Covid Placebos

Summary

The requester asked for details regarding COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, placebo usage, and the nature of the vaccination program on the Isle of Man. Manx Care responded that the information was not held because the Health Service did not participate in clinical trials and the program was not a trial, while directing the requester to public resources for general vaccination information.

Key Facts

• The Isle of Man Health Service has not participated in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.
• The vaccination program is not a clinical trial.
• Manx Care does not hold information regarding the number of people vaccinated with placebos.
• Information on the vaccination process is available on the government website covid19.gov.im.
• The request was closed on 17 August 2021.

Data Disclosed

• 2021-07-22
• 2021-08-17
• 1919233
• Section 11(3)a
• Section 20

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Act (Information not held)
• Section 20 of the Act (Information already reasonably accessible)

Original Request

Q1 Pls provide the number of people vaccinated in the sara cov 2 trial using the 3 separate drugs Pfizer, Astrozeneca and Moderna on the isle of man with placebos? Q2 Is the vaccination program a single blind, double blind or triple blind test? Q3 How is the vaccination procedure being introduced to the public of the isle of man? I explain; is the vaccination program an existing drug vaccination that has been used before? Or, Is it a trial vaccination program that has never been used on humans before?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000

Our ref: 1919233 17 August 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 22nd July 2021 and which states:

"Q1 Pls provide the number of people vaccinated in the sar cov 2 trial using the 3 separate drugs Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna on the isle of man with placebos? Q2 Is the vaccination program a single blind, double blind or triple blind test? Q3 How is the vaccination procedure being introduced to the public of the isle of man? I explain; is the vaccination program an existing drug vaccination that has been used before? Or, Is it a trial vaccination program that has never been used on humans before?"

Our Response Q1 Pls provide the number of people vaccinated in the sar cov 2 trial using the 3 separate drugs Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna on the isle of man with placebos? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Care 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 Isle of Man Health Service has not participated in covid vaccine clinical trials Q2 Is the vaccination program a single blind, double blind or triple blind test? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Care 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 vaccination programme is not a clinical trial.

Q3 How is the vaccination procedure being introduced to the public of the isle of man? I explain; is the vaccination program an existing drug vaccination that has been used before? Or, Is it a trial vaccination program that has never been used on humans before? 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. Information on our vaccination process is available on the government website covid19.gov.im/vaccination information/frequently asked questions about the vaccine Please quote the reference number 1919233 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.