COVID-19 Vaccination

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Minister, can you please update the council on how the government is ensuring that all South Australians aged over 12 have access to the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:03): I thank the honourable member for his question. Throughout the pandemic South Australians have responded extremely well to whatever has been asked of them. This year, they have responded to the call to roll up and be vaccinated, and today we reached another milestone.

Today, we marked the fact that South Australians have received 2.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. That means that more than 85 per cent of South Australians 16 and over have received their first dose, and almost 75 per cent of South Australians aged over 16 have been fully vaccinated. Vaccination is our pathway out of the pandemic. It has never been easier to get vaccinated; it has never been more timely, as we reopen our borders.

Mass vaccination clinics have been key; they have vaccinated tens of thousands of South Australians. More recently, we have diversified into initiatives such as pop-up vaccination clinics and a fleet of mobile vaccination vans, which are reaching out to regional communities and vulnerable and diverse communities.

The Marshall Liberal government is also working hard to educate and encourage those who are vaccine reticent. We are committed to providing the facts, providing support and building confidence in the community in the value and importance of the national vaccination program.

The Marshall Liberal government is committed to protecting the public health of all South Australians. We understand that vaccination rates amongst our communities are variable. Some areas, some communities, need help. Wellbeing SA is leading the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy project with the support of SA Health. They are working tirelessly with CALD communities, Aboriginal communities, local government leaders and mental health stakeholders to reach pockets of the community with lower vaccination rates.

In the past week, the mobivax van has been deployed to Foodbank at both Edwardstown and Woodville, SA Water offices, the Port Adelaide Plaza shopping centre, the African Nations Cup in Angle Park, the Christmas Pageant and the Multicultural Festival. There are now 11 COVID-19 vaccination vans operating a mobile service across the state.

Regional and mobile pop-up clinics in the past week have been operating in Tumby Bay, Cummins, Port Augusta, Renmark, Kadina, Meningie, Coonalpyn, Hallett, Booborowie, Burra, Peterborough, Gladstone and Whyalla. This week, the mobile vaccination vans will be out in force again.

Employer outreach continues, community visits continue, the school vaccination program and the Watto Purrunna vax van will be at the 'Stay strong get vaccinated family fun day' free family event, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families can get the information they need about the COVID-19 vaccine and visit the mobile vaccination clinic to receive a vaccination.

All this would not be possible without the tireless efforts of the SA Health team, both in the local health networks and in the department, but also I would like to particularly highlight the work of Professor Katina D'Onise from Wellbeing SA and Danielle Jiranek from SA Health. I want to recognise and congratulate them for their commitment to work with the community so that we do all that we can to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of protecting public health.

I urge all of the South Australian community to work with SA Health and Wellbeing SA to help reach those hard-to-reach communities. We have good supplies of stock. We have created new pathways to access the vaccine. We urge all South Australians to take up the opportunity.