Vaccine as mandatory as you can make it: PM
NO-JAB, no-pay schemes could be rolled out to cut off government payments if the take-up of a COVID-19 vaccine is not strong enough.
As the first deal to secure a vaccine supply is signed, Scott Morrison (pictured) said he wanted it to be “as mandatory as you can possibly make” it to ensure herd immunity.
The nation’s top doctors said vaccinations were the “absolute ticket” to return to normal society and they expected a strong take-up.
But they indicated were prepared to consider “the stick” if necessary.
Medical experts said voluntary take-up was the best option, but if herd immunity were not reached this way, “no jab, no pay” schemes, which link children’s vaccinations to family tax benefit payments, had proven effective in the past.
The federal government has signed a “letter of intent” with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to secure its vaccine, should it prove safe and effective.
The Prime Minister said while a coronavirus vaccine would not be compulsory, broad take-up was necessary to protect the community.
“In the first instance, I’d be encouraging people to take it on,’’ Mr Morrison said.
“I’ll certainly be taking it on, my family will be taking it on.’’
Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said he expected long, socially-distanced queues of people seeking the vaccine should one or more become available.
“There will be very strong campaigns to encourage people and we’ve had experience before of linking vaccination with other programs,” he said. they