SA to take hard line on no jab, no play for early learning services next month despite concerns of education department officials

Unvaccinated children will be blocked from early learning services in SA next month, despite revelations that education officials fear they aren't ready for the change.

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A hard-line policy that excludes unvaccinated children from South Australian early learning services will go ahead, despite the Education Department raising concerns that it’s not ready for the change.

The Advertiser understands that the department officially raised a possible delay with SA Health, fearing it may not have the required tracking and monitoring processes in place for the August 7 launch date.

It is understood a request to delay the start was made to SA Health chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier, and rejected. However, health officials have pledged to work closely with the Education Department to assist in the transition and progress it. The no jab, no play policy began taking effect in January, as parents were made to give immunisation records to their childcare service provider.

That information was to be used to enable the exclusion of unvaccinated children during a disease outbreak, to protect them and the wider community. From next month, an early childhood service must not enrol a child if immunisation requirements are not met. There are exemptions for legitimate medical reasons.

The no jab, no play policy began taking effect in January, as parents were made to give immunisation records to their childcare service provider.

Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said it was an essential step. “Following extensive consultation, the no jab, no play legislation put by the Government and passed with strong multi-partisan parliamentary support, will exclude unvaccinated children from preschool,” he said. “Unfortunately, their access to services will be disrupted unless they get vaccinated.

“As we struggle to find a vaccine for one virus (COVID-19), it would be reckless to not protect children, their services and the wider community from the diseases for which we have vaccines.“

Opposition assistant health spokesman Blair Boyer said it appeared there was a split in Cabinet over the policy.

“It is astonishing that, mid global pandemic, the Government would even consider the possibility of relaxing laws around compulsory vaccination,” he said.

“The Opposition will be seeking access to these consultation documents ... to get to the bottom of it.”