Flu Vaccination

Mrs HURN (Schubert) (14:21): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister explain why the government refuses to utilise COVID vaccination centres for the rollout of free flu vaccinations for all South Australians and not just those over 65?

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order from the Leader of Government Business. I anticipate that it may be argument.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir.

The SPEAKER: Very well. I will give the opportunity to the member for Schubert to rephrase the question.

Mrs HURN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister advise the house on whether the government will utilise COVID vaccination centres for the rollout of free flu vaccinations and not just those over 65?

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:22): The issue is in terms of the vaccines themselves.

Mrs Hurn: They can do it in WA.

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Schubert!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is called to order and the member for West Torrens.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: In South Australia, the vaccines have been distributed, so we in SA Health are not sitting on a massive stockpile. We have distributed over half a million vaccines through the National Immunisation Program to GPs and pharmacists. In addition to that, GPs and pharmacists have ordered significant numbers of their own private stock for people who are not eligible for the National Immunisation Program, so the vast majority of vaccines are already out with GPs and in pharmacies right now.

In fact, the pharmacies are saying to SA Health, saying to me as the minister, 'We are asking for your assistance in terms of trying to obtain additional supplies, given that there is significant likely need and desire from people to become vaccinated.' We are actively in the market for vaccines, as SA Health, to try to buy as many now from the private market as we possibly can. We are absolutely keen to work with the pharmacies who are looking for our assistance in terms of providing and making sure that they can continue their supplies right across South Australia, particularly across regional South Australia, where they have such an expansive network.

As minister, if I were to say, 'Actually, we're going to divert a whole bunch of these now,' that's only going to add to the issue in terms of being able to make sure that those GPs and pharmacies have the supply. If we are able to obtain sufficient supply where that is no longer an issue, then we absolutely will be able to spread that further, but we want to make sure that we are working with our GPs and pharmacies to make sure that they can get as much supply as possible.

They have the vast majority of the supply already, and there is a limited amount that we will be able to obtain, particularly when you consider that everybody in Australia is now on the hunt for influenza vaccine. All the state governments are now actively trying to buy as many as they can. We have bought some. We will be working with pharmacies and general practitioners. I suggest from my discussions with organisations such as the Pharmacy Guild that they are very keen for us to work with them in terms of providing that supply. If we were to divert that, then that is only going to cause issues in terms of their ability to provide these vaccinations.