❓ Hon Tjorn Sibma questions the necessity of the public health state of emergency for COVID-19 vaccine administration, given that other vaccinations don't require it. The Minister's answer clarifies the roles of different authorisations and workforce flexibilities during the emergency.
AnsweredQoN 204Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — STATE OF EMERGENCY
204. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the Leader of the House representing
the Minister for Health:
I refer to part (4) of the minister's
answer to my question without notice on 16 March concerning the public health
state of emergency.
(1) Why are the Chief Health Officer's
authorisations in relation to administering and supplying or prescribing poisons, and the operation of vaccine
clinics, wholly dependent on extending the statewide declared public health state of emergency?
(2) Why is it
possible to administer vaccinations for all other non–COVID-19 diseases
in Western Australia without the need for a statewide declared public health
state of emergency?
204. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the Leader of the House representing
the Minister for Health:
I refer to part (4) of the minister's
answer to my question without notice on 16 March concerning the public health
state of emergency.
(1) Why are the Chief Health Officer's
authorisations in relation to administering and supplying or prescribing poisons, and the operation of vaccine
clinics, wholly dependent on extending the statewide declared public health state of emergency?
(2) Why is it
possible to administer vaccinations for all other non–COVID-19 diseases
in Western Australia without the need for a statewide declared public health
state of emergency?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Registered health professionals working within the
public health services, prison services or Aboriginal health services can
administer COVID-19 vaccinations under structured administration and supply
arrangements issued under regulation 33 of the Medicines and Poisons
Regulations 2016. Pharmacists providing COVID-19 vaccine services for registered community pharmacies are covered by a separate
structured administration and supply arrangement. These approvals are not
dependent on the public health state of emergency.
The
Chief Health Officer's authorisations issued under the Public Health
Act enable an additional workforce to assist in critical delivery of
COVID-19 vaccinations during the public health state of emergency, such as
students in final years of training as health professionals, under the direction
of registered health professionals. These authorisations also enable
commonwealth-contracted organisations to administer COVID-19 vaccines in
residential aged-care facilities and, if required, enable Defence Force health
professionals to be involved in COVID-19 clinics.
(2) Structured
administration and supply arrangements authorise health professionals to
administer vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, and, therefore, are not
dependent on the public health emergency.
some notice of the question.
(1) Registered health professionals working within the
public health services, prison services or Aboriginal health services can
administer COVID-19 vaccinations under structured administration and supply
arrangements issued under regulation 33 of the Medicines and Poisons
Regulations 2016. Pharmacists providing COVID-19 vaccine services for registered community pharmacies are covered by a separate
structured administration and supply arrangement. These approvals are not
dependent on the public health state of emergency.
The
Chief Health Officer's authorisations issued under the Public Health
Act enable an additional workforce to assist in critical delivery of
COVID-19 vaccinations during the public health state of emergency, such as
students in final years of training as health professionals, under the direction
of registered health professionals. These authorisations also enable
commonwealth-contracted organisations to administer COVID-19 vaccines in
residential aged-care facilities and, if required, enable Defence Force health
professionals to be involved in COVID-19 clinics.
(2) Structured
administration and supply arrangements authorise health professionals to
administer vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, and, therefore, are not
dependent on the public health emergency.
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