COVID-19 Vaccine

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding COVID-19.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and the ACT have all announced their key distribution sites for the Pfizer vaccine. This morning, Victoria announced that it was prepared to immediately roll out the Pfizer vaccine as soon as it became available. This makes South Australia one of the last places in the country to announce vaccine distribution sites. My question to the minister is: why has the minister not announced SA's COVID vaccination sites, when New South Wales, Victoria, ACT, Queensland and Tasmania have all announced their sites?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:26): I would make the point that I don't accept the so-called account of the announcements in other places. It's not the case that all states have revealed their rollout hubs. Some have mentioned some planned locations and, to be clear, we have already done that. I was in the Riverland last week and indicated the Riverland will be a hub. Obviously, I have already indicated the RAH will be a hub.

In the first phase of the rollout, state government clinics will provide vaccines to key frontline healthcare workers, quarantine workers and border workers. SA Health will be proactively and directly engaging relevant workers. Distribution to the general public, requiring the general community to make a booking and present at a clinic, will not occur until later in the rollout schedule.

I just ask the Labor opposition to cease the fearmongering in its attempts to undermine public confidence. The vaccine rollout and its implications for public safety are too important an issue to try to play political games.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Leader of the Opposition needs to come to order.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The state government will release more information regarding the rollout of phase 1a after the national cabinet meets on Friday.