Here in Australia we are very fortunate as citizens and permanent residents to garner financial assistance for child rearing. Among the payments is one for immunisation. If your child’s vaccination status is current (and I think there is a nationwide or statewide standard), you are entitled to about $200.
There are certain exemptions though (emphasis mine):
a recognised immunisation provider (e.g. your doctor) signs a letter or form saying that:
- they have told you about the benefits and risks of immunising your child and you have a conscientious objection to immunising your child (your provider should complete a Health Insurance Commission Immu-12 form),
- immunising your child with a particular vaccine is medically contraindicated (your provider should use the Health Insurance Commission Immu-11 form),
- the child has a natural immunity to the disease, or
- the vaccine is not available,
- you or your partner are a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist and you have a letter from an official of the Church advising that you are a practising member of the Church.
I understand that some people do not believe in immunisations- that the reasons vary from “not necessary to vaccinate” to “how can you put that unnatural substance in your child’s body, I believe in natural immunity” and also “immunisations are a lie from the drug companies to get more money, you are all being brainwashed!” Now that’s their choice and I don’t want to get into a pro/antivaccination thingamy here because it just gets ugly.
I find it strange though that parents and carers are allowed to apply for the immunisation allowance when they aren’t going to immunise their child. It comes across a bit hypocritical. What do you think?
Off-topic, but did you drop out of NaBloPoMo?
I dropped out after only getting halfway! I am not one for sustained effort I’m afraid.
Based on my memory, which is normally reliable but selectively so, the $200 used to be part of the maternity payment. They split this payment in two in the late 90s (pre-baby years for you??) to increase vaccination rates (some $ now, some $ later), as some people were just not bothering to vaccinate their kids, not necessarily having any kind of objection to it. So in that sense everyone is entitled to the $200 as part of the ‘maternity package’even if parents choose not to vaccinate. By the way, my kids are all vaccinated so I did get the $200 without fuss.
Thanks for that Leila.
My kids aren’t all vaccinated I’ve missed a few I think – I don’t think it’s necessary for them to get them all. I’m more a herd immunity/natural immunity kind of person. Having said that – they have had whooping cough/diptheria and tetanus ones.