Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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NATIONAL HEALTH AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2000 (NO. 4) 2000 NO. 315

STATUTORY RULES 2000 No. 315

Issued by Authority of the Minister for Health and Aged Care

National Health Act 1953

National Health Amendment Regulations 2000 (No. 4)

Section 140 of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make Regulations for the purposes of the Act.

Section 9B of the Act provides that the Minister may provide, or arrange for the provision of, vaccine for the purpose of immunising persons against any of a number of diseases. The diseases specified in the section are poliomyelitis, mumps, measles and rubella. In addition, the section also applies to any other disease prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of paragraph 9B(d).

Regulation 6 of the National Health Regulations (the Regulations) currently prescribes eight diseases, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B, influenza, pertussis, tetanus, Japanese Encephalitis and pneumococcal disease, for the purposes of paragraph 9B(d) of the Act.

Regulation 6 of the Regulations has been amended to prescribe four more diseases for the purposes of paragraph 9B(d) of the Act. The diseases are Q fever, hepatitis A, varicella and meningococcal disease.

The amendment enables the Minister to make arrangements for the provision of vaccines against these diseases in a cost effective way as provided for in the Act.

The Regulations commenced on gazettal.