Page 3685 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 September 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
(1) In relation to the answers provided to question on notice No E19-340, for each year (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19, how many (i) urgent orders for vaccines were made, (ii) were delivered on the same day, (iii) were delivered in two-three days, (iv) were delivered in four-seven days and (iv) were delivered in more than seven days.
(2) On what basis is it determined that a one-week turnaround for delivery of urgent vaccine orders is acceptable.
(3) What are the potential consequences for patients when delivery of an urgent order takes one week.
(4) What is being done to reduce the turnaround delivery time for urgent orders.
(5) For each year (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19, (i) how many cold chain breaches were identified on delivery of vaccines, (ii) what were the locations of the breaches, (iii) what was done to rectify the breaches and (iv) what measures were put in place to prevent/minimise future breaches at those locations.
(6) For each year (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19, (i) how many instances of incorrect storage of vaccines were identified on delivery, (ii) what were the locations and (iii) what measures were put in place to improve storage practices at the locations.
(7) For each year (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19, (i) how many vaccines that were returned, either from delivery or storage, were destroyed, (ii) what was the cost of the destroyed vaccines and (iii) what did it cost to destroy them.
Ms Stephen-Smith: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) (i)
(a) 2017-18 – 114
(b) 2018-19 – 172
The ACT Health Directorate Vaccine Management Unit (VMU) has, in recent years, implemented the Vaccine Inventory Management System (VIMS) database. Data provided above includes orders recorded as urgent in VIMS.
(ii–v) Currently, data is not available on delivery turnaround times. VMU is exploring with the VIMS software vendor the feasibility of expanding reporting capability to capture delivery turnaround times.
(2) The VMU, comprising four staff, routinely delivers vaccines to over 200 immunisation providers in the ACT. Each provider has a scheduled monthly delivery date, except for some providers who regularly use large numbers of vaccine, including hospitals and larger general practices; these providers receive scheduled deliveries on a fortnightly basis.
Regular correspondence is sent from VMU to all immunisation providers with updates on demand for vaccines; education on monitoring vaccine supplies in preparation for scheduled vaccine clinics; and advice on the need for appropriately sized fridges to store required stock to effectively meet demand at individual practices.
All correspondence includes advice that urgent deliveries may take up to a week to receive from date of receipt. In addition to regular deliveries, urgent delivery days are scheduled twice a week based on location:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video