Legislative Council: Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Contents

COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding COVID-19. Why does South Australia have the slowest use of vaccines on hand of anywhere in the country? Why are more of our vaccines stuck sitting in fridges than anywhere else in the country? For the 58 per cent of vaccines that South Australia has been provided that are sitting in fridges, what protection are these providing to anyone?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for her question. There is a range of indicators in terms of how the rollout is going in terms of COVID-19 vaccines. I think the most relevant indicator is what proportion of the South Australian community is getting vaccinated. The reality is that the commonwealth data shows—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —that South Australia's share of doses administered is almost exactly spot on with our population share. In other words, we have administered 6.7 per cent of doses—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —compared with our 6.9 per cent of the national population.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Wortley!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Only two states have done better than South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Dr Centofanti has the call and will be heard in silence.