Definitions of Covid-19 vaccination.

Summary

The requester asked for definitions of first, second, and booster vaccine doses used in Isle of Man government surveillance statistics. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating the information is not held by them but likely by Public Health within the Cabinet Office.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 2022-02-18 and responded to on 2022-03-09.
• The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the requested definitions.
• The information is believed to be held by Public Health, which is part of the Cabinet Office.
• Weekly Surveillance Reports are produced by Public Health.
• The requester was advised to re-submit the request to the Cabinet Office.

Data Disclosed

• 2022-02-18
• 2022-03-09
• 2280085
• Section 11(3)a

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information not held)

Original Request

People in the IOM have received first, second and booster doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Please can you confirm the following: 1. In relation to official IOM Government weekly surveillance statistics, what is the definition of a first dose? Does it mean from the actual day of receiving a first dose or from a later date several days or weeks later for example when the vaccine becomes effective? 2. Similarly, what is the definition of a second dose? Does it mean from the actual day of receiving a second dose or from a later date several days or weeks later? 3. Similarly, what is the definition of a booster dose? Does it mean from the actual day of receiving a booster dose or from a later date several days or weeks later? 4. In the IOM Government weekly surveillance statistics, there is a table/breakdown of the number of persons hospitalised with Covid and their vaccination status. Does unvaccinated mean has not had any Covid-19 vaccine at all? Or does it include persons who have in fact had a vaccine but this is recorded as being unvaccinated because the definition of having a first dose means at a date subsequent to the actual day of the vaccine was administered or because the vaccine is no longer considered effective/considered out of date? Thank you

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Karen Malone Freedom of Information Team First Floor Belgravia House Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1AE

Our ref: 2280085 9 March 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 18 February 2022 and which states:

"People in the IOM have received first, second and booster doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Please can you confirm the following:

1. In relation to official IOM Government weekly surveillance statistics, what is the definition of a first dose? Does it mean from the actual day of receiving a first dose or from a later date several days or weeks later for example when the vaccine becomes effective?
2. Similarly, what is the definition of a second dose? Does it mean from the actual day of receiving a second dose or from a later date several days or weeks later?
3. Similarly, what is the definition of a booster dose? Does it mean from the actual day of receiving a booster dose or from a later date several days or weeks later?
4. In the IOM Government weekly surveillance statistics, there is a table/breakdown of the number of persons hospitalised with Covid and their vaccination status. Does unvaccinated mean has not had any Covid-19 vaccine at all? Or does it include persons who have in fact had a vaccine but this is recorded as being unvaccinated because the definition of having a first dose means at a date subsequent to the actual day of the vaccine was administered or because the vaccine is no longer considered effective/considered out of date? Thank you"

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 as it may be held by Public Health, which forms part of Cabinet Office. You may wish to re-submit your request to Cabinet Office which is an option available on the Freedom of Information request portal, who may be able to help you.

To provide advice & assistance, the Weekly Surveillance Reports are produced by Public Health. You may find the Isle of Man Government’s Covid-19 website which includes vaccination information helpful and the link is here https://covid19.gov.im/vaccination-information/. Please quote the reference number 2280085 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.