Vaccination rates rise as effects of no jab, no pay policy begin to kick in

NEARLY 100,000 families have had childcare rebates and welfare payments suspended or cancelled for failing to vaccinate kids under No Jab, No Pay reforms since January 1.

Parents who arrange a catch-up schedule can continue to receive benefits.

• No jab No Play: Campaign has big win

NEARLY 100,000 families have had childcare rebates and welfare payments suspended or cancelled for failing to vaccinate kids under No Jab, No Pay reforms since January 1.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal an estimated $38 million in welfare payments for Family Tax Benefit A alone have been suspended in cases where families have fallen ­behind or refused to vaccinate their children. The figure does not include childcare rebates.

But the good news is the ­reforms are having a real ­impact on vaccination rates, with 183,000 children whose parents had fallen behind in vaccination schedules now up to date.

Thousands of hardcore vaccine refusers have also taken children to the doctor.

Parents who arrange a catch-up schedule can continue to receive the Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate and the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A supplement and secure back pay as an financial incentive to vaccinate.

Championed by The Sunday Telegraph campaign to improve Australia’s vaccination rate, the impact of the reforms are outlined today in new figures. In the past three months alone, an additional 39,369 children who behind with vaccinations have gotten back on track. That brings the total to 183,000 kids.

“This is a great result — and a reflection of what the No Jab, No Pay Policy is achieving for the health of our children,” Minister for Social Services Christian Porter said.

But the government remains under fire for preparing to dump the booster dose of the whooping cough vaccine given to children in the first year of high school and delaying the establishment of the Australian Schools Vaccination Register.​

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Originally published as Vaccination rates rise as effects of no jab, no pay policy begin to kick in