Lance O'Sullivan believes every child should be vaccinated. Photo / NZME
Lance O'Sullivan believes every child should be vaccinated. Photo / NZME
A leading New Zealand doctor has called on the Government to follow Australia's example to cut child-welfare payments to families who do not vaccinate their children, saying the policy would help protect the most vulnerable in our society.
Kaitaia GP Lance O'Sullivan, who was named New Zealander of the Year2014, said all parents - no matter their income - should be compelled to vaccinate their children.
"I think the bottom line for me is we need to have strategies and initiatives that will protect our children, and in particular vulnerable children, and by definition that would be children living in welfare homes," he said.
"This is not, and shouldn't be seen as, a welfare-benefit bashing sort of idea, I would see this as a proactive idea to ensure those very vulnerable children are protected by a best-practice decision, which is immunising children. We know that if you have children immunised they're going to have reduced disease and burden of disease.
"The vaccine preventable diseases that I see in my practice and in my community is worrying. We see children with pneumonia and other serious infections that we know should be non-existent, or at least very rare, in our communities and in our country."
Dr O'Sullivan's comments came after Australia announced a policy to be introduced next year that would cut child and family benefits from parents who did not vaccinate children.
Prime Minister John Key has already ruled out following in his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott's footsteps, saying he didn't want to remove the element of personal choice from parents.
But Dr O'Sullivan said he would not be deterred by the naysayers. "I believe this is a positive step."
