The immunisation payment is not linked to costs associated with immunising your child; it is intended to encourage parents to immunise their children. However, as pointed out, the government cannot discriminate against parents who choose not to immunise, so you can conscientiously object, and if so, still claim the payment, attend schools, etc.
It is a difficult subject. I like the payment system, though, because one of the requirements for being a conscientous objector is that you have seen a medical practitioner and discussed the pros and cons of immunisation. I think that its important that every parent make an informed decision about immunisation. Because there are quite strong cases both for and against, despite government health authorities pushing the "for" side exclusively, I think it's a decision that should be made with some education. I have no objection against parents who choose to immunise their child if they have looked into the decision and are happy with it - in fact, my job obviously requires me to recommend it - but I am aghast at the thought of parents blithely allowing their children to be injected with a controlled drug, without fully investigating the evidence.
And in response to the opening poster's question: I have heard of homeopathic vaccination. I do not believe in it, as there is no evidence - not even anecdotal evidence - to suggest it has any effect. There is, however, a sizeable body of anecdotal (non-scientific) evidence to suggest a specific pattern of reactions which occur linked to the use of immunisations, in particular the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccination, and this body of evidence has grown significantly enough that health researchers have acknowledged it as a potential problem, even though they have not as yet been able to isolate the problem or specifically link it to immunisation. Therefore, we have chosen not to immunise our children, and we believe that their good standards of hygeiene, "extended" breastfeeding, good nutrition, and careful supervision of their activities and playmates, is the best defence against the most dangerous of the vaccine-preventable diseases, and that their own immune systems will defend them from the less dangerous vaccine-preventable diseases, with the outcome being a lasting and natural immunity. We also intend to commence a modified schedule of immunusations before they start school - when their immune systems are sufficiently matured that they only need one dose of many of the immunisations to accord them immunity, rather than a series of three.
And incidentally, I am honestly quite disgusted to see that the rotavirus vaccine has already been added to the immunisation scheduel for babies under six months. Rotavirus is a ridiculously easy disease to keep away from babies, unless they are in childcare and not under your direct supervision. I honestly believe that it should be offered to women who have no choice but to put their babies into childcare, but is a horrendous waste of money, and a health risk, to the rest of the population.
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