from the Isle of Man (FOI 21-401) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-responses-from- the-mhra-week-commencing-10-may-2021/freedom-of-interest-request-on-the- number-of-yellow-card-reports-from-the-isle-of-man-foi-21-401 Attachment 1 (FOI 21-401) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm ent_data/file/996999/FOI_21-401_PDF_Attachment.pdf Attachment 2 (FOI 21-401)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm ent_data/file/997000/FOI_21-401_PDF_Attachment_2.pdf Attachment 3 (FOI 21-401) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm ent_data/file/997001/FOI_21-401_PDF_Attachment_3.pdf Q5 Does the Isle of Man follow the UK in relation to Council of Europe legal Resolution 2361-2021, specifically paragraphs 7.3.1 and 7.3.2? https://pace.coe.int/en/files/29004/html While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care ('the Department') is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. You may wish to re-submit your request to the Attorney General’s Chambers, which is an option available on the Freedom of Information request portal, who will process your request accordingly. Additionally, to provide advice and assistance, section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (the ’Act’) provides a right to “information held by a public authority”; it does not provide any right, however to lodge, nor require a public authority to respond to, questions, the provision of an opinion on a policy or other matter, confirmation or rebuttal of a statement, or a “Yes/No” answer. Guidance on making requests is available to the public on the Isle of Man Information Commissioner website, and includes the scope of the right and formatting requests, available at: https://www.inforights.im/individuals/freedom-of-information-your-right-to-ask/what- can-i-ask-for/ and https://www.inforights.im/individuals/freedom-of-information-your-right-to-ask/how- do-i-make-a-request/ If you require advice and assistance on the above please do not hesitate to contact me direct. Please quote the reference number 1849795 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.