Legislative Council
Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
55
1
Parliament of South Australia
Legislative Council
published
Answers to Questions
COVID-19 Vaccinations
COVID-19 Vaccinations
The Hon. S.L. GAME
Legislative Council
COVID-19 Vaccinations
221 The Hon. S.L. GAME ().8 February 2023).
1.	What percentage of the total number of COVID-19 deaths in South Australia were of persons who were at least double vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine?
2.	Why does the SA Health website no longer report the COVID-19 vaccination status of COVID-19 deaths?
3.	What are the top 10 adverse reactions reported within 28 days after a patient in South Australia received an approved COVID-19 vaccination?
4.	Out of the top 10 adverse reactions reported within 28 days after a patient in South Australia received an approved COVID-19 vaccination, what is the total number of adverse reactions reported for each of the top 10 categories?
5.	Out of the top 10 adverse reactions reported within 28 days after a patient in South Australia received an approved COVID-19 vaccination, what is the percentage of total adverse reactions to total COVID-19 vaccines administered for each of the top 10 categories?
6.	Out of the total number of patients in South Australia that received an approved COVID-19 vaccination, how many experienced more than one of the top 10 categories of adverse reactions reported within 28 days of receiving the vaccine?
7.	How many South Australians died within 28 days after receiving their first approved COVID-19 vaccine?
8.	Out of the South Australians that died within 28 days after receiving their first approved COVID-19 vaccine, what were their ages?
9.	How many South Australians died within 28 days after receiving their second approved COVID-19 vaccine?
10.	Out of the South Australians that died within 28 days after receiving their second approved COVID-19 vaccine, what were their ages?
11.	Why are adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines administered in South Australia not reported on the SA Health website?
12.	How many COVID-19 vaccines approved to administer to humans in South Australia have finished all clinical trial stages?
13.	How many COVID-19 vaccines approved to administer to humans in South Australia are still part of a clinical trial?
14.	Out of the COVID-19 vaccines approved to administer to humans in South Australia that are still part of a clinical trial, what stage of the clinical trials is each vaccine in?
15.	How much compensation has been paid to victims or families of victims who have suffered adverse reactions from approved COVID-19 vaccinations?
16.	Where does the money come from that pays the compensation awarded to victims or families of victims who have suffered adverse reactions from approved COVID-19 vaccinations?
The Hon. K.J. MAHER
Legislative Council
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Attorney-General
Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector
COVID-19 Vaccinations
The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has advised:
1.	As of 11.59pm on 9 February 2023, 79.1 per cent of people who died due to COVID-19 received two-plus doses of vaccines.
2.	SA Health reports on nationally agreed fields. Further to this, a report was prepared by the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and University of Adelaide, which reports on the COVID-19 health outcomes on the basis of vaccination status.
3.	The top 10 adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) reported to SA Health after administration of an approved COVID-19 vaccine in South Australia between 22 February 2021 and 10 February 2023 were:
| |
Type of AEFI reported, in order of frequency |
| 1 |
injection site reaction |
| 2 |
headache |
| 3 |
myalgia |
| 4 |
chest pain |
| 5 |
fever |
| 6 |
nausea |
| 7 |
fatigue |
| 8 |
chills |
| 9 |
lethargy |
| 10 |
arthralgia |
Not all people experiencing an AEFI report it to their health professional or to SA Health.
Not all reported AEFI's are caused by the recent immunisation received; it is often not possible to distinguish between symptoms caused by vaccine administration and symptoms which may have coincidentally occurred soon after vaccine administration due to an unrelated physical or psychological medical condition.
4.	The number of reports received for each of the top 10 AEFI reported to SA Health after administration of an approved COVID-19 vaccine in South Australia between 22 February 2021 and 10 February 2023 were:
| |
Type of AEFI reported, listed in order of frequency |
Number of AEFI reported from 22/2/21—10/2/23 |
| 1 |
injection site reaction |
5,631 |
| 2 |
headache |
1,500 |
| 3 |
myalgia |
986 |
| 4 |
chest pain |
877 |
| 5 |
fever |
850 |
| 6 |
nausea |
797 |
| 7 |
fatigue |
781 |
| 8 |
chills |
581 |
| 9 |
lethargy |
510 |
| 10 |
arthralgia |
465 |
5.	For each of the top 10 reported AEFI's by number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered, the total percentage for each category is less than 1 per cent. Please refer to the following table:
| |
Type of AEFI reported, listed in order of frequency |
Number of AEFI reported from 22/2/21—*11/12/22 |
Number of COVID-19 vaccines administered from 22/2/21—*11/12/22 |
Percentage of people reporting this AEFI within 28 days after COVID-19 vaccination |
| 1 |
injection site reaction |
5,612 |
4,124,548 |
0.136% |
| 2 |
headache |
1,499 |
4,124,548 |
0.036% |
| 3 |
myalgia |
985 |
4,124,548 |
0.024% |
| 4 |
chest pain |
874 |
4,124,548 |
0.021% |
| 5 |
fever |
846 |
4,124,548 |
0.021% |
| 6 |
nausea |
796 |
4,124,548 |
0.019% |
| 7 |
fatigue |
780 |
4,124,548 |
0.019% |
| 8 |
chills |
581 |
4,124,548 |
0.014% |
| 9 |
lethargy |
509 |
4,124,548 |
0.012% |
| 10 |
arthralgia |
463 |
4,124,548 |
0.011% |
*Reporting period is until 11 December, from this date the SA Health COVID-19 vaccination program ceased receiving vaccination data from the commonwealth.
6.	From 22 February 2021 to 11 December 2022, a total of 4,124,548 people received an approved COVID-19 vaccine in South Australia. Of these vaccine recipients, 2,449 people reported experiencing more than one of the top 10 AEFI listed above within 28 days of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
7.	There is no information held by the Department for Health and Wellbeing on all deaths in South Australia and their vaccination status, therefore this is not possible to determine.
8.	See response to 7.
9.	See response to 7.
10.	See response to 7.
11.	Adverse reactions to COVID-19 are reported through to the Australian government and are reported by the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines Administration (TGA). Published data is updated fortnightly.
SA Health contributes South Australian data on adverse reactions to national vaccine safety surveillance data through to the TGA.
South Australian data is also available via the Australian National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS).
Information regarding possible common and rare side effects of each approved COVID-19 vaccine is published by Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) on the Australian government Department of Health and Aged Care website.
12.	The TGA is responsible for evaluating, assessing and monitoring all COVID-19 vaccines prior to approval for use in Australia, which includes reviewing each vaccine's clinical trials.
Australia has made a full and thorough assessment of the COVID-19 vaccines approved for administration.
The TGA provisionally approved COVID-19 vaccines administered in Australia after a complete assessment of all the available data. This is the same process as any vaccine approved in this country. The TGA will only register and approve a COVID19 vaccine if it is safe and effective.
Furthermore, following approval and registration of vaccines, the TGA continues to monitor and investigate any potential new safety issues.
13.	See response to 12.
14.	See response to 12.
15.	The Australian government is responsible for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine claims scheme. Queries regarding this should be directed to the Australian government, Department of Health and Aged Care.
16.	See response to 15.