Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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NATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) 1998 NO. 73

STATUTORY RULES 1998 No. 73

Issued by Authority of the Minister for Health and Family Services

National Health Act 1953

National Health Regulations (Amendment)

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) previously prescribed six diseases, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B, influenza, pertussis and tetanus, for the purposes of paragraph 9B(d) of the Act.

Regulation 6 of the Regulations has been amended to prescribe two more diseases for the purposes of paragraph 9B(d) of the Act. These diseases are Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and pneumococcal.

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.