New laws barring children from childcare when they are not vaccinated because their parents are conscientious objectors have been largely welcomed in Orange.
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The laws took effect this week to strengthen vaccination enrolment requirements for pre-school centres.
A certificate showing the child has been vaccinated will now need to be provided to the directors of child care facilities at enrolment.
Directors face fines for enrolling any child who has not been vaccinated.
Exemptions will apply for children who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical condition or are on a catch-up vaccination schedule.
In Orange the rate of five-year-olds vaccinated is above the national average.
Data from 2015-16, based on the National Immunisation Program Schedule, showed 96.4 per cent of Orange five-year-olds were vaccinated, compared to the national average of 92.9 per cent.
Lizzie Peebles said on the Central Western Daily’s Facebook site the change was needed to protect all children.
“As an early childhood educator, mother, grandmother and someone who grew up in an era witnessing some of these awful diseases in action, I can assure you it’s a godsend,” she said.
“Especially as we have so many little ones in care at an early age, that are still to be completely immunised themselves.
“It is one of the things I have always checked before accepting a child into my service.
“I’m just protecting the children I already have in my care. My service, my responsibility to my families and my choice.”
Orange mother of six Danielle Kind said all her children were immunised but she was opposed to the government forcing people.
“People should be able to make their own choice,” she said.
“This is Australia, you have to live life.”
She said the country was becoming over-regulated.
“You can’t go fishing [without a licence], you can’t carry a pocket knife, you can’t even carry a stick,” she said.
Rachel Jones said on Facebook people’s rights to be conscientious objectors should not affect others.
“What’s not your right is to allow your conscientious objection to cause others illness and in some cases, death,” she said.
Dominic Walsh said on Facebook society benefited from the childcare system and vaccination.
David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
