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from the when-you-can't-make-them-see-the-light dept.
The Center for American Progress reports
The anti-vaccine sentiments that originated with a [completely] discredited British study linking the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) shot to autism have made their way to other western countries like Australia.
According to the government agency that tracks Australia's childhood vaccination rates, the rate of kids going without their shots has doubled over the past decade.
[...]Australia has announced an aggressive new approach in this area: Cutting off government benefits to parents who refuse to inoculate their children.
Under the proposal, parents who claim philosophical objections to vaccines will no longer be eligible for welfare payments and childcare rebates that can equal up to $11,500 per child in American dollars. Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the policy change on Sunday, although it still has to be approved by Parliament.
(Score: 2) by mojo chan on Wednesday April 15 2015, @07:25AM
The point of mandatory vaccinations is to protect the child and other children around them. Refusing to provide that child with schooling only harms the child further. I don't know about Australia, but in Europe education is a human right that the parents and state can't deny they child.
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(Score: 2) by sjames on Wednesday April 15 2015, @08:03AM
Leaving the parents without enough money to buy food is pretty harmful to the child as well.