No jab, no subsidy not extended to Covid when children become eligible next month

From January 10, Covid vaccines will be available for five to 11 year olds but parents don't need to worry about their childcare subsidy being cut if their child isn’t jabbed.

The successful no jab, no subsidy scheme will not be extended to Covid-19 vaccines, as the jab becomes available to five to 11 year olds within weeks.

From January 10, Covid vaccines will be available for the younger age group ahead of the return to school.

Childhood vaccinations are required for parents to receive the Federal Government’s child care subsidy under the no jab, no pay legislation, including Outside School Hours Care which caters to five to 12 year olds.

German five-year-old Emil is vaccinated against the coronavirus. Picture: Sebastian Willnow/picture alliance via Getty Images

Vaccination rates for childhood diseases for five-year-olds in Australia is now greater than 95 per cent.

An Education Department spokeswoman said that the scheme would not be extended to the Covid vaccine when it becomes available from January 10.

“The Australian Government has consistently said that the Covid-19 vaccination is voluntary and will not be required for Government payments,” the spokeswoman said.

Australian Childcare Alliance vice-president Nesha Hutchinson said it was important to for everyone who could get vaccinated to do so, to protect those who could not, but stopped short of any suggestion it should be linked to the no jab, no play scheme.

“Everyone who could be vaccinated should be vaccinated in order that those who can’t be, or are immunocompromised, will be protected with herd immunity,” she said.

“When you have children who can’t be vaccinated the best way to keep them safe is for everyone around them to be vaccinated and take other precautions like masks in doors and good ventilation plans.

She said the quickest way for the government to help was to make rapid antigen tests free and mandate masks indoors.

“Mandatory vaccinations for five to 11 years olds is a difficult and controversial subject that doesn’t solve the problem right now,” Ms Hutchinson said.

Australian Childcare Alliance vice-president Nesha Hutchinson. Picture: Supplied

Meanwhile, Operation Covid Shield boss Lieutenant-General John Frewen this week said that there continued to be enough supply and distribution of the vaccine for five to 11 year olds from January 10, even with the increased booster rollout.

“The bookings are filling up fast, but again there are bookings available and I do encourage everybody who wants to get their five to 11 year old with their first dose before school next year to get onto the system and get those bookings in,” he said.

Immunisation requirements under the no jab, no pay scheme are based on the National Immunisation Program, which includes vaccines for polio, pneumococcal, diphtheria, hepatitis B, as well as measles, mumps and rubella.