Immunize Children or Lose Tax Benefits

Parents who fail to ensure their children undergo the full six-stage immunization are at a risk of losing up to $2100. Parents will have to make three payments of $726 available under the family tax benefit A end of year supplement. This move is part of an expanded scheme to increase vaccination rates as 1 in 10 children is not vaccinated in Australia.According to the Federal Government around 8% of 1-year old children, 7% of 2-year-old, and 11% of five-year-old children are not being immunized. This is a real risk to their health and to the health of other children.

Under the new measures, an immunization check will be introduced for 1-year old children to supplement existing checks at two and five. Children will be required to be vaccinated for meningococcal C, pneumococcal and varicella (chicken pox) from 1st July 2013.

The Government will also announce a new campaign to advise parents and healthcare providers about how they can protect their babies from whooping cough. New parents will receive letters providing information on immunization against whooping cough and how to identify the disease and prevent its spread.

Source-Medindia