Anti-vaccine lobby reduced as more turn up for jabs

ALMOST 260 extra children are being immunised every week as even the most hardened anti-vaccine fanatics change their view.

Western sydney warning on measles

ALMOST 260 extra children are being immunised every week as even the most hardened anti-vaccine fanatics change their view.

The number of so-called conscientious objectors is down by 12 per cent. The number of vaccine refusers has dropped by a whopping 25 per cent since The Sunday ­Telegraph’s campaign pushed the federal government to change the law so parents who refuse to vaccinate their children lose family tax benefit A and the childcare rebate.

Medical experts are ­delighted, saying the message is finally breaking through the web of anti-vaccine lies.

One aspect of the new law removed conscientious objection as an exemption category.

In June last year 34,063 Australian children were registered as conscientious objectors but the December quarter figures, released on Friday, show close to 4000 have ­revoked their objection, a decrease of 12 per cent. Over 1200 of those parents are in NSW.

Conscientious objectors now make up just 1.34 per cent of the population, their lowest level in five years.

Rate of child vaccination increased 25 per cent over 12 months to last December.

The number of vaccine ­refusers has dropped even further. In December 2014, there were 39,523 vaccine refusers. In December 2015 that figure was 30,092, an improvement of 25 per cent.

Catherine Hughes, a vocal pro-vaccine campaigner since her one-month-old son Riley died of whooping cough last March, said she was thrilled.

“‘No Jab No Pay’ has played a role in getting people to make that decision and hopefully this is a trend that continues.”

Australian Medical Association President Prof Brian Owler said: “People are starting to realise the anti-vaccination lobby don’t hold weight and some of the policies are starting to take ­effect.

“People should feel safer in terms of their children’s health and safety as a result.”

Byron Shire Immunisation Co-ordinator Pam Walmsley said parents in the state’s anti-vaccination hotspot were finally turning around.

“I’ve had a steady trickle of families contacting me ... say five to 10 a week coming in to get their kids vaccinated,” she said.