WIMMERA children will soon have to be fully vaccinated to attend kindergarten.
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The state government will expand its no jab, no play policy, so that all children will need to be immunised before they can attend childcare or kindergarten from January 1.
Children who have legitimate health reasons for not being fully vaccinated will be exempt from the new rules.
Western Victoria Primary Health Network chief executive Jason Trethowan said from a health professional perspective, it was a welcomed policy.
“Immunisation is the safest and most effective way to protect the community from life threatening diseases,” he said.
“It’s a tough policy, but it is also evidence-based – it only takes contact with one child to contract a disease.
“The government make unpopular decisions at time, but this one is very welcome.”
Mr Trethowan said immunisation rates in the Wimmera were good and this was a timely reminder for people to maintain those high rates.
Northern Grampians economic and community development director Michael Bailey said while he supported the policy, it could be a contentious issue.
“The statistics show this is the best way forward to protect the wider community from diseases,” he said.
“There has been about 1000 more cases of whooping cough this year than last year and it’s something we need to remedy.
“Whooping cough can be really serious, especially in infants, so it’s one of those things we must ensure we prevent as much as possible.”
Mr Bailey said while immunisations rates in the region were good, but people still had the option of being a conscientious objector.
“The state government is now reducing the ability for people to have that choice and the only exceptions will be for people with a doctor’s certificate,” he said.
“What happens with those objectors, we will find out.
“This policy could possibly cause backlash among some groups, but the government has taken a larger view to protect the wider community as much as possible.”
Health Minister Jill Hennessy said parents who refused to vaccinate children on ideological grounds would not be enrolled in childcare or kindergarten.
"It is simply irresponsible for people to ignore the science and choose not to vaccinate their child," she said.
The federal government will no longer make family assistance payments to conscientious objectors from 2016.
