Advertisement

Australia to pass 'No Jab No Pay' Bill

The Australian government has indicated that it will pass a Bill financially penalising parents w...
Newstalk
Newstalk

15.54 16 Sep 2015


Share this article


Australia to pass 'No...

Australia to pass 'No Jab No Pay' Bill

Newstalk
Newstalk

15.54 16 Sep 2015


Share this article


The Australian government has indicated that it will pass a Bill financially penalising parents who do not vaccinate their children.

The proposal was tabled by Tony Abbot earlier this year, before he was ousted from the position of Prime Minister.

It has been called the No Jab No Pay bill, and it is proving divisive.

Advertisement

Vaccination is sensitive issue for parents after well publicised, but since disproven, claims that vaccinations are linked to autism.

Some families feel it should be a matter of personal choice, authorities disagree.

Public health officials who argue that to leave a child unvaccinated endangers other children have decided to remove a conscientious objection option previously available in Australia.

"The choice made by some families not to vaccinate their children is not supported by public policy or medical research, nor should such action be supported by taxpayers in the form of family payments," Social Services Minister Scott Morrison told the Australian Parliament.

CBC reports that families stand to lose up to 15,000 Australian dollars per child per year in tax and child care benefits from Jan. 1, 2016.

Authorities there are concerned by an increase in the number of parents claiming to be conscienctious objectors.

That number for under sevens has risen from 24,000 over the past decade to 39,000.

Worldwide concern

Other countries that have legislated for the use of vaccinations include Germany, which has made it a legal requirement for parents to sign a consent form confirming that they have been educated about the risks they are choosing to take.

Similarly, in the US, California is just one of the States where proposed legislation would require parents to vaccinate all school children. That is despite the fact that kindergarten vaccinations rates there are above 90%. 

Last year America's Centre for Disease Control expressed disquiet at the lack of information State health authorities are making available on vaccination rates. 

In 2014, only 21 states posted vaccination rates for individual schools, school districts, counties or areas of the state.

Meanwhile, nations including the UK have been forced to launch national vaccination catch-up campaigns after spikes in measles in recent years.

At home

In Ireland, all childhood vaccinations are available free of charge through the Primary Immunisation Scheme.

They are usually administered by nurse at GP practices that then apply to the State for reimbursement.

But it is the parent's responsibility to make appointments for vaccinations, though the Department of Health does issue some reminders.

Officially, the advice here to parents is that the diseases we vaccinate against can kill.

"Measles used to kill thousands of people in Europe and the United States every year.  In the 1940s and 1950s, tens of thousands of children were crippled or killed by polio.  As recently as the mid 1980s, 100 children a year in Ireland suffered from meningitis and other serious complications as a result of Hib infection."

"These diseases have not changed. They can still cause pneumonia, choking, meningitis, brain damage and heart problems in children who are not protected."

And the HSE's guidance to parents who have concerns is clear: "There is nothing to worry about as your child’s immune system can easily cope with vaccines."

Further, they warn you risk spreading disease if you do not vaccinate your child: "Your child could also spread those diseases to others who are not protected, such as children who are too young to be vaccinated. Many people could get very sick and some could die if not enough people in your community are protected."


Share this article


Read more about

News

Most Popular