Question Time: Influenza Vaccination
Dr MICHAEL HOLLAND (Bega) (11:47):
My question is addressed to the Minister for Health, and Minister for Regional Health. Will the Minister update the House on how the Minns Labor Government is making health care cheaper and easier to access in New South Wales ahead of the flu season?
Mr RYAN PARK (Keira—Minister for Health, Minister for Regional Health, and Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast) (11:47):
I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his ongoing interest in public health matters and the work he is doing in southern New South Wales, particularly in relation to the new hospital at Eurobodalla. We are just a few weeks away from what will be a difficult flu season over the next few months. Reports from North America, which is where we get our guidance and take our steer from, indicate this is likely to be a challenging flu season. We have had a bit of good luck coming into this because the weather has been somewhat fine—up until this week, perhaps—but now is the time for the Government to make decisions. Particularly with the cost‑of‑living challenges that families are facing right now, I do not want vaccination to be one of the things that fall off the to-do list because people cannot afford it.
The reality is that at the moment, things are tough for families—real tough. Fuel costs are higher. Interest rates are higher. Inflation and the cost of groceries are increasing, and that is a challenge. I hope all members of this House support vaccination. People ask me, "Why do you support vaccination?" I say, "Because I believe in science"—a minor issue!
What is this Government doing to make health care more affordable and accessible as we head into winter? We made a decision to expand the availability of the FluMist product. Originally going only to two- to four‑year‑olds, it will now be available free of charge to two‑ to 17‑year‑olds across pharmacies and GPs in New South Wales. We decided to intervene to make the product available to more people as we head into a difficult flu season. Every Friday afternoon I receive the latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report, which contains analysis of respiratory syncytial virus, COVID and influenza activity in the health system. At the moment influenza is somewhat stable, but it is likely to pick up over the next few weeks and months. Having looked at the data, the Government made the decision to make the popular FluMist product—which I will provide data about shortly—available to young people over the age of two. The reason for that is that young people are particularly vulnerable to influenza. Young people, and people over the age of 65, have the highest rates of hospitalisation. [Extension of time]
Of the 186,768 influenza notifications last year, the two age groups that landed in hospital the most were young children and those over the age of 65. We have expanded eligibility for the FluMist vaccine—it will be free of charge for two‑ to 17‑year‑olds. The Government wants families to access that free health care as quickly as possible. It is simple to go down to the local pharmacy or GP to access the vaccine, with zero pain for kids and little ones. It is an important way we can protect them in the lead-up to winter. We also encourage people over the age of 65 to get vaccinated. As we head into winter and the influenza season, the Government is most concerned about those two age groups.
I encourage members to promote the efficacy of vaccination through their newsletters or their social media channels. Already in this State about 15 per cent of two‑ to four‑year‑olds have been vaccinated, which is up from 10 per cent at the same time last year. Of those 15 per cent, 70 per cent were vaccinated with the FluMist vaccine. The product works. Its efficacy is the same as an injected vaccine. People should go and get vaccinated by way of injection or FluMist. Vaccination is safe. I know some members in the other place have doubts about that, but let me assure people that the science says that it is safe and it works. It protects individuals and their families, and, in this case, it is free of charge.
