Page 892 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 30 March 1993
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Influenza Vaccine
MR BERRY: Madam Speaker, I would like to provide some additional information in response to a question raised by Mrs Carnell about HIB vaccine. Mrs Carnell tried to create the impression that vaccines were generally free and that, because this one was not free, all Canberra was at risk. I bring forward some facts, which usually are not paid much attention by Mrs Carnell. In the last budget the Commonwealth Government announced that it would fund an HIB immunisation program to commence on 1 July. During the election campaign Mr Howe announced that the commencement of this program would be brought forward, if possible, to April 1993. This would enable the program to commence prior to the expected winter peak in the incidence of HIB disease.
The National HIB Advisory Committee set up to implement the Commonwealth funded program has agreed to let a national tender for the supply of vaccines to the States and Territories. The tender requirements have only just been finalised and the tender will be let in early April, with a decision being expected within 30 days. Vaccine supplies will be available to State distribution centres as soon as possible after that. HIB vaccine is already available on prescription through general practitioners, and has been for some time. The first vaccine on the market was suitable only for children aged 18 months and over, but more recently vaccine suitable for infants from two months of age has become available. The vaccine is not included in the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. A recent survey conducted in the ACT by the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health showed that a substantial proportion of children in the ACT are already vaccinated, particularly those aged between two and four years.
To dispel forever the false impression Mrs Carnell attempted to create that all vaccines were free, I will go through some of the vaccines that are available in the ACT: Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine - I think they call that triple antigen - for infants from two months is available from ACT health immunisation clinics and is available on prescription through GPs, or GPs may purchase it wholesale. It is included in the pharmaceutical benefits scheme and is $3.70 a unit. Diphtheria and tetanus vaccine for infants who cannot tolerate pertussis vaccine and boosters for older children are available from ACT health immunisation clinics and through the high school program. They are available free to GPs as part of the emergency doctors' bag and supplies are on PBS prescription. ADT and CDT are $3.60 a unit. Polio vaccine for infants from two months is available at ACT health immunisation clinics and is supplied free to GPs by ACT Health, following transfer to the States of vaccine funding in 1988.
Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for children aged 12 months is available from ACT immunisation clinics and is supplied to GPs by ACT Health. It is not on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. Rubella vaccine for the high school program is available at ACT health clinics and is supplied to GPs by ACT Health. It is not on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. A course of hepatitis B vaccine for newborns at risk is commenced at birth, with subsequent doses provided at Woden Valley Hospital. It is available on prescription through GPs and is not on the PBS. The cost is $4.10 per neonatal dose for a three-dose course, and $7.50 per adult dose. Influenza vaccine is available on prescription through GPs and is available on the PBS only for the risk categories. So there we are, Madam Speaker. That false impression Mrs Carnell tried to create has been sent to the place where all myths go.
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