Rogue Mitcham doctor John Piesse to stop treating patients

HUNDREDS of children may be booted from kindergartens and childcare if their immunisation exemptions are found to be invalid or to have been granted by a suspect doctor.

HUNDREDS of children with immunisation exemptions may be booted from kindergartens and childcare, or forced to have the shots, if those exemptions are found to be invalid or to have been granted by a suspect doctor.

State and federal health authorities are reviewing the validity of vaccination exemptions overseen by a group of Melbourne general practitioners allegedly involved in an anti-vaccination cell.

The Herald Sun has confirmed Victoria’s Department of Health and Department of Education is investigating exemptions granted by controversial Mitcham GP Dr John Piesse, who on Thursday agreed to stop treating patients.

If the exemptions are ruled invalid, the children face revocation of their vaccination status, meaning they may have to have vaccinations or be barred from kindergartens and childcare placements, under Victoria’s No Jab, No Play laws.

The federal government has also begun reviewing its No Jab No Play exemption processes amid concerns anti-vaxxers are exploiting loopholes.

On Thursday, Dr Piesse entered into a legally binding agreement not to practise, revelations of an underground network of anti-vaccination doctors helping 600 families to avoid compulsory immunisations.

Dr John Piesse outside the Natural Healing Centre in Mitcham. Picture: Nicole Gamston

Dr Piesse’s undertaking is an interim measure while investigations continue.

If he breaches the undertaking, he will be subject to regulatory action.

Families and Children Minister Jenny Mikakos said all children should be vaccinated.

“I’ve asked the Department of Education and Training to contact all Victorian early childhood services to advise them of Dr Piesse’s undertaking … and request parents seek a second opinion from a registered medical practitioner.

“We urge all parents to vaccinate their children because the science is clear: vaccinations save lives. Practitioners who peddle lies and misinformation about immunisation are a menace and put the health and safety of children at great risk. They must be stopped,” she said.

RELATED COVERAGE:

ANTI-VAXXER MOVIE SCREENING IN SECRECY AT CROWN

INSIDE THE ANTI-VACCINATION CULT

SECRET MELBOURNE CELL OF ANTI-VAXXER DOCTORS UNDER INVESTIGATION

Health Department spokesman Bram Alexander said the status of suspect exemptions was being examined. However, many illegitimate exemptions may never be identified. Victoria has no central register.

The federal Health Department on Thursday confirmed it had begun reviewing its extension of authority to grant exemptions to paediatricians, clinical immunologists, public health physicians and infectious diseases physicians.

And it confirmed it had rejected applications by Dr Piesse for exemptions under the No Jab No Pay provisions, which are centrally collated: “Only one has been accepted.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt said he had also pushed for a wider review of exemptions.

A doctor can grant an exemption based on the knowledge a child may suffer severe reactions to a vaccination.

But in a video of Dr ­Piesse addressing a Hawthorn anti-vaxxer for­um, he said doctors did not have to include a reason for granting an exemption on their No Jab No Play forms.

[e-mail]