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Influenza Vaccination

Published on: May 2025

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-152688

Influenza Vaccination

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (12:31:39):

My question is directed to the Minister for Health. Flu vaccination rates are declining in New South Wales. Last year the Minister said our emergency departments were "smashed" by flu and other respiratory illnesses. Why will the Minister not listen to health experts and ease the strain on our emergency departments by making the flu vaccine free for all?

Mr RYAN PARK (KeiraMinister for Health, Minister for Regional Health, and Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast) (12:31:59):

— That is an outstanding question. I was preparing a very similar Dixer.

The SPEAKER:

Order! Members will come to order. I call the member for Terrigal to order for the first time.

Mr RYAN PARK:

Influenza is extremely serious. No member of this place can say that Dr Chant and I have not been reminding people about the importance of getting an influenza vaccination. We prefer to call it influenza rather than the flu because the flu has the connotation that it is just a cold or a cough. The influenza vaccine is free for very young children, elderly people, Aboriginal people and people with immuno-compromised conditions. Importantly, last week we announced that we are increasing the availability of the influenza vaccination in pharmacies for children as young as two. It was previously for children over five. I wanted to expand the availability and accessibility of the influenza vaccination to younger children and families. We know GPs are struggling at the moment. To achieve an increase in the availability and accessibility, they can now access it at pharmacies.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

Point of order: My point of order goes to Standing Order 129. My question was very specific. I waited for 1½ minutes. My question was about whether it will be free for not only those under five, over 65 and—

The SPEAKER:

The member for North Shore will resume her seat. She may ask a question, but she cannot prescribe how it is answered. The Minister has been directly relevant to the question at this point. I call the member for Wahroonga to order for the first time.

Mr RYAN PARK:

I spend an enormous amount of time on this portfolio. It is the first question I asked of NSW Health, and specifically Dr Chant. Most people, and Opposition members in particular, would know Dr Chant. She supported the previous Government's incredible work during COVID. I asked Dr Chant about this, and she said her advice was that at the time—it was 2022, if I recall correctly—it did not make a tangible difference to the number of people who got vaccinated. In a fiscally constrained environment, where we need to make sure that every health dollar goes to ensure the very best availability and accessibility of services, I consulted Dr Chant and she provided me with that advice. Much like former Minister Hazzard and former Premier Berejiklian, members of this Government tend to listen to Dr Chant.