Influenza Vaccinations

Mrs HURN (Schubert) (15:10): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Is the cost of the flu vaccination a barrier to South Australians getting vaccinated? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mrs HURN: During a discussion on ABC radio recently regarding South Australia's vaccination rates Chris, a listener, stated:

In my view it is insane. The flu jab is so expensive…It would have cost $140 for me and my three children.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:10): Thank you very much. We almost went the entire week without a question from the opposition, so I appreciate we just snuck in.

Thank you to so many South Australians who have rolled up their sleeve this flu season to get vaccinated for influenza. We have done very well comparatively to other states in terms of the flu vaccination rate. In fact, South Australia has the highest rate of mainland states of vaccination, and that is a credit to South Australians who have heeded that public health advice, particularly for those groups who are more vulnerable where the public health advice is it is important for them to get access to the flu vaccine.

I note Professor Spurrier was recently on the radio talking about this subject, and I believe the shadow minister called in or sent a text message to ask about this question. She was very adamant in terms of her advice, which is to focus on those key priority groups who are most likely to end up in hospital and most likely to have the adverse effects from the flu. We have listened to that advice, we are following that advice and that has borne us well in terms of the highest rates of flu vaccination of any state in the mainland.