Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:624;Page:19530] 
11.  
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Port Waikato) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Can she confirm that the Ministry of Health stated on 22 March that “From April 18 GPs and vaccinators will be able to offer one dose of Vaxigrip to the healthy population under 65 years.” and that “The full three-virus vaccine will be available for eligible funded groups from April 26 2005.”; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Acting Minister of Health) 
: Yes. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Can the Minister confirm that as of this afternoon Pharmac has made no order or commitment to purchase any quantity of the Vaxigrip vaccine; and if she does not know this fact is she displaying the same ignorance of what Pharmac is up to that she displayed between 28 February and 7 March thus repeating within 1 month the same inattention to a significant public health problem that affects thousands of New Zealanders? 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: No I cannot confirm that. At this point this Government has a commitment to 1.38 million doses of Vaxigrip. We also have a commitment through Pharmac to purchase 518000 doses of other vaccines to cover both those at risk and those at less risk. The flu vaccine programme is in order. This Government is monitoring the situation and we have every confidence that we will be in control of any possible flu outbreak should it occur. 
Steve Chadwick 
: Has the Minister read any media releases dated 23 March 2005 concerning a possible flu outbreak in several patients seen by an Auckland GP? 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: Yes the Minister of Health has seen two alarmist media releases issued that day by Dr Paul Hutchison referring to a possible flu outbreak. In both releases he said that Auckland GP Dr Nick Cooper had seen several patients that day with “classic flu symptoms”. The Auckland medical officer of health has liaised with the GP and checked with the lab which reports nothing unusual for this time of year. That member is wrong and he knows it. There is no evidence of a flu outbreak in Auckland or anywhere else in New Zealand. Given current concerns sensible surveillance of influenza in general practice will begin early this year on 4 April. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Can the Minister confirm that the 368000 doses of flu vaccine that Pharmac is to purchase from Glaxo Smith Kline will cost almost $4 million which is twice as expensive as the original Sanofi Pasteur vaccine and is she aware that Pharmac may not have a good case for compensation against Sanofi Pasteur MSD because Medsafe indicated that it would approve the Sanofi Pasteur vaccine for use in New Zealand when the Minister and Pharmac were scrambling around looking for options? 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: I do not have those figures before me. What I can say is that it is an unfortunate situation that a mistake made by a commercial company has created this problem. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The member asked a question and was heard in silence. I ask him to have the courtesy to allow the Minister to respond in silence also. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: What I can say is that this Government is committed to protecting the public of New Zealand and where necessary will spend the money to ensure that we have a flu vaccine programme in place. That is exactly what we have now and I am confident that Pharmac will manage that properly. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: I seek leave to table two documents. The first is from the  
New Zealand Herald 
 dated Thursday 17 March 2005 “Flu vaccine debacle puts many at risk”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. It will not be tabled. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: The second is from  
InPHARMation 
 a Pharmac publication dated February 2005 which says that the Vaxigrip brand of influenza vaccine is subsidised for New Zealanders from March this year and that the subsidised vaccine shots would be available from 1 March of this year. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. The document will not be tabled.