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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 04 Hansard (Wednesday, 31 March 2004) . . Page.. 1404 ..

So as Ms MacDonald points out, for a family with babies the cost of the potential course for each child may be up to $600.

The public health outcomes funding agreement, or PHOFA, provides that funding for a limited range of vaccines in the ACT. The current agreement is due to expire on 30 June this year. In 2003 the Commonwealth undertook a review of the current agreement in consultation with the states and territories. This encompassed the scope and intent of the agreement including levels of funding.

A negotiation process for the new agreement is expected to commence in March 2004 and will consider the funding levels for vaccines to be included in the agreements. In this context Ms MacDonald’s motion is particularly timely because it allows us to send a clear message—and certainly I as minister will take heed of the resolution of the Assembly, if it chooses to pass it today, in terms of the negotiations for the future agreement—that free vaccination for pneumococcal disease is legitimate and should be seriously considered by the Commonwealth government.

Of course, the severity of pneumococcal disease is significant. The disease kills more Australians than meningococcal C, for which there is a federal government funded vaccination. Although the number of cases of this disease, or indeed deaths from it and the burden of the disease, is a very important consideration, cost effectiveness is also considered to be a significant factor in prioritising vaccine funding. It is for this reason that the expert group has recommended both vaccines on the Australian standard vaccination schedule. The National Health and Medical Research Council endorsed this in September 2003 after the May budget decisions had been finalised.

It is very clear that not only is it a worthwhile vaccination in the context of the ability to reduce incidence of this illness but also it is highly cost effective and recognised as such by the medical community. Of course, there are significant health and financial benefits to be gained by providing pneumococcal disease vaccine free to all young Australians. This was recognised by the expert group’s recommendation. As Ms MacDonald points out, a large number of organisations, including the Australian Medical Association’s Advisory Committee on Child and Youth Health, have been in support of the National Health and Medical Research Council’s recommendation.

It is important that this lobbying by these organisations be accepted and endorsed by the Assembly today. Emphasis has been placed on funding, particularly in the context of the emphasis the Commonwealth has chosen in terms of funding meningococcal vaccine over pneumococcal vaccine. They are both legitimate vaccines; they are both cost effective. For that reason the ACT government has supported, and continues to support, the National Health and Medical Research Council’s recommendation for a funded pneumococcal vaccine program for babies and children in the ACT.

This is a disease that has potentially devastating effects on babies and young children. It can cruel their chances of a productive and full life in the most devastating way, as Ms MacDonald has highlighted. For that reason it is a sensible motion which deserves the Assembly’s support if we are to continue to strive to prevent illnesses in babies and young children that can have such awful and traumatic effects. I endorse and strongly support the motion today.

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