COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:41): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing about vaccines:

1. Is the government planning to establish its own large vaccination centre at the Wayville Showground?

2. Why has SA Health not accepted an offer from, nor sought the assistance of, St John Ambulance for its own volunteers to help undertake vaccinations?

The Hon. S.G. Wade: Could you repeat the last bit, the bit about St John's?

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Mr President, the health minister has asked me to repeat that last bit of my question, with your consent?

The PRESIDENT: Yes.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Why has SA Health not accepted an offer, nor sought assistance from, St John for its volunteers to undertake vaccinations in its rollout?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:42): The ongoing use of hospital-based clinics is something I have already made clear: that we will have every public hospital in South Australia engaged with a vaccination clinic at some time during the coming year. The placement of other clinics, particularly community-based clinics, significantly depends on the spread of not only GPs but also pharmacists. As the Hon. Tung Ngo, the shadow minister for pharmacy, knows, the pharmacist call hasn't even gone out yet. So as there is more clarity about where the commonwealth vaccination programs will be provided, we will certainly be continuing to develop our network of clinics.

In relation to St John, St John's is one of the state government's—and I mean the state government as an enduring entity. In other words, Liberal and Labor governments have had very strong relationships with St John's for many years. In fact, I think St John's has the distinction of being specifically referred to in our emergency management plans as a partner for the state government in responding to emergencies.

I will certainly follow up what offers have been made by St John's. I suspect that it may well be that we need the assistance of St John's as the vaccine program rolls out, but it may be too early to specify what that need might be.