Influenza Vaccinations

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:30): Further supplementary: on what date will there be enough vaccines provided to the Flinders Medical Centre to vaccinate all of their 7,000 staff?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:30): I am not sure whether the honourable member is suggesting that we should introduce mandatory vaccination of staff. That is not the position of the Liberal Party: the Liberal Party believes that people have the right to receive medical treatment. For example, my recollection—and I will say that it is only a recollection—is that, in relation to one of the units in the Flinders Medical Centre, one of the higher risk units, last year they experienced a 68 per cent vaccination rate. We do not compel our health workers to take vaccinations. We do make them available and we certainly do encourage them to have the vaccination.