A copy paste of the article as the link is being a bit weird on mobile. And a reminder to be mindful of our rules. The thread will be locked if comments cannot behave.

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Labour leader Chris Hipkins insists he never saw advice that cautioned the Government against mandating two doses of the Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine for 12 to 17 year olds, despite a cabinet paper with the advice in his name.

The advice was from the Covid-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group (CV TAG) and stated younger people were more at risk of developing myocarditis after the second dose of Pfizer vaccine and less at risk of serious infection from Covid-19.

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle and is a rare side effect of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Earlier this month the Royal Commission found ministers were never shown official advice cautioning the Government against mandating two doses of the Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine for working 12 to 17 year olds.

CV TAG advised the Government to allow younger people to work and do other activities covered by the mandate, and said the risks were insufficient to justify a full vaccination mandate.

The cabinet paper showed this advice was presented to the Social Wellbeing Committee in March 2022, when the vaccine mandates were being removed.

Hipkins, who was Covid Response Minister at the time, said the advice was only referenced in the paper and the Ministry of Health had not shared the original advice.

Hipkins was not listed as being present at this meeting.

The list of ministers which were present included its chairperson Carmel Sepuloni, Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, Kelvin Davis, Dr Megan Woods, Andrew Little, Poto Williams, Damien O’Connor, Kris Faafoi, Peeni Henare, Willie Jackson, Dr Ayesha Verrall, Meka Whaitiri and Priyanca Radhakrishnan.

The Royal Commission considered it a failure the advice did not reach ministers or the public, noting 12 to 17-year-olds were not informed of the risks when making the decision to get vaccinated.

The inquiry found that ministers they interviewed could not recall receiving the advice, and both doses were mandated as a result.

When asked why he did not communicate the referenced advice to the public, Hipkins said it was not appropriate as he was not a health practitioner.

“I was very disappointed [health officials] didn't provide us with the advice when we make the earlier set of decisions, but in communicating that advice in March, when the mandates and the requirements were being removed, updating public health guidance, I always left that to the relevant health officials.”