COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:52): Supplementary: how can the minister claim to have such a positive rollout of meningococcal B vaccinations and yet stuff up so badly the COVID-19 vaccine program?

The PRESIDENT: Order! That was full of opinion and the language of the opinion wasn't great. The minister can respond, if he wishes.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:53): I certainly will. I find that an offensive remark considering the hard work being done by thousands of—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —SA Health staff. It's a particularly—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Ridgway is out of order. The Minister for Human Services is not helping. The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has the call.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —particularly untimely question considering that today is the day that the hardworking SA Health team has gone past half a million doses.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Half a million doses.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: So it's fantastic to see so many South Australians rolling up their sleeves—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —when it's their turn—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Bourke!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —to have the vaccination. I thank each and every one of them for playing their part in protecting the community. Earlier today, I was advised that the tremendous rollout in South Australia means that we have almost two-thirds of South Australians over the age of 60 who are vaccinated against COVID-19. That is the target group that is most at risk, so in a targeted cohort approach, consistent with the national rollout, we have targeted the oldest—

The Hon. C.M. Scriven interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the deputy leader!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: So half a million vaccines have been delivered by the SA Health team and, to be frank, in partnership with our GP networks. About half of the doses delivered so far have been delivered by the GP network. The SA Health work is extremely important, particularly for people who are not, shall we say, connected to their GP.

That's why we are continuing to ramp up the rollout with new strategies to reach hard to reach groups. That's why this government was the first government in Australia to commit to engaging all regional and rural pharmacies that are registered with the commonwealth for the vaccine program to activate their vaccines. That will be happening shortly. Again, Rob Lucas's Tuesday budget invested even more in that vaccine program.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Lucas.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Sorry, the Hon. Mr Lucas. That budget in itself invested another $86 million, money that will be extremely important to make sure that SA Health can continue the flexible approach, the nimble approach. We have already had two major recalibrations because of clinical advice. We have to make sure we have the resources and the flexibility to be agile and nimble. It's only through that agility and nimbleness that South Australia continues to have the second highest vaccination rate.

Admittedly, we have slipped behind Victoria, but Victoria, of course, had a surge in vaccinations because of the outbreak there. The fact of the matter is that we compare extremely well to other—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —mainland states, and I think it is rather churlish of the opposition to reflect on the hard work of SA Health's workforce and the GP network.