Vaccinations

Summary

A request was made for statistical data on the risk and incidence of 13 specific diseases in children under 5 in the Isle of Man since 2000. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating that calculating risk figures is not possible due to complexity and that age-specific incidence data is not collected.

Key Facts

• The request covered 13 diseases including Diphtheria, Measles, and Pertussis for children under 5.
• The authority stated it is not possible to calculate risk figures for contracting or dying from these diseases due to complexity.
• Age-specific incidence data for these diseases is not collected by the Department.
• There have been no registered deaths from any of the listed diseases since 2011.
• The request was refused because fulfilling it would require research or analysis of held information.

Data Disclosed

• 2000
• 2011
• 2018-05-14
• 2018-05-25
• 467833
• 1 in 500

Exemptions Cited

• Undertaking research or analysis of information held
• Information not held (age-specific incidence not collected)

Original Request

I would like the following information for each of the below diseases where known: 1. Risk of a child under 5 catching each disease in the Isle of Man (expressed as 1 in 500 as an example) 2. Risk of a child under 5 dying from each disease in the Isle of Man (expressed the same as above) 3. The number of children under 5 who have caught or died from the below diseases in the Isle of Man since 2000. Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis (whooping cough) Polio Hib (haemophilus influenza type b) Hepatitis B Pneumococcal Meningococcal group B Rotavirus gastroenteritis Meningococcal group C Measles Mumps Rubella Thank you

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch Freedom of Information Team DHSC Digital Cronk Coar Strang IM4 4RJ

(01624) 642621 dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 467833 24 May 2018

Dear ###

This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

We write further to your request which was received on 14 May 2018 and which states:

"I would like the following information for each of the below diseases where known: 1. Risk of a child under 5 catching each disease in the Isle of Man (expressed as 1 in 500 as an example) 2. Risk of a child under 5 dying from each disease in the Isle of Man (expressed the same as above) 3. The number of children under 5 who have caught or died from the below diseases in the Isle of Man since 2000. Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis (whooping cough) Polio Hib (haemophilus influenza type b) Hepatitis B Pneumococcal Meningococcal group B Rotavirus gastroenteritis Meningococcal group C Measles Mumps Rubella”

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, complying with your request for information would require Department of Health and Social Care to undertake research into, or analysis or, information that it holds.

Questions 1 and 2. It is not possible to calculate a figure for risk of contracting or dying from communicable diseases on the Isle of Man due to the complexity of the factors involved. Question 3. Age specific incidence of these diseases is not collected. There have been no deaths registered resulting from any of these diseases since 2011. For these reasons Department of Health and Social Care is not obliged to comply with your request. Please quote the reference number 467833 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. Yours sincerely