VACCINATION PROGRAM

The Hon. P.L. WHITE (Taylor) (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Health. How is the government working to improve vaccination rates of South Australian children?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (14:50): The member for Taylor has a great interest in the health of young people in particular. South Australia has very high levels of child vaccinations with over 87 per cent of children in our state fully vaccinated by five years of age. This equates to approximately 210,000 jabs given every year. Today I can announce two important measures that will further improve our vaccination program. First we have made it easier for babies and parents to undergo the vaccination program by reducing the number of needles that are required. Children all over South Australia will be pleased by that.

Whereas babies receiving their vaccinations at two and four months of age formerly required three needles, they will now require only two needles. Effectively, this means that by the age of four months, babies will now need a jab only four times instead of six times. This will make the process easier and better for the child and definitely for the parents and of course, for the service providers. Doctors and health clinics have already received details of the revised immunisation schedule.

This has been made possible by the use of a new formula called Infanrix hexa which contains six different vaccinations in one needle, specifically, vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hep B, Hib and polio. A second needle containing a pneumococcal vaccine will still be required. The second matter I am announcing today strengthens our vaccination program by increasing the state government's contribution to local government clinics. We will now pay local governments an extra $6 for each vaccination of a child reported to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, and that will cost about $200,000 annually.

Local council clinics will be able to use this payment to extend their vaccination programs, potentially providing longer vaccination hours and better promotion of their services. This investment will give parents a greater choice of service provider and should improve our vaccination rates for children under the age of five. Families can choose to have their children vaccinated by their general practitioner, the Children, Youth and Women's Health Service or their local council clinic. Payments to local governments will help councils provide immunisation and make this service more accessible, particularly for those families on low income and especially where there are shortages of GPs or where a gap payment might otherwise be charged.

Vaccination is the primary means of preventing many life-threatening diseases. I cannot emphasise enough how important vaccination is. Unfortunately and regrettably, there is a certain section of our community that is implacably opposed to vaccination; there are a number of websites, organisations and campaigns against vaccination. They are very foolish campaigns and it is demonstrated that the majority of people in our state ignore them.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Yes. Childhood vaccination for diseases such as polio, measles, mumps, diphtheria, chickenpox, pneumonia and meningitis creates immunity—in some cases, for life. It is vital for the wellbeing of all South Australians that we maintain our excellent vaccination record.