Influenza Vaccinations

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister advise whether every doctor and nurse in all of our public hospitals has now been offered a flu vaccine?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:31): What I can advise—

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: Oh, you don't know! Before you give this lecture to us—

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Mr President, has this turned into a joke?

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hanson, this is going to be a very short question time.

The Hon. T.J. Stephens: Why don't you ask Justin and save Stephen from having to stand up?

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Stephens, please do not add; restrain yourself.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: So I have more respect for Ms Bourke, and I will answer her question in spite of the desire of the Hon. Mr Hanson to avoid that. What I will advise the—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, I want to hear this answer.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: What I would like to advise Ms Bourke is that I am advised that 33,000 doses have been distributed for SA Health healthcare workers. Considering that we have about 40,000 health department employees, including, with all due respect, a number of people who would not be classed as healthcare workers, 33,000 out of 40,000, on my rough calculation, is 80 per cent. That is a very impressive vaccination rate.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Pangallo has the call; then I will give the call to the Hon. Ms Bourke. Is it a supplementary, the Hon. Mr Pangallo?

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Well it is, on the influenza—

The PRESIDENT: Yes; that's fine.