- Published:
- Wednesday 21 February 2018
Rogue medical practitioners will no longer be able to make false statements about a child’s ability to be immunised thanks to new laws which passed Parliament today.
The new laws will mean that letters and other documents produced by GPs or other immunisation providers will no longer be accepted as proof of immunisation.
From now on, only Immunisation History Statements from the Australian Immunisation Register will be accepted as evidence of immunisation or of medical exemption to vaccination when a child is enrolled.
The Labor Government is shutting the door on dodgy, anti-vax doctors who write up false vaccination exemptions and put our kids at risk of deadly, vaccine-preventable diseases.
The new laws simplify the process of enrolling kids in early childhood for parents and services alike.
Victorian kids are now better protected against vaccine-preventable diseases, with the state hitting the ambitious herd immunity target of 95 per cent – its best immunisation coverage in history.
The latest figures from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register show that 95.3 per cent of five-year-olds are now fully immunised in Victoria.
From November, parents will be required to provide Immunisation History Statements to early childhood services at regular intervals – and not just upon enrolment – ensuring children’s immunisations are up to date.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“We’ve taken action to slam the door shut on rogue doctors who peddle lies about vaccinations and put our kids in danger. There’s no two ways about it: Immunisations save lives.”
“People who tout misinformation about the health and safety of Victorian kids have to be stopped in their tracks – and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos
“Our No Jab No Play laws are non-negotiable and they’re here to stay, because we want as many children as possible immunised and protected from life-threatening illnesses.”
“Immunising your child not only protects you and your family, but other children in the community. The science is crystal clear.”