Senator wants school ban research sped up

PROPOSED Government research into the possible banning of unvaccinated children from schools should be carried out ‘sooner rather than later,’ Senator Catherine Noone has said.

Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail in response to a comment by Health Minister Simon Harris, that he would ‘instinctively agree’ with a proposal to ban unvaccinated children from schools and creches, the Fine Gael senator said: ‘I would be supportive of that view.

‘As far as I am concerned, it is highly irresponsible not to vaccinate your children. We are lucky to have vaccines to protect us from disease.’

She said: ‘I can understand how people might have become confused when the anti-vaccination movement put a credible case forward through social media, but it is not founded in any sort of research. Any research shows that vaccinations are safe.

‘Any parent who doesn’t vaccinate their children is being very irresponsible, in my opinion.’

Speaking about the research that Mr Harris said he will carry out, Ms Noone said she remains ‘open minded’ as to what it may recommend, but that compulsory vaccinations for children who go to schools and creches could be a ‘route’ we need to take.

She added: ‘I’d be open-minded as to what is recommended by any research that the Minister commissions. But when you are putting other children in danger by not vaccinating your children, it is something the Government has to take seriously, so I would hope that the research would be forthcoming sooner rather than later.’