COVID-19 Vaccine

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:03): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Health and Wellbeing a question about a COVID-19 vaccine.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Today, we heard the most welcome news that pharmaceutical giant Pfizer was ready to roll out its vaccine after results showed that it was effective in preventing COVID-19 in 90 per cent of cases, whereas normally a vaccine is considered effective and successful in 60 per cent of cases.

The Australian government, as we know, has ordered 10 million vials of this vaccine. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can he tell us how many vials will be made available to South Australians?

2. Who will be the first to receive the vaccine, should it pass the regulatory approvals?

3. Will approvals be fast-tracked if it gains FDA approval by the end of November?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his question, because I think the potential identification of a COVID-19 vaccine will be fundamental to our recovery. I must admit that I have been somewhat sceptical, and to hear the news today that Pfizer is heading towards 90 per cent success and that we are talking about delivery in such a short time frame is very encouraging.

The federal government has done an extraordinary job to have established lines of communication, and at least memorandums of understanding, with a number of key providers so that Australia is well placed to receive the vaccine. Obviously, it's not just a matter of securing the supply; it's a matter of distributing it. I assure the honourable member that the officers of my department are already in conversation with the commonwealth and their other state and territory colleagues on the vaccination distribution strategy.

In terms of the question the honourable member asks in terms of our prioritisation, my understanding is that the commonwealth government, as the purchaser and provider of the vaccinations, is going to identify the prioritisation criteria, but, as always with the commonwealth, I am sure that there will be a dialogue with the states as the prioritisation is evolved. I certainly don't think it would be helpful for us to have eight different criteria for eight different jurisdictions, so I see the benefit in nationally consistent prioritisation criteria.

In terms of fast-tracking, I think regulatory agencies, both overseas and in Australia, have indicated a willingness to expedite these processes to the greatest extent possible, consistent with safety. It would be, I think, a real risk if we lose sight of safety and we have adverse events, such that people lose confidence in the vaccination program. We will need to have widespread support for a broad vaccination program.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Pangallo has a supplementary.