The anti-vaccine movement continues to hamper the attempts of governments to increase immunisation rates in the community. Australia has a National Immunisation Program Schedule which starts at birth with the Hepatitis B vaccine.
Infants, children, adults and special risk groups are eligible to achieve some vaccines free of charge under the National Immunisation Program. In the majority of cases, vaccinations are provided via GPs or community health clinics. Australia has a childhood vaccination rate of 93.6 per cent.
No jab, no play
As of January 2016, parents and carers seeking to enrol children their children in childcare or kindergarten in the state of Victoria have to provide the service with evidence that their child is fully immunised or is unable to be fully immunised for medical reasons. In 2015 1.34 per cent of children had a conscientious objection recorded as a reason for being unvaccinated, which amounted to 30,092 children. ‘Conscientious objection’ is no longer considered an acceptable exemption under the No Jab No Play legislation.
National Clinical Guidelines, as outlined in the Australian Immunisation Handbook are expected to be referred to by GPs to determine what vaccinations are needed as per the schedule, as well as what are considered valid medical reasons for medical exemptions. Valid reasons include a potential anaphylactic reaction or a lowered immune system due to illness or treatment. In such cases, a registered medical practitioner completes and signs a Medicare Immunisation Exemption Medical Contraindication Form and submits it to the Australian Immunisation Register.
Recently it has come to light that a Melbourne-based doctor has been filmed at an anti-vaccination rally advising parents how to get around the No Jab No Play legislation, presumably through providing medical contraindication statements. It is believed that hundreds of Victorian families have been assisted to avoid vaccinations. Three Melbourne doctors are now being investigated by the Victorian Health Department and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). AHPRA states that medical practitioners have a responsibility to promote health through disease prevention and control as well as education and screening.
The Australian Health Minister, Greg Hunt, has vowed to come down on hard on doctors who cheat the vaccination system.