COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): Supplementary arising from the answer: minister, are you aware if in a number of other states that figure is at or close to 100 per cent of medi-hotel workers being vaccinated for all medi-hotel sites?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:23): I think it is important to appreciate that vaccination is primarily for the protection of the person, and it has been the practice of SA Health to not make vaccinations mandatory—for example, in the flu context. We will continue to act on the basis of clinical advice.

It is important to see that vaccination is only one part of the protection for our workers in medi-hotels and other parts of the quarantine pathway. Obviously, personal protective equipment is extremely important. The AHPPC and our clinical teams continually have been assessing the PPE needs within our medi-hotels. We started doing daily saliva testing in medi-hotels earlier this year, and workers are subject to regular PCR testing.

Of course, the quality of the medi-hotel itself is an important part of protecting workers. For example, following the Parafield cluster in December last year, significant measures were taken to upgrade the ventilation, particularly in the establishment of Australia's only dedicated COVID-19 facility, Tom's Court. That, of course, in itself is also a risk-mitigating factor for people working in the other medi-hotels. By having a dedicated facility, that means that a positive case is relocated to the Tom's Court facility as needed.