No jab, no play starts January 1

Parents could miss out on payments of up to $15,000 when federal government ‘no jab, no play’ laws come into force.

The childcare benefit, childcare rebate and Family Tax Benefit A will not be available for children without vaccinations.

Children who are not vaccinated will be banned from attending child care or kindergarten.

The state government has launched a new app to coincide with the law changes.

VaxOnTime reminds parents when their children’s vaccinations are due. The government estimates about 20 per cent of families forget to book immunisations.

The latest Australian Childhood Immunisation Register figures show four of six Wimmera municipalities were above the state average for vaccinations in five-year-old children.

Hindmarsh was the only area with a 100-per-cent immunisation rate.

Ararat, Yarrimabiack and Horsham rates were between 94.52 and 96.15 per cent, above the state average of 93.2 per cent.

West Wimmera and Northern Grampians recorded 90 and 90.32 per cent respectively.

West Wimmera maternal health nurse Monica Feder said it was important for people to realise smaller populations experienced greater fluctuations in figures.

“It only takes one child to be running late with vaccinations and the figures plunge,” she said.

“In our areas, we have such small populations that if one child is late for vaccinations, it has a big impact on the figures.

“One kid can swing the percentage into the 90s or lower.

“But in areas with 1200 kids, like in the larger cities, 10 kids could be late and it barely affects the percentage.

“People see the figures and they go into panic mode. Our shire as a whole has continually been very vigilant about 100 per cent uptake with vaccinations.”

Mrs Feder said she supported the new legislation, but wanted the government to take a tougher stance.

“I think the laws are a good start, but it's not enough,” she said.

“It needs to be rolled out in schools too. My personal opinion is that students should have to be vaccinated before they start school.”

Mrs Feder encouraged parents to use the VaxOnTime app.

Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy said while the latest immunisation figures were positive, 95 per cent immunisation coverage was required to halt the spread of diseases such as measles.

“Refusing to vaccinate your child not only endangers their health, but the health of every other child in our community,” she said.

“Our new app is a handy prompt to help busy parents make sure their child’s vaccinations are up to date.”