Tuesday, May 20, 2014
NSW vaccination objector numbers surge by 15 per cent after government changed childcare rules
NSW Health says the immunisation rate has risen by four per cent despite the jump in parents registering as conscientious objectors. Source: News Limited
THE number of NSW parents objecting to immunisation has jumped 15 per cent in 12 months new government figures show.
In 2013, the NSW government changed the rules for entry to childcare in response to a Sunday and Daily Telegraph campaign aimed at raising immunisation rates after alarming pockets of low coverage emerged.
As part of changes to the Public Health Act, parents had to prove they had obtained information from a medical professional on immunisation rather than unreliable internet sources.
Those who still objected to vaccination had to obtain a conscientious objector form signed by a doctor before they could enter child care.
That rule change has seen an extra 1285 conscientious objectors register in NSW from 8396 in March 2013 to 9681 a year later, a rise of 15 per cent.
A spokeswoman for the Health Minister Jillian Skinner said the rise was to be expected because conscientious objectors now had to show their hand.
A baby gets an injection. Vaccination. Child. Syringe. Generic image. Picture: Images Getty Source: Supplied
However, NSW Health figures show immunisation rates have jumped four per cent overall since the rule change the spokeswoman said.
Australia-wide there were 30,336 conscientious objectors registered with the Immunise Australia Program in 2012 out of 2.1 million children, with 8027 of those conscientious objectors residing in NSW.
By March 2014, the figures had grown to 36,109. Of those registered, 9681 were from NSW.
Overall national conscientious objection to vaccination rose from 1.46 per cent of the population in 2012, to 1.63 per cent in March 2014.
Conscientious objectors also have to register as such to exploit a loophole and claim $2100 worth of vaccination incentive payments meant for parents who vaccinate, an issue 4000 of Australia’s eminent scientists have publicly challenged the Abbott Government to fix.
The Sunday and Daily Telegraph, as part of their No Jab No Play campaign also challenged the government to act on this point as well.
Dr Peter Speck from the Australian Virology Society said changes to the family tax benefit A supplement immunisation bonus went from around $700 in 2012, up to $2100.
“I think the family tax benefit supplement for immunisation is the reason for the rise, it went from $700 in 2012 to $2100, I think that is feeding into the rise,” Dr Speck said, renewing calls to the Government to act on the loophole.
“No other government on the planet pays people to NOT get their kids vaccinated,” Dr Speck said.
Last week’s Federal Budget’s Health Portfolio Budget Statement on population health said:
“The Government will also consider issues associated with incentives to reduce vaccine refusal. The Department will develop tools and communication materials to assist immunisation providers, such as general practitioners, having conversations with vaccine hesitant parents. The Department will work with organisations providing primary health services to maintain and improve immunisation coverage at the local level in particular in pockets of low coverage.”
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