![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/vaccination.jpg\" "\\"Vaccination.")
<\/a>Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has today announced that parents who choose not to have their children vaccinated will miss out on thousands of dollars in government benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Speaking at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Mr Rudd said that those who do not vaccinate their children will not get the Family Tax Benefit A end-of-year supplement.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The payment is worth $726 per child, per year and is paid when children are vaccinated at one, two and five years of age.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Since last year, parents who have not immunised their children have not received the benefit; however, those registering as so-called conscientious objectors have.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Under Labor’s policy, exemptions would only be made on religious or medical grounds.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Labor says it wants to boost immunisation rates and prevent children who are not vaccinated from getting diseases like whooping cough and measles, and putting others at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The Government says the science of immunisation “cannot be disputed”.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n “Immunisation is the safest and most effective way for parents to protect their children from disease, and one of the most important public health measures at our disposal,” a Government statement said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has told Sky News the plans will boost immunisation rates.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n “It is one of the single more effective and cheapest ways of keeping our community healthy,” she said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n “We think about 3 million lives are saved a year around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n “We’re very lucky that in Australia so many of these diseases have almost disappeared that sometimes people become a bit complacent.”<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Australian Medical Association president Dr Steve Hambleton says the benefits of immunisation far outweigh the risks.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n “The strong\u00a0message here is the Government\u00a0is rewarding people who do the\u00a0right thing … [and] fully immunise their children,” he told ABC News 24.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n “If we\u00a0can get the immunisation rates\u00a0above 90 per cent, we will abolish diseases like measles and can\u00a0we can attack things like\u00a0whooping cough.”<\/span><\/p>\n