❓ Mr. Healy asks the Minister for Health about the Cook Labor government's RSV immunisation program and its impact on protecting vulnerable infants and relieving hospital pressure. The Minister details the program's rollout, expected benefits, and national leadership.
AnsweredQoN 114Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL
VIRUS IMMUNISATION PROGRAM
114. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
record of putting the health of Western Australians first.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how this
government's delivery of an Australian-first free respiratory syncytial
virus—RSV—immunisation program will protect our youngest, most
vulnerable Western Australians this winter?
(2) Can the minister advise the
house how this program will relieve pressure on our hospitals?
VIRUS IMMUNISATION PROGRAM
114. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
record of putting the health of Western Australians first.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how this
government's delivery of an Australian-first free respiratory syncytial
virus—RSV—immunisation program will protect our youngest, most
vulnerable Western Australians this winter?
(2) Can the minister advise the
house how this program will relieve pressure on our hospitals?
AnswerView source ↗
(1) I thank the
member for the question. The Premier and I, as many would have seen, last week
joined both Katherine and her gorgeous daughter, Hazel, at the Rheola Street
Central Immunisation Clinic. At only two months old, Hazel spent eight days in
an induced coma at Perth Children's Hospital suffering from RSV.
Instead of enjoying those first early, precious months, the time was wracked
with worry, concern and stress about whether her daughter was going to survive.
Katherine said —
This was the first time I'd
heard of RSV and remember thinking: Why didn't someone tell me about
this before?
I
now know it's a common virus. Many kids have a mild case, but for
Hazel, RSV meant an induced coma, collapsed lung, blood transfusion, medication
withdrawals and countless, invasive blood tests.
That is why the Western Australian
Cook Labor government made the decision to fund for the Western Australian
community free access to RSV vaccinations for the most vulnerable members of
our community—babies. This is a nation first; we are the first state to
do this. It has had fantastic success in the
northern hemisphere in the winter period by significantly reducing visits to
GPs, emergency departments and
hospitals. Respiratory syncytial virus—RSV—is highly
infectious. It affects more than 65 per cent of babies in their first year of
life, and four out of five babies and children with RSV who require
hospitalisation have zero underlying conditions; they are completely
healthy children. It can literally affect anyone.
(2) This will have a significant impact on our system
over this winter. With flu, COVID and RSV vaccinations , we expect and
hope to see fewer hospitalisations of children with RSV in Perth Children's
Hospital. It is literally full of babies with RSV in winter. It is very
complex. It creates enormous strain on staff, the emergency department and other people seeking access to care. From
April, babies under eight months old will be eligible for RSV
vaccinations from general practitioner practices, community health clinics and Aboriginal
services. From May, we will be rolling out the vaccinations at birthing
hospitals so the immunisation will be available as soon as babies are born to
give those babies careful protection. We know
that many people do not take their babies out, particularly if they are born in
the winter months, before their important eight-week vaccinations. This will
give them an extra layer of confidence. Babies between eight and 19 months who
are at increased risk of severe RSV will also be eligible. When people are
taking their kids to their GP for their older flu vaccination, they should also
ask about the RSV vaccine for babies.
The Australian Medical Association in
Queensland is lobbying the Queensland government to implement a similar
program. We believe, under the current evidence we have, that we can prevent
700 RSV-related hospitalisations this year alone. We can also prevent 2 000
emergency department presentations and over 4 000 GP appointments can be saved
if people use this immunisation. I am very proud that we are the first
government in Australia to be able to provide this for the community and an
added layer of assurance, protection and care for the most vulnerable people in
our community.
member for the question. The Premier and I, as many would have seen, last week
joined both Katherine and her gorgeous daughter, Hazel, at the Rheola Street
Central Immunisation Clinic. At only two months old, Hazel spent eight days in
an induced coma at Perth Children's Hospital suffering from RSV.
Instead of enjoying those first early, precious months, the time was wracked
with worry, concern and stress about whether her daughter was going to survive.
Katherine said —
This was the first time I'd
heard of RSV and remember thinking: Why didn't someone tell me about
this before?
I
now know it's a common virus. Many kids have a mild case, but for
Hazel, RSV meant an induced coma, collapsed lung, blood transfusion, medication
withdrawals and countless, invasive blood tests.
That is why the Western Australian
Cook Labor government made the decision to fund for the Western Australian
community free access to RSV vaccinations for the most vulnerable members of
our community—babies. This is a nation first; we are the first state to
do this. It has had fantastic success in the
northern hemisphere in the winter period by significantly reducing visits to
GPs, emergency departments and
hospitals. Respiratory syncytial virus—RSV—is highly
infectious. It affects more than 65 per cent of babies in their first year of
life, and four out of five babies and children with RSV who require
hospitalisation have zero underlying conditions; they are completely
healthy children. It can literally affect anyone.
(2) This will have a significant impact on our system
over this winter. With flu, COVID and RSV vaccinations , we expect and
hope to see fewer hospitalisations of children with RSV in Perth Children's
Hospital. It is literally full of babies with RSV in winter. It is very
complex. It creates enormous strain on staff, the emergency department and other people seeking access to care. From
April, babies under eight months old will be eligible for RSV
vaccinations from general practitioner practices, community health clinics and Aboriginal
services. From May, we will be rolling out the vaccinations at birthing
hospitals so the immunisation will be available as soon as babies are born to
give those babies careful protection. We know
that many people do not take their babies out, particularly if they are born in
the winter months, before their important eight-week vaccinations. This will
give them an extra layer of confidence. Babies between eight and 19 months who
are at increased risk of severe RSV will also be eligible. When people are
taking their kids to their GP for their older flu vaccination, they should also
ask about the RSV vaccine for babies.
The Australian Medical Association in
Queensland is lobbying the Queensland government to implement a similar
program. We believe, under the current evidence we have, that we can prevent
700 RSV-related hospitalisations this year alone. We can also prevent 2 000
emergency department presentations and over 4 000 GP appointments can be saved
if people use this immunisation. I am very proud that we are the first
government in Australia to be able to provide this for the community and an
added layer of assurance, protection and care for the most vulnerable people in
our community.
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