The increase number of unimmunised children has resulted in market failure. In return, this has forced the government to propose a new immunisation. This report will outline immunisation rates as well as the current and proposed policies. It will also look at positive externalities and form a critical analysis on the proposed and suggested policies.
Australia is facing an increase in the number of children going unimmunised. According to the Department of Health, over the last 16 years the percentage of unimmunised children has increased from 0.23 , in 1999, to 1.77, in 2014 (Department of Health, 2015). With this increase arises the risk of children catching diseases, becoming contagious and possibly spreading the disease (Adedeji et al., 2009; Salako & Sholeye, 2014). In 2014 there were 340 reported cases of measles in Australia. The disease was believed to be brought over by travellers from Asia; it was then transferred to …show more content…
The policy was “compulsory choice” rather than “compulsory immunisation”; meaning parents were required to immunise their children otherwise they would not receive government benefits. However, parents could choose to decline, for medical reasons or conscientious objection, and still receive benefits (Swain. 2012).
The policy proposed today is the “no jab, not pay policy” (McNair, 2015). This policy has removed the “conscientious objection” exemption and kept the medical exemption. As well, after speaking to The Church of Christ and Scientist, the Christian Scientist exemption was also removed (Grove & Klapdor, 2015). Parents that do not comply will not receive their Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate and Family Tax Benefit (Department of Social Services, 2015)
In order to better understand how Government immunisation policies affect level of consumption the economic model of positive externalities must be
Australia is facing an increase in the number of children going unimmunised. According to the Department of Health, over the last 16 years the percentage of unimmunised children has increased from 0.23 , in 1999, to 1.77, in 2014 (Department of Health, 2015). With this increase arises the risk of children catching diseases, becoming contagious and possibly spreading the disease (Adedeji et al., 2009; Salako & Sholeye, 2014). In 2014 there were 340 reported cases of measles in Australia. The disease was believed to be brought over by travellers from Asia; it was then transferred to …show more content…
The policy was “compulsory choice” rather than “compulsory immunisation”; meaning parents were required to immunise their children otherwise they would not receive government benefits. However, parents could choose to decline, for medical reasons or conscientious objection, and still receive benefits (Swain. 2012).
The policy proposed today is the “no jab, not pay policy” (McNair, 2015). This policy has removed the “conscientious objection” exemption and kept the medical exemption. As well, after speaking to The Church of Christ and Scientist, the Christian Scientist exemption was also removed (Grove & Klapdor, 2015). Parents that do not comply will not receive their Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate and Family Tax Benefit (Department of Social Services, 2015)
In order to better understand how Government immunisation policies affect level of consumption the economic model of positive externalities must be