Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:624;Page:19310] 
4.  
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Port Waikato) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: If an early flu hits New Zealand this winter can she confirm that only 50000 New Zealanders are likely to have been successfully immunised by the fully effective vaccine and that the additional 100000 doses supplied by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories are possibly still months away thereby putting lives at risk; if not why not? 
Hon PETE HODGSON (Associate Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Health 
: No. The 2 to 3 week delay in delivery of the vaccine is not expected to make much difference given the pattern of influenza in previous years. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Why when so many people’s lives are at risk did she do nothing for a week but wait for a report asking no questions seeking no daily briefings and demanding no urgent explanation? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: It is a matter of record that Pharmac advised the Minister of Health on the evening of 28 February that there may be problems with the influenza vaccine. At that stage it was not clear what the situation was. The next day—1 March a Tuesday—Pharmac started seeking alternative supplies. 
Mark Peck 
: Who determines the strains that are included in the vaccine? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Each year the World Health Organization determines the strains that are to be included in the vaccines for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Since yesterday’s question time has the Minister found out how many New Zealanders’ lives are potentially at risk because of this shonky flu vaccine and if she has not found out why should we conclude other than the fact that she simply does not care? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: We would expect there would be no lives put at risk but we will know that with greater clarity next week—[ 
Interruption 
] We will know that with greater clarity next week—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would members please allow the Minister to complete his answer. 
Judith Collins 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Are we not allowed to interject during a Minister’s answer? Those interjections were very reasonable and the Minister was simply putting on an act to try to get some sympathy. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The odd interjection is permitted but when they reach a level where it is difficult to hear the question or the answer that is unacceptable. Would the Minister please repeat his answer. 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: We would expect further information—to more accurately answer the member’s question—next week after the advice from the expert advisory group is through. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: How does the Minister reconcile her fulsome endorsement in the House yesterday of Pharmac’s sole supplier policy with the fact that subsequently Pharmac has instituted an internal inquiry into the sole supplier policy and bearing in mind that its experience with this vaccine is exactly the same as its botched experience with similar sole supplier practices in respect of gout medication and anaemia preparations last year? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I am delighted that Pharmac shows the flexibility to look at its practices. However should it decide to go for a multi-supplier future it will of course have a multi-increased chance of failure of one of the products. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Was she aware of the problem the Americans had 6 months ago with the supply of their vaccines and what actions did she take at the time to assure herself that she could protect our nation’s vulnerable with adequate supplies here in New Zealand? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I regret I do not have the information the member seeks. 
Peter Brown 
: Will the Minister clarify his answers? He said in answer to the principal question that a 2 to 3 week wait is not expected to make much difference but he responded to the Hon Ken Shirley by saying he would know more in a few weeks’ time. Can we assume that “not much difference” means that a few people might die that some people might die or in the worst circumstances that a lot of people might die? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The reason the answers were different was that the first question was about timing and the second was about efficacy. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Can she guarantee effective delivery of the flu vaccine given the complex problems of choosing the most vulnerable for the fully effective vaccine the problem that many may require a double dose of the less effective vaccine and the added pressure on practices brought about by the meningococcal programme; if not why not? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I am not sure what one does with that rap around the bushes but I would say to the member that the effective delivery of flu vaccine to the people of New Zealand this winter in a timely way is a matter that the Government is seized of. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: I seek leave to table two reports. The first is a New Zealand Press Association item entitled “GPs will face problems on flu shots”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. The document will not be tabled. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: The second report is from the  
New Zealand Herald 
 and it suggests that had the health authorities taken action sooner they might have begun the search for an alternative supply earlier. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to the tabling of that document? There is. It will not be tabled.