Page 469 - Week 02 - Thursday, 22 February 1990
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Northern Hemisphere during their winter - our summer. The epidemic in the Northern Hemisphere was the largest epidemic for a number of years and produced increased morbidity and unfortunately a number of deaths, particularly in North America, the United Kingdom and Western Europe.
The growth of international travel and, of course, tourism, facilitates the spread of disease and for that reason it is likely that the flu virus which hit the Northern Hemisphere in our summer will hit this country in the southern winter. Three-quarters of the world's population lives in the Northern Hemisphere which accounts for why most pandemics originate in that hemisphere. But it also gives us a special advantage, in that we can prepare flu vaccines in anticipation of those same pandemics or epidemics coming to this hemisphere.
Each year the Commonwealth Serum Laboratory monitors the strain of flu virus in the Northern Hemisphere and makes a vaccine to include these strains. I am pleased to report that an excellent match has been made this year. I am informed that the CSL vaccine will be available in early March and will include three strains. One of these strains - the A-Shanghai strain - is closely related to the virus which caused the most severe cases in the Northern Hemisphere. However, despite national efforts to predict changes in the virus, it can change and decrease the vaccine's effectiveness.
The probability of the virus mutating is not great. It is not recommended that everyone should receive the vaccine. There are two main groups who are advised to have a vaccination injection: those most likely to become very ill if infected - for example, the aged, the infirm, those with chronic lung or kidney disease and those whose general immunity is reduced - and those who are most likely to be infected, such as health care workers. People should consult a medical practitioner if they are in any doubt at all. The Chief Health Officer will, of course, continue to monitor the situation in the ACT.
Planning Legislation
MR WHALAN: My question is to the Chief Minister as the Minister responsible for planning. Mr Kaine, in the Assembly on 14 February Mr Jensen, your Executive Deputy, quoted the policy of your Alliance Government in this way:
The ... Government will continue the current public consultation process, giving it a high priority and will table comprehensive legislation before the end of February 1990.
The key words are, "will table comprehensive legislation before the end of February 1990". Today you have tabled
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