Australia is one of the countries where the most vaccinations have spread in recent years. Although the vaccination rate is close to 90 percent, the number of children under 7 years not vaccinated amounts to 39,000 children. A formula has been devised for some time to curb this trend and Parliament has just approved a measure that will be implemented next year: no prick no privileges.
As of January 1, 2016, Parents who do not vaccinate their children will no longer receive the tax benefits they receive for the care of their children. They say that touching the pocket is what hurts the most, so the Australian government has decided to put this tax punishment to anti-vaccine parents, except when there is a medical justification, such as children with compromised immune systems.
Tax punishment for anti-vaccines
This way it eliminates parental exemption as conscientious objectors and still continue to receive child care benefits financed by taxpayers.
According to the laws of that country, families with children receive 15,000 Australian dollars (10,800 euros) per year per child to cover the costs of their care, childcare and others. Families who vaccinate are the same as those who do not vaccinate, taking into account that not vaccinating children, in addition to being a danger to the health of all, also means an extra expense for public health.
"The choice that families make of not immunizing their children is not supported by public policy or medical research, and neither should such action be sustained by taxpayers in child care payments," said Tony Abbott, Australian Prime Minister .
Those most critical of the measure argue that this will disproportionately affect those of the most disadvantaged families, and on the other, there are those who believe that families do not have to subsidize those who make irresponsible decisions like not vaccinating their children.
Would something like this work in Spain?
With the latest outbreaks of diseases such as measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, which have even caused the death of young children, the obligation to vaccinate children has been questioned. The AEP believes that it is not necessary for now to request the obligation, its position is to convince parents based on scientific and ethical arguments, inform them about the benefits of vaccines and the danger of not vaccinating, but in practice there are positions Very difficult to change.
Do you think that if a measure similar to that of Australia were implemented, vaccination rates would increase?
