No support for ‘No jab, no pay'

There's little sympathy or support for Australia's ‘No jab, no pay' policy from Mr Immunisation here in Tauranga.

Australian parents face losing thousands of dollars in benefit payments if they don't allow their children to be vaccinated. It's an iron-fisted no-nonsense plan which has caused a stir on both sides of the Tasman.


Dr Hugh Lees – sitting with Sarah Johnson and her 12-week-old daughter Evelyn –disagrees with Australia's ‘No jab, no pay' policy. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

The Bay of Plenty District health Board's chief medical advisor Dr Hugh Lees says it's 'a simplistic solution that might not target significant numbers of those who are anti-vaccination”.

Dr Lees is one of the BOPDHB's main faces of its immunisation programme.

About 39,000 Australian children under seven have not been immunised because their parents rejected the use of vaccinations by filling on 'conscientious objection” forms.

That option will be removed and only a small number of people will be able to contest vaccination on medical or religious grounds.

It could cost defiant parents more than $15,000 per child per year.

The controversial plan already has the blessing of 2014 New Zealander of the Year Dr Lance O'Sullivan of Kaitaia.

He's reported as saying the vaccine preventable diseases he sees in his practice are worrying 'like children with pneumonia and other serious infections that we know should be non-existent or at least very rare.”

The Prime Minister John Key has indicated he doesn't want to remove the element of personal choice from parents.

However, Lance says the Australian plan would protect the most vulnerable in society and all parents, regardless of income, should be compelled to vaccinate.

A total of 94 per cent of New Zealand children are vaccinated by the time they are age two. The Government target is 95 per cent.

Rather than the Australian model of punishing parents, Hugh believes 'we have to take a more positive approach to enrolling and enlisting parents who don't object to vaccination and who just haven't got around to having it done”.

This will go a long way towards protecting all children from the diseases the immunisation n campaign protects against, says Hugh.

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7 comments

Well

Posted on 18-04-2015 16:15 | By Capt_Kaveman

We are poisoned by chlorine and sometime fluoride in out water so why not compulsory immunization it has to be done


Mind blowing

Posted on 18-04-2015 16:22 | By YOGI BEAR

That parents would leave their children exposed to many diseases, like Polo, Meningitis and many more. None of these are minor and most have huge health effects, damaging or death. Not to is simply a case of Russian roulette by a few parents with the lives of their children. Perhaps if it was their own lives at stake the view would be a lot different. Perhaps the way to do it is that the Health system should bill these crazy people, and they have to pay the massive medical bills. It is not fair that everyone else should be lumbered with these costs, waste of time, and beds idiots.


@Cave Man and Yogi

Posted on 19-04-2015 13:19 | By morepork

Personally, I would get my kids immunized (I don't have any), just as I was immunized myself. The army gave us about 12 different immunizations in preparation for going to fight an Asian war (and you couldn't opt out of having them...). I don't believe they have ever done me any harm. BUT, there is a very important point you are both ignoring here: People have a right to decide what happens to their bodies and their children's bodies. Furthermore, there IS a risk (even if it is a small one) associated with some vaccinations. We should ENCOURAGE people to get themselves and their kids vaccinated, by ensuring proper balanced information is available, and there is easy access to immunization; we should not FORCE or intimidate people to do it because that isn't the kind of society we should aspire to be. I agree unvaccinated people should share treatment cos


@morepork,

Posted on 19-04-2015 16:03 | By Jimmy Ehu

this may not be a good thing, but I totally agree with you comment.


New Zealands' she'll be right attitude

Posted on 19-04-2015 17:43 | By How about this view!

We live in a nation of ignorance. We have those that believe that they need do nothing because the majority of the country will have done it in their stead. May have been acceptable MANY years ago, however, we are now in a world of migration and refugees and surely there are many epidemics waiting for us just around the corner. Let them be gamblers with their health, BUT I continue to favour USER PAYS in most aspects of life.


Freedom of Thought?

Posted on 20-04-2015 00:28 | By The vZs

Where did the right for the individual to choose go? I am under the impression that the definition of democracy is freedom to choose. I am neither anti-vaccination nor pro-vaccination. That aside I am one of the Crazy, Russian Roulette parents who have not vaccinated their kids. Uninformed - I don't think so. I have 2 science degrees in Human Anatomy & Physiology and have worked in the medical field for 25 years. I am just unconvinced that there is sufficient unbiased research that vaccination is as effective as its potential side effects are real. I am open for anyone to post "raw" research links to show that effective immunity is endowed by vaccinations. I have made this request of every pro-vaccination advocate I have met for 25 years and am still waiting. What we need is an independent Commission of Inquiry into Vaccinations.


Unbiased Information

Posted on 20-04-2015 10:33 | By Conzar

The main problem with the Vaccination topic is the main problem with society: money. The scientific studies that are used to support the idea that Vaccination prevents disease are all supported by big Pharma money. Meaning, the results are skewed to support a hypothesis that is biased. What comes out of these is often used by the mass media to over-hype and propagandise. For instance, the idea of herd immunity has angered the vaccinated community to promote hate to the unvaccinated community. The propaganda of herd immunity is of course just another marketing trick by Big Pharma. As for my advise on the issue, analyse all of the information you can and come to your own conclusion for how you think its best to grow your children. Health care should continue to be provided to everyone regardless of their life choices because that is a human right.


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