INDIGO Council has voted in favour of fast-tracking the “no jab, no play” policy that will prohibit children from enrolling in a childcare centre unless they are fully immunised.
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The policy was passed unanimously during Tuesday’s council meeting, with councillors requesting the law be introduced this year as opposed to the 2016 recommendation by the Victorian government.
Just 83 per cent of two-year-olds have been fully vaccinated in the Indigo Shire, which is equal with the lowest rates in Victoria.
Alpine Council is a little higher at 88 per cent, compared to 100 per cent in Towong and Murrindindi councils.
Mayor Bernard Gaffney said it was important to act quickly, considering Indigo had low immunisation rates.
“Councillors voted 7-0 in favour of passing the motion, which also looks at the law being introduced sometime this year,” he said.
“This has to go through Parliament because we are trying to introduce it earlier than 2016.”
Cr Gaffney said the council was cognisant that parents had a right as to whether their children were immunised.
“However their decision should not be allowed to put other children at risk, in particular newborn and very young babies for whom the consequences could be fatal,” he said.
Cr Gaffney said anecdotal evidence from the maternal and child health services showed a number of families in the Indigo Shire did not wish to immunise.
The Indigo Council provides all vaccinations on the National Immunisation Program Schedule free of charge to babies, children, adolescents and adults.
The program is delivered at five sites, the Maternal and Child Health Centres in Yackandandah, Rutherglen, Beechworth, Tangambalanga and Chiltern.
The law applies in NSW.