COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:01): Supplementary question: can the minister advise whether metropolitan community pharmacies can have access to providing immunisation to the people living in the city? Why couldn't the minister have that process set up asap, so that when vaccines become more readily available it could be ready to go, instead of waiting for months before the system can be set up?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:01): I thank the honourable member for his question. The decision of activating the community pharmacists network was a decision of national cabinet. National cabinet has only authorised the engagement of pharmacists in rural and remote Australia. My understanding is that Queensland has taken up that opportunity. To be frank, South Australia is providing, on a select basis, the opportunity for all community pharmacists in rural and regional South Australia who have been accepted through the commonwealth expressions of interest to take up that opportunity. We believe that in this area, as in other areas, South Australia leads the way.