Australian Government Prepares to Punish Parents who Don’t Vaccinate Children

Australian Government Prepares to Punish Parents who Don’t Vaccinate Children
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The Australian government is set to pass a law that would withhold child care and other benefits from parents who opt out of vaccinating their children.

Under the “No Jab, No Pay Bill” introduced to Parliament, the “conscientious objector” category would be removed, making parents ineligible for full government benefits for not immunizing their children. Youngsters would only be exempt due to medical reasons.

If the law is passed, families could lose up to 15,000 Australian dollars ($11,000) per child per year in tax and child care benefits starting January 1, 2016, if their children are not inoculated. [1]

There has been a rise in unvaccinated children under age 7 in Australia, due to parental concern over the potential side effects of vaccines, and worse. Over the past decade, the number of children under 7 who aren’t vaccinated has increased from 24,000 to 39,000. There are reasons for it, too. Encephalopathy, febrile seizures, anaphylaxisand hardening of the brain are two devastating conditions associated with measles immunization. And there are many reported adverse vaccine effectsreported (and many more unreported) to the CDC and FDA – known as VAERS.

No matter; Australian legislators are adamant that moms and dads “jab” their kids, despite their well-founded fears.

“The choice made by some families not to vaccinate their children is not supported by public policy or medical research, nor should such action be supported by taxpayers in the form of family payments,” Social Services Minister Scott Morrison told Parliament.

One South Wales woman is rebelling against the proposed law by opening a childcare center that will welcome unvaccinated youngsterswith open arms. Juanita “Wanda” Halden calls the government’s actions “human rights violations.” [3]

Halden took to Facebook to explain her decision to open the Northern Rivers, New South Wales child care facility:

“I am a woman who answers to the creator — not corporation, Therefore I am the highest authority when it comes to making the decisions concerned with my body or that of my property ‘my child’. I also value my ability to discern, research and understand the risks associated with my choices. Do not try to sway me; or my rights. You will fail.”

The law is likely to be passed without any amendments.

Do you think parents should have the right to choose?

About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates onher blog.

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