Vaccination Rates Increase Since Start of “No Jab, No Pay” Policy

The Federal Government has revealed that vaccination rates increased since the government’s “No Jab, No Pay policy.”

Since the policy was introduced on January 1 this year, almost 190,000 children who were not fully immunised are now up to date.

The Federal Government says the “No Jab, No Pay policy” is working to increase the number of children vaccinated across Australia. Under the said policy, children must be fully vaccinated, have a valid medical exemption or be on a catch-up schedule if parents are to continue receiving benefits.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter says the childcare rebates and welfare payments suspended for failing to immunise can be reinstated immediately once their kids get immunised.

Mum-of-three Jenni Bate said she ensures that her three kids were up-to-date with their vaccinations. “It’s safe, it’s effective. It’s a really good way to protect our children,” she said.

Yet, despite the progress, over 86,000 families have been sanctioned for not meeting vaccination requirements around the country, losing childcare rebates in the process. Given the sanctions, the Australian government has withheld payments worth a total $39 million.

Some of the highest immunisation rates were recorded in the ACT, while NSW topped the table for five-year-old indigenous children with 96.2 per cent coverage.

Mr Porter said the 95 per cent target level was critical to provide what’s known as herd immunity – when large numbers of individuals are immune to disease, chains of infection are disrupted, stopping or slowing the spread of disease.

The Australian Medical Association said immunisations were “extremely important” for children of all ages. “We can’t take the safety and the health of our most vulnerable for granted,” Dr Tony Bartone said.

Sources: Au.news.yahoo.com and Kidspot.com.au