Breakthrough Demographic Data Tracking (MDHHS)

Dear Ms. Miller,

Thank you for registering with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Public Records Center. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HXJ0DYcKMMuT0Y0ZAtmIfibtfCoFlfOz5uBzUuPCfXl1Dz0tLmIQlOArTi3W9rvFFLRGZBD8UzzyXv8ubLG6A5c-3D4Egq_VpcFfzcLG16rKhAkT-2F3X6WBqmjh3VUe0Alr68HlSJH4vhGW1oQt0kCF0Axir5km9aC35XPlUnkhRl6KGVY8pCY0ueenOkVd954MbU4F8CiRaTAK34TG7TRp3yC-2BTAibcv-2Bla-2B8r9F9dR82vpUDFwEtydxYn1dIkzGD5UfrYV8l2ToQjmTjZkwN8-2Bsmj8mnYhAnJxBi-2F6vtQpQuJe4D7V9h-2Bbw1h6Kt9px-2B-2F3M9PObqQ-3D)

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Regards,

Bureau of Legal Affairs,
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY

Dear Ms. Miller,

Thank you for your interest in public records of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (hereinafter “Department”).
Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

- Any available data on the number of breakthrough COVID-19 cases reported to MDHHS by race and ethnicity, age, sex, occupation and/or employer type, by date and cumulative between August 21, 2021 and the date that this request is ultimately fulfilled. If this data exists only in part, or needs to be segregated before release, please contact me directly. I am open to negotiating on the scale and scope of this data request.

- Please also identify when the data was collected, what methods were used, and what purpose was intended for the data when gathering it.

The requested information is vital to the public interest due to poor demographic-level data tracking that has persisted at state and federal levels throughout the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020 -- a fact that has been acknowledged by health departments and data scientists numerous times over the last 1.5 years. Recently, journalism and data science initiatives have been spearheaded to ensure that public health departments track and publicly report all new COVID-19 infections, including breakthrough cases, more thoroughly at the demographic level in order to more effectively protect vulnerable communities.

Tracking and publicly reporting data about new and breakthrough cases at the demographic level can help ensure that new variants are identified more quickly, that data-driven policies can be created to contain outbreaks locally and protect communities more effectively and intelligently, that disparate impacts on vulnerable populations are recognized and addressed more rapidly, and that scientists and the public can have a more transparent and complete understanding of vaccine and booster duration in order for citizens to stay healthy, particularly across different age groups and racial and ethnic groups, for whom that data is sometimes lacking.

For more detailed information about the value of the requested demographic-level data to the public, please refer to the following:

1. https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2021/oct/23/internal-health-department-covid-19-data-shows-lea
2. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/pandemic-data-initiative/data-outlook/preparing-state-data-systems-for-booster-doses-and-breakthrough-cases
3. https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/25/cdc-pandemic-limited-data-breakthroughs-506823

The requested information will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. Disclosure of the requested information to me is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the impact of decisions, operations and/or activities of the government and is not primarily in my commercial interest.

Because this request is being made as part of a news-gathering effort with a high likelihood of publication, I request a waiver of all fees.
If a fee waiver is not granted, I am willing to pay up to $25 for the requested information. If the fee for this request exceeds this amount, please notify me in writing prior to beginning work on the request.

I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Erin Marie Miller

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Your request has been assigned the following tracking number: H013544-110421. Your request has a legally received date of November 05, 2021. You will receive a response by the Department by November 15, 2021. Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite requests and the time permitted for response by the Department may be extended beyond November 15, 2021 by ten (10) business days.
In accordance with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq, the Department provides copies of existing non-exempt records. Records which are exempt from disclosure under state or federal law will not be provided, or records may be redacted to separate exempt information. The FOIA does not require the Department to create new records or answer queries.
You can monitor the progress of your request at the MDHHS Public Records Center and you will receive an email when your request has been completed.
Regards,
Bureau of Legal Affairs,
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

RE: Public Records Request, Reference # H013544-110421 Dear Ms. Miller,

This notice is issued in response to your request, legally received by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Department) on November 05, 2021, requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

Your request is granted as to existing nonexempt records.

The Department has determined the cost for searching, retrieval, and review of the requested records and separation of exempt and nonexempt information. The cost of your FOIA request is stated in the invoice located in the MDHHS Public Records Center, where you may pay your invoice online. Upon receipt of your payment the Department will process your request. Your payment must be received within 48 days from the date of this communication; otherwise, your request will be considered abandoned.

The Department’s best effort estimate for time to complete your request is thirty business days from the date your payment is received.

The Department’s FOIA policies and procedures are available at Policies and Procedures. Sincerely,

Bureau of Legal Affairs