Slashdot Mirror
In Australia, Immunize Or Lose Benefits
An anonymous reader writes with news of a plan from the Australian government to cut down on the number of kids who aren't vaccinated. The new scheme will deny family tax benefits to parents whose children don't pass immunization checks. Quoting:
"The FTB supplement, worth $726 per child each year, will now only be paid once a child is fully immunized at these checks. Families are already required to have their child fully immunized to receive Child Care Benefit and the Child Care Rebate. Children will also be required for the first time to be vaccinated against meningococcal C, pneumococcal and chicken pox. Children will also be immunized against measles, mumps and rubella earlier, at 18 months instead of the current four years of age."
How can it look communist? They're using money to incentivise desired behavior. What could be more capitalistic than that? :-p
Belief is the currency of delusion.
The studies done so far don't show any correlation between vaccination and the hygiene effect.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/03/030304072832.htm
I live in France, where you can't get kids into kindergarten or school without vaccination certificates. And they cut child benefit too. The result is a very high vaccination rate, and that protects those who cannot be vaccinated such as very young children.
Virtually serving coffee
Why bother. If you look at the current Republican crop of presidential contenders their one main thing in common is their rejection of facts.
If Obama is the greatest threat to the nation, you'd think these knuckleheads could at least run one serious candidate against him.