2 in 3 against child benefit link to vaccination

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2 in 3 against child benefit link to vaccination
[Posted: Mon 03/02/2003]

By Deborah Condon

Almost two-thirds of Irish people would not support the linking of child benefit payments to vaccination uptake, according to the results of a new poll by irishhealth.com.

We asked our 44,600 plus registered users, would you back child payment benefits being linked in any way to whether parents have their child vaccinated.

This follows recent comments by the director of the National Disease Surveillance Centre, Dr Darina O'Flanagan, that Ireland should consider such a move as an incentive to parents to have their children vaccinated. Such a method is already used in Australia.

Of those who answered, 64% said no, they would not support this move. Altogether 30% said yes, they would support the linking of child benefit payments to vaccination uptake.

A further 6% remained undecided on the issue.

Vaccination rates in Ireland have fallen in recent years, particularly in relation to the MMR vaccine. The average uptake of this vaccine is currently around 72%, which is far below the recommended level of 95% required to adequately protect the community from measles, mumps and rubella.

This is partially due to continuing concerns amongst parents over the vaccine's safety.

See the full poll results and debate on the issue at…

http://www.irishhealth.com/poll.html?pollid=133

Sarah(sarahob) Posted: 05/02/2003 11:29
I think it would be unethical to link child benefit with vaccination - if parents have concerns they have a right to make an informed decisions without coercion. The NDSC should focus its attention on finding out what parents concerns are and making available clear, easy to understand information that gives a balanced picture, not just glossing over the issues. Also, they need to find out what difficulties parents experience in getting their children vaccinated. As a working parent I have found it difficult at times to fit the vaccination schedule & appt times around my work schedule. For the MMR vaccination I had to insist that the GP give the vaccination on a day other than their ususal day. If I had been overcoming doubts or didn't believe in the benefits as I do - I would probably said 'well its obviously not that important if the GP isn't bothered why should I be'

Anonymous Posted: 06/02/2003 01:20
Does the MMR VACCINATION come with a written guarantee that no child will be later diagnosed with autism or bowel disease or some other illness. Are parents now told that this controversial vaccine may not be suitable fo your child depending on the family medical history? See www.jabs.org.uk Before you vaccinate, ask

Anonymous Posted: 18/02/2003 14:16
Check out the "constitution". You cannot take the decision-making process from parents and put it in the hands of some bureaucrat. For God's sake look at what politicians have done to this country, as for the Health Boards (I wouldn't trust them to organise a walk around the block) - would you trust them with a vaccination programme for our children? In the last 24 months we have seen them distribute out of date vaccines and didn't one batch (distributed in the South I believe) even have traces of CJD? Sorreeeeeeeee, no way Jose!

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2 in 3 against child benefit link to vaccination