Post by WarMachineRhodey on Feb 21, 2016 11:44:03 GMT -5
m.theage.com.au/nsw/federal-governments-no-jab-no-pay-law-sparks-run-on-vaccines-20160219-gmyusd.html
"The federal government's 'no jab, no pay' law has sparked a rush on vaccines as parents fear missing out on welfare benefits.
Under the vaccination policy, which came into effect on January 1, parents will lose the Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement and childcare subsidies if their child is not up to date with their immunisations.
State and territory health departments report they are being inundated with calls from GPs and health nurses about how to implement catch-up schedules, particularly for children who have never been vaccinated, as parents flock to immunisation providers.
Meanwhile, health departments are sending out increased vaccine supplies, a spokesman for federal Health Minister Sussan Ley confirmed.
Statistical data measuring the effect of the 'no jab, no pay' policy on immunisation coverage won't be available until April.
"While it is too early to provide meaningful figures, there appears to have been strong interest in the supply of vaccines for children under five years of age," said NSW Health director of communicable diseases Dr Vicky Sheppeard.
Dr Sheppeard said for example there had been an increase in the supply of vaccines given at two, four and six months old to protect against pneumococcal disease from an average of 24,000 doses a month in the preceding months to 29,000 doses in January.
Anticipating an increase in immunisations, the federal government made specific vaccines available to catch up older children who hadn't been immunised at the recommended ages. "There has also been strong interest in these vaccines," Dr Sheppeard said."
"The federal government's 'no jab, no pay' law has sparked a rush on vaccines as parents fear missing out on welfare benefits.
Under the vaccination policy, which came into effect on January 1, parents will lose the Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement and childcare subsidies if their child is not up to date with their immunisations.
State and territory health departments report they are being inundated with calls from GPs and health nurses about how to implement catch-up schedules, particularly for children who have never been vaccinated, as parents flock to immunisation providers.
Meanwhile, health departments are sending out increased vaccine supplies, a spokesman for federal Health Minister Sussan Ley confirmed.
Statistical data measuring the effect of the 'no jab, no pay' policy on immunisation coverage won't be available until April.
"While it is too early to provide meaningful figures, there appears to have been strong interest in the supply of vaccines for children under five years of age," said NSW Health director of communicable diseases Dr Vicky Sheppeard.
Dr Sheppeard said for example there had been an increase in the supply of vaccines given at two, four and six months old to protect against pneumococcal disease from an average of 24,000 doses a month in the preceding months to 29,000 doses in January.
Anticipating an increase in immunisations, the federal government made specific vaccines available to catch up older children who hadn't been immunised at the recommended ages. "There has also been strong interest in these vaccines," Dr Sheppeard said."
