Parents are being reminded to ensure their children’s vaccinations are up to date following the Australian Government’s program NO JAB NO PAY coming into effect from the start of the Year.
From the 1st of January only parents with children who are fully immunised will receive the Child Care Benefit, the Child Care rebate and the Family Tax Benefit Part A end of year supplements. Nurses at the Forbes Medical Centre are urging all parents to ensure their children are up to date with their vaccinations and are offering FREE catch up vaccinations to any child (under the age of 20), with appointments available daily.
Forbes Medical Centre Nurse Manager Shelley Clark says ensuring children are vaccinated protects all children as well as safeguards the health of future generations. “Immunisation remains the safest and most effective way to stop the spread of many of the world’s most infectious diseases. Rapid advances in the science of immunisation mean that modern vaccines are extremely safe, and serious reactions to them are rare,” Ms Clark said.
“Statistics have shown that before the major vaccination campaigns of the 1960s and ’70s diseases like tetanus, and whooping cough killed thousands of young children each and every year, whereas today, deaths from these diseases are extremely rare in Australia.” “If enough people in the community are immunised, the infection can no longer be
spread from person to person and it is possible that the disease can die out altogether.”
Ms Clark is urging all parents who are unsure of where their children are up to with Vaccination to make an appointment to find out what’s required to bring their child up to date. “If a parent is unsure if their child is up to
date they can contact the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) on 1800 653 809 or online on with the Department of Human Services. They can also make an appointment with one of our Registered Nurse’s to talk about their child’s Immunisation history.” Ms Clark said.