Influenza Vaccinations

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:16): Further supplementary.

The PRESIDENT: This time a further supplementary.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: With a backlog in notifications and the shortages in supply of influenza vaccine, is the minister concerned that South Australians' lives are at risk this flu season?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:17): I would put it to the house that that's yet another example of fearmongering by the opposition. The government will continue to rely on our public health clinicians—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The minister does not require your assistance to answer your own question. Minister.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, we would all like to hear the minister's answer.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The government will continue to rely on our public health clinicians, to work with the commonwealth under the National Immunisation Program, to manage supplies into South Australia, to distribute them throughout South Australia and to monitor the level of influenza activity in the community. But I take the opportunity to stress what I think I have heard the Chief Medical Officer repeat three or four times in the last eight days, which is that notifications are merely the tip of the iceberg. He was making the point that there are over 10,000 who have notified, but his advice is that that would be the tip of the iceberg.

What he was stressing in his public statements yesterday is how important it is that people get a vaccination, but not only how important it is for them to get a vaccination but also how important it is for them to take other steps to contain the spread of the disease within our community. In particular, he highlighted three particular matters. One is that we should get involved in the good practices such as wash, wipe, cover, don't infect another. He particularly encouraged people to stay home from work if they fear they might be the subject of influenza. This is not a season to be a hero. If you have any suspicions that you might be infected by influenza, I would urge people not to go to work.

He is also recommending that, whilst appreciating the problems with families in terms of child care and school, if a child is suspected of suffering from influenza they should stay at home. It's very important that we do everything we can to prevent the spread of influenza in our community. Immunisation is the first and best response, but please, do not stop there. Even if you have been vaccinated, it is not a silver bullet to getting the condition. People who are vaccinated can still get the condition.

I will back the Chief Medical Officer in urging the South Australian community to take the first step. Sure, if you can get vaccinated, get vaccinated, but even if you have been vaccinated please work with us in the season ahead to minimise the spread. Wash, wipe, cover, don't infect another is a key piece of advice. Stay home from work if you feel that you have influenza and support your children to do the same.