No vax, no school, no childcare

PARENTS in Victoria who refuse to vaccinate their children will not be able to enrol them in schools and childcare centres.

Under a tightening of the state’s No Jab No Play laws, if a parent wants to enrol their unvaccinated child in primary school or daycare they must provide proof of a serious medical condition that prevents vaccination.

Previously, childcare services and kindergartens could not enrol children unless documents were provided stating a child was either fully immunised for their age, on a catch-up vaccination program or suffering from a medical condition that meant they could not be immunised.

Anti-vaxxers have been able to get around these requirements by finding doctors who are willing to provide them with a letter or documents, but these loopholes will be closed under the legislation to be introduced into parliament this week.

Parents must instead provide an official statement from the Australian Immunisation Register.

Childcare centres will undergo regular audits to ensure all children enrolled are up to date with their immunisation, with parents risking having their children’s enrolment cancelled if they are found to be unvaccinated.

The stricter legislation comes after Melbourne GP John Piesse had his medical licence suspended when it was revealed he was helping antivaxxers get around the immunisation laws.