Vaccine Exemptions in Australia

Vaccination is not compulsory in Australia, so the decision not to vaccinate yourself, or your child does not require government registration or justification.

Since January 2016 however, families with a child (up to age 20) and currently registered with a Conscientious or Religious exemption (along with the partially vaccinated), were provided a time-limited period (1 January 2016 to 31 December 2017) to commence a free 'catch-up' with the current National Immunisation Program Schedule (NIPS), or be denied further government payments.

Note: The Family Tax Benefit Supplement A ceases once a child has finished school or is on Youth Allowance.

View: 2015 Australian Government Family Assistance Guidelines
View: No Jab No Pay – Immunisation Catch-Up Arrangements
View: Eligibility for the Child Care Benefit

Medical Exemption defined

A person may have, or can obtain a medical exemption to vaccination if they are undergoing treatment that compromises their immune system ie, chemotherapy, or presents with a vaccine contraindication as listed by the manufacturers product disclosure insert. It must be noted that an individual with a prior personal or family history of a serious vaccine injury may no longer be sufficient grounds for a medical exemption. This is something to discuss with your preferred GP. Vaccine inserts once listed family adverse events as a contraindication, but was removed to minimise liability and improve compliance.

View: 2015 'False' Contraindications for vaccination.
View: Exemption Requirements for Government Payments

Medical Exemption requires a consultation with a GP

In seeking a medical exemption from an unfamiliar GP, be prepared and provide all relevant health records including; test results, receipt of referrals/consultations/treatments, photographic/video evidence (before/after), carer/school/medical incident or adverse event reports. If you know or suspect your child has acquired natural immunity, this can be confirmed with a blood test, which provides exemption for the associated vaccine. There are no concessions for selective or partial vaccination, unless a medical exemption states it.

For full Medical (Contraindication) Exemption to be accepted, your GP must tick all the vaccine boxes on the current Medical Contraindication form. Be sure to request/make at least two extra copies of this form for your records, plus an original for Medicare.

For those who will not or cannot qualify for a medical exemption, then the decision remaining is whether government benefits are financially essential or the 'catch-up' is a financial necessity. For vaccine refusers/objectors, be prepared that current childcare services may be withdrawn, and alternative childcare/work arrangements may need to be made. Best to discuss your options with your current or anticipated childcare provider in advance.

Be aware that families who do not financially qualify for these payments, can be challenged by private childcare providers who nominate to enforce the current vaccination schedule as a condition of enrollment. Also know that children will NOT be denied access to government preschools, primary or secondary school because of their vaccination status.

For concerns over, or threat of illegal discrimination, contact the Ombudsman.


No Jab No Pay Legislation passed in Federal Parliment

SBS News: No jab, no pay laws pass parliament. November 2105.

In April 2015, the Federal Government responded to mounting media pressure, and aggressive campaigning for compulsory vaccination throughout the US, with Tony Abbott announcing the 'No Jab No Pay' legislation. This legislation aims to improve the federal budget and increase vaccination rates, but most importantly, combat the increasing number of Conscientious Objectors registered to receive government benefits. In the same announcement, the Childhood Immunisation Register is scheduled to become the Australian Immunsiation Register, which will record vaccine compliance from birth to death.

Public demonstrations and hearings have taken place in all states, inviting written submissions from the public and other stakeholders. In Queensland, an unprecedented number of submissions were received. The Public Hearing in Brisbane was attended by political speakers, members of the public and stakeholders. Despite overwhelming objection, and open admission from the Health Dept. that the necessary administrative management to implement the scheme was uncertain, the legislation was passed. Several recommendations were made to address the objections raised, however 'No Jab No Pay' has since been passed in the Senate and will be enforced January 1st, 2016.

Read: Public Hearing transcript. Nov 2 2015
Read Committee Report and Recommmendation

No Jab No Pay: Common Good
or Uncommon Tyranny?

Removal of Conscientious and Religious Exemption

Regardless of whether you agree with vaccination or not, the removal of Conscientious Objection as an exemption has far reaching implications when it comes to any issue a government or its associated influences deems best for 'the greater good’ of the community. Be it a medical issue, national security, privacy, religion or politics. Conscientious Objection accepts and respects individual rights for a host of valid reasons - even doctors are protected against this discrimination.

'No Jab No Pay', to be enforced from January 2016, has been propelled by a frenzied and biased media campaign desperate to divide a community of sensibility and rational discussion over a very medical procedure that caries risk of harm and injury like every other pharmaceutical intervention.

This website is testimony to the thousands of vaccine injured families throughout Australia, yet so few cases have received the media attention the public deserves to hear, and certainly no government mandated compensation for taking that '1 in a million' risk and living with the lifelong medical care, expense and social isolation of that decision. This legislation contradicts 'valid consent' before vaccination, see Section 2.1.3 of The Australian Immunisation Handbook which states:

For consent to be legally valid, the following elements must be present:

  1. It must be given by a person with legal capacity, and of sufficient intellectual capacity to understand the implications of being vaccinated.
  2. It must be given voluntarily in the absence of undue pressure, coercion or manipulation.
  3. It must cover the specific procedure that is to be performed.
  4. It can only be given after the potential risks and benefits of the relevant vaccine, risks of not having it and any alternative options have been explained to the individual.

The AMA advises immunisation providers SHOULD NOT VACCINATE without the voluntary consent of the parent or individual.

For the purposes of clarity, the patient/parent/guardian must voluntarily consent to an immunisation. The key to a voluntary decision is the absence of undue pressure, coercion or manipulation. If the parent presents with an “involuntary consent form” or states they are being coerced to do so by government the doctor should not proceed to vaccinate the child because valid consent has not been provided. Read AMA article, Jan 2016.

The implications for conscientious objectors are currently being investigated to determine the legal limitations of No Jab No Pay, should a parent or individual appeal the denial of payments because a doctor cannot/will not vaccinate without voluntary consent.

The following is an ironic pairing of articles, and an interesting claim of success, given that over 24,000 did NOT change their mind. (Sunday Courier Mail 31 July, 2016)

The discriminatory and hardlined agenda of this policy has not gone unnoticed, effectively side stepping the key issues driving vaccine refusal, and the rationale behind Conscientious Objection.

If the Australian government is serious about improving confidence in vaccination, it will need to get REALLY serious about scrutinizing vaccine research, efficacy and safety, conflicts of interest, establishing a mandatory (and accountable) vaccine adverse event register AND a no-fault vaccine injury compensation fund, to support the victims of vaccine injury, disability and fatality.

Download Explanatory Notes for No Jab No Pay
Download Public Health (Childcare Vaccination) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015
child care

Backstory: Compulsory Vaccination for
Government Subsidised Childcare

In Queensland, it has been the discretion of individual childcare providers to determine a childs vaccination status before enrolment. In 2014, this freedom was challenged in the state of NSW and QLD with a proposed amendment to the Public Health Act 2010, requiring parents to provide evidence (not participation) of the vaccination status of children, to enrol their child in child care. Non-compliance will result in a $4000 fine to the childcare centre.

This proposal was spurred on by an emotive NSW campaign 'No Jab No Play', launched by Murdoch's Daily Telegraph (James Murdoch a now resigned director with vaccine producer GlaskoSmithKline), via various media streams online and in print. The aim was not to educate the public with balanced journalism, but to openly and aggressivley vilify the unvaccinated and provoke extreme public opinion on the matter. State and federal government leaders were also targeted, propelled by certain outspoken AMA officials and celebrity and 'skeptic' medico's and journalists. Headlines included:

  • Can't Immunise Against Arrogance
  • Vaccine Refusals High as Babies Die
  • Sorry Kid, But You'll Thank Us Later
  • Unvaccinated Children Risk Life of Cancer Survivor
  • Health Minister Jillian Skinner To Get Tough On Vaccines
  • AMA Call For Mandatory Proof Of Vaccination
  • Anti-Vax Parents May Join Dubious Church
  • Anti-Vaccine Parents Form Sham Church
  • Real Churches Denounce Cult of Anti-Vaccine

At face value, Murdoch media achieved it's discriminatory aims, lobbying politicians to fast track this Bill, not only in NSW, but across all Australian states, even prompting federal ALP and Coalition leaders to pledge support. This amendment in practice, meant parents seeking goverment funded childcare will need to provide documentation to demonstrate that:

  1. Their child is fully vaccinated for their age, OR
  2. Their child is on a recognised catch-up schedule, OR
  3. Their child has a medical contraindication to vaccination, OR
  4. They have a conscientious objection to vaccination documented following counselling by a general practitioner (GP) or authorised practitioner.
Read Federal Bill proposal.

The same Bill was submitted in QLD by the Greens, prompting all the same objections plus more. Inspite of the intense, emotive media pressure in NSW and the backing of certain QLD politicians, this amendment was rejected by the AMA, the childcare industry and the Government's own legal team. Again, no significant media attention received.

GreensBill_pt1

And concluding commentary:

GreensBill_pt2

Non-vaccinating families in QLD following the development of this media campaign and proposed legislation were relieved and frustrated with this transcript. Not surprisingly, the objections did not make front page news in ANY of the media streams who only weeks earlier were so adamant it was a necessary and widely supported amendment. Inspite of the strong objections, the Bill was passed in NSW.

No Jab No Pay - Parlimentary transcripts:

• Legislative Assembly Hansard – 22 November 2000
• Legislative Assembly Hansard – 28 May 2013
• Legislative Assembly Hansard – 29 May 2013
• Legislative Assembly Hansard – 29 May 2013 (Second reading)
• Legislative Assembly Hansard – 29 May 2013 (Second reading cont.)
• Legislative Assembly Hansard – 29 May 2013 (Second reading cont.)
• Legislative Council Hansard – 19 June 2013
• Legislative Council Hansard (Removal of Conscientious Objection) – 04 May 2017
• Legislative Assembly Hansard – 10 August 2017
• Legislative Council Hansard – 13 September 2017
• Legislative Council Hansard – 13 September 2017 cont.
shot in arm

Download...

Medical Exemption form
Immunisation Requirements
for Government Payments
Pre-vaccination checklist
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Good Medical Practice:
A Code of Conduct for
Doctors in Australia


2016 Australian
Vaccination Register

A new vaccination register was established late 2016 to record all child and adult vaccines provided under the NIP. This is designed to assist with the 'monitoring' of safety, quality and delivery of vaccinations to the Australia population.

Visit Dept. Human Services

Vaccine guidelines:

Contemporary Challenges regarding Informed Consent & Vaccination in Australia
Why Report A Vaccine Reaction?
Vaccine Classifications
Vaccine Components NCIRS
Vaccine Product Inserts

GMO Vaccine Development
Applications & Releases
The Future of Vaccines



QLD Public Hearing 2015

Community Affairs Legislation Committee votes in favour of proposed Bill, despite opposition...

"The committee received over 2000 pieces of correspondence related to the inquiry, which included submissions, form letters and short general statements. The majority of the correspondence received was from individuals who oppose the bill." CA Report, 2015

Read Public Hearing transcript. Nov 2 2015

Read Committee Report and Recommmendation
2016 Forum on No Jab
No Pay No Play (Video)

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