COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (15:17): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister confirm that the closest vaccination clinic for Mount Gambier students aged 12 to 15 is Murray Bridge? With your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BELL: Over the last week and a half, I have had principals ring me saying that they have been informed that the closest vaccination clinic for their students is actually at Murray Bridge.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (15:18): I thank the member for the question. I think that it's really important that all South Australian students aged 12 and over—indeed all South Australians aged 12 and over—take the opportunity to get vaccinated. That's why SA Health has been expanding its vaccination clinic network over recent months. With the capacity we have in South Australia to provide Pfizer to all people, including the over-60s, I believe SA Health and this state government have demonstrated a will and a capacity to rapidly increase the rate of vaccinations in our state that is exceptional.

That obviously involves an iterative process, where the program is expanding. Some people are in a situation where they are able to use GPs. I was really pleased with the announcement a few days ago that we are providing priority vaccination for teachers in the school holidays. They can just walk up to some of those clinics, especially if they are in town. But obviously that iterative process requires further work to be done and SA Health are responding to community need as it comes about.

In relation to what resources and particular supports are available in Mount Gambier, I think this will be of interest through the school holidays, but particularly when school goes back in 2½ weeks' time we will be wanting to make sure that all those schools have up-to-date advice for where SA Health are providing opportunities for those schools to direct their students at that time. I will make sure that all the member's local schools have that up-to-date information when schools go back.

To give them the information now would not be providing up-to-date information, because I am certain that there will be further opportunities spread out across the state that we can advise them of in 2½ weeks' time that we are not in a position to advise them of now.