Campbelltown MP Greg Warren has welcomed plans by NSW Labor to block the setting up of specialist anti-vaccination child care centres.
The opposition will introduce legislation this week that plugs a loophole that currently allows such centres.
“As the father of two boys myself, I am a firm supporter of immunisation,” Mr Warren said.
“We have to find ways to increase vaccination rates and if it requires plugging loopholes allowing anti-vaccination centres, then we have a responsibility to do so.
“We need to be encouraging vaccinations not discouraging them.
“Vaccinations are the only way to protect against serious diseases like polio, mumps, whooping cough, meningococcal, diphtheria and tetanus,’’ Mr Warren said.
“We make no apologies for taking these tough steps to protect children and the overall community.”
Heather Kilgour, Campbelltown community preschool director Heather Kilgour, agrees with the Opposition’s position on vaccinations.
“A lot of people nowadays have not seen the results of those diseases that used to be around that vaccinations have helped prevent,” Ms Kilgour said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“It really is a duty of care to ensure that all children are vaccinated against these terrible diseases.”[/social_quote]
As part of the legislation, the Opposition will remove the so-called “conscientious objector clause”.
However, it will retain the specialist provision for children who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical condition such as a specialised cancer treatment.
Mr Greg Warren said this was a sensible approach as it separated the anti-vaxxers from children who were undergoing cancer treatment.
He said there have been recent reports of patients reporting to NSW hospitals with vaccine preventable diseases like whooping cough and measles.
It also follows a report earlier this month of a northern beaches mother wanting to set up a “vaccine-free day care” and in September 2015 a Lismore mother wanting to set up a similar venture.
