VAERS 221579-1
| Tracking # |
2023-00265-FOIA-PHS |
| Submitted | Dec. 20, 2022 |
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Communications
From: Chris von Csefalvay
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Any information, any correspondence and any e-mails sent or received by any employee or agent of HHS that contains the search term "VAERS" and the identifier 221579-1 or 221579, or the term "hulk".
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my 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 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Chris von Csefalvay
From: Department of Health and Human Services
Dear Chris Csefalvay,
The status of your FOIA request #2023-00265-FOIA-PHS has been updated to the following status 'Received'. To log into the HHS FOIA Submission Site click on the Application URL below.
https://requests.publiclink.hhs.gov
Sincerely,
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
From: Department of Health and Human Services
Dear Chris Csefalvay,
Case Number 2023-00265-FOIA-PHS has been assigned to the request you submitted. In all future correspondence regarding this request please reference case number 2023-00265-FOIA-PHS.
Regards,
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
From: Department of Health and Human Services
Good Afternoon,
Please see the attached referral letter. Please direct all further questions regarding your request to the CDC. Your request will now be closed in this system.
Thank you
From: Department of Health and Human Services
December 28, 2022
Request Number: HQ-REF-23-00008
Dear Mr. Csefalvay: This is regarding your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request of December 23, 2022, for Any information, any correspondence and any e-mails sent or received by any employee or agent of HHS that contains the search term "VAERS" and the identifier 221579-1 or 221579, or the term "hulk".
Please see the attached letter.
Sincerely,
CDC/ATSDR FOIA Office
770-488-6399
From: Chris von Csefalvay
* Date range: please provide responsive documents for the date range 24MAY2004 to the date of processing.
* Custodian of record: all addresses within DHHS/CDC/DDID/NCEZID/DHQP/OIS
From: Department of Health and Human Services
December 29, 2022
Request Number: HQ-REF-23-00008
Dear Mr. Csefalvay: This is regarding your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request of December 23, 2022, for Any information, any correspondence and any e-mails sent or received by any employee or agent of HHS that contains the search term "VAERS" and the identifier 221579-1 or 221579, or the term "hulk".
Please see the attached letter.
Sincerely,
CDC/ATSDR FOIA Office
770-488-6399
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Clarification #1 RE Freedom of Information Act Request #2023-00265-FOIA-PHS
From: Chris von Csefalvay
Dear Ms Jones:
I am in receipt of your communication dated 29DEC2022.
I am willing to entertain narrowing the timeframe to 24MAY2004 to 24MAY2009, which I believe would constitute a very reasonable compromise. Considering that you have been provided very clear search terms, namely:
"VAERS" AND ("221579-1" OR "221579" or "hulk"), not case sensitive
a search of the relevant accounts ought to be feasible.
I respectfully disagree with your request to identify individuals within DHHS/CDC/DDID/NCEZID/DHQP/OIS whose accounts are more likely to be responsible. OIS is already a fairly small unit. The employees of this functional unit, and their functions, are not publicly identified in an accessible manner (viz. the HHS directory, which cannot be searched by acronym). To require a citizen to identify who was in a particular subdepartment of a federal agency almost two decades ago when such staff lists are not readily available essentially obviates the right to freedom of information. It renders the notion of governmental accountability moot, concealing it behind a curtain of "burdensomeness". To the best of my understanding, there are fewer than 200 e-mail accounts that will be responsive, and it should be within the CDC's power to identify these with respect to the time frame I provided.
With very best wishes
From: Department of Health and Human Services
Good afternoon,
Thank you for providing the below information.
Please note, it was not suggestive that you provide the names of the record custodians, "...individuals within DHHS/CDC/DDID/NCEZID/DHQP/OIS whose accounts are more likely to be responsible." The recommendation was to allow the agency SME determine the most likely record custodian(s) given the original search criteria. However, as you have amended the scope by shortening the time frame of the search, I will initiate a search of responsive record custodians.
I will update the request once this information is received.
Best Regards,
Yvonne Jones
Government Information Specialist
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Office
Center for Disease Control and Prevention/
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR)
E: Skx8@cdc.gov
O: 678-475-4933
-
~WRD0000
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 20, 2022. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 26, 2023. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #2023-00265-FOIA-PHS.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Health and Human Services
February 1, 2023
Request Number: HQ-REF-23-00008
Dear Mr. Csefalvay: This is regarding your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request of December 23, 2022, for Any information, any correspondence and any e-mails sent or received by any employee or agent of HHS that contains the search term "VAERS" and the identifier 221579-1 or 221579, or the term "hulk".
Please see the attached letter.
Sincerely,
CDC/ATSDR FOIA Office
770-488-6399
From: Department of Health and Human Services
February 2, 2023
Request Number: HQ-REF-23-00008
Dear Mr. Csefalvay: This is regarding your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request of December 23, 2022, for Any information, any correspondence and any e-mails sent or received by any employee or agent of HHS that contains the search term "VAERS" and the identifier 221579-1 or 221579, or the term "hulk".
Please see the attached letter.
Sincerely,
CDC/ATSDR FOIA Office
770-488-6399
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