No Jab, No Pay - Vaccination
16-Dec-2015
The No Jab, No Pay legislation passed on 23 November 2015. From 1 January 2016, only families who fully immunise their children, are on a recognised vaccination catch-up schedule, or have an approved medical exemption can receive family assistance payments such as the Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate, and the Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement.
Vaccination objection will no longer be a valid exemption. Parents will maintain their right to choose whether or not to vaccinate their children.
Parents will be notified by Centrelink in the coming weeks, if their child/children does not meet the immunisation requirements for family assistance payments. Parents will be advised to speak with their vaccination provider if their child requires catch-up vaccines.
From 1 January 2016, free vaccines will be available for children aged 10-19 years who require catch-up under this policy. Vaccines for children less than 10 years of age are free under the National Immunisation Program.
The Chief Medical Officer has written to providers describing the catch-up vaccination arrangements, and providing links to five new fact sheets (Below) to support conversations with vaccine hesitant parents.
These resources will also be available on the Immunise Australia website shortly.
