MIA and chicken pox vaccination

[Indadhanu]

We've decided to not get the varicella/chicken pox.

Does anyone know from experience whether I need to get a CO form signed for this to be able to get the MIA payment? I keep hearing people say the 18 month one doesn't count, and you get the payment anyway, but I've never heard from anyone who hasn't actually got the 18 month vaccinations

They 'process' applications automatically, you don't have to claim it, so if we haven't got the 18 month ones done will the 'reject' it without a CO form? Will we need to sign a form? How does it work?

[Liz]

Kayla hasn't had hers and I got the payment You get the payment even if you don't vaccinate at all apparently.

[Indadhanu]

And you haven't signed a conscientious (sp?) objection form for them?

[briggsy's girl]

i haven't been at work in a while Leash, but when i was working, there was definitely no need to have the 18month needles to get your MIA

[Indadhanu]

Ok cool. Forgot to ask when we had our appointment on Monday

[Junglemum]

We didn't get varicella, but i filled out a CO form as we skipped a couple and didn't follow the schedule. Well my MCHN filled out the form for me, just asked me to sign it!
Not much help really, am i?

[onthefly]

I still haven't decided whether we'll get that one or not, but have recieved the payment....

[Glamourcide]

Yeah, DD1 skipped the chickenpox, we didn't sign anything or say anything to our GP (I just never booked her in for the vacc) and I got the payment anyway

[Liz]

yeah.. haven't signed anything.. just haven't got around to it... and probably won't either. I don't think it's officially on the schedule yet is it?

[onthefly]

does that mean you're still officially up to date for daycare without it?

[Glamourcide]

^ Well I've noticed DD1's daycare centre has got notices asking certain families for vax documentation but DD's name isn't on the list so I assume they're not worried about it. HTH

[Rach75]

o signe a form as i had taken jack to get 18mrg health check.......its on the schedual in qld so just check with drs

[Loula]

Children that attend CC do not have to be vaccinated however you do need to notify them if this is the choice you have made so that if there is an outbreak of something they can call you as your child will not be allowed to attend.

[Indadhanu]

Just as a follow-up, we got our MIA yesterday automatically, without Jazz having the chicken pox vaccination and without having to even tell Centrelink we weren't getting it done. It was all processed automatically. In fact, I didn't even know it was coming until i had an extra $122 in my account (which was a nice surprise haha).

[Ozziehoffy]

Leash, I think it's more of an "incentive" payment to be honest. As for child care, no idea how all that works. I was asked to give a copy of Oskar's vax history to the centre.

[briggsy's girl]

the MIA IS an incentive payment. there are parents out there that make the conscious decision to not vaccinate (as is the case with Leash contemplating the CP vax) - but there are others who simply "forget" that immunisations are due at a certain time. by having an incentive to get them done and on time, this has decreased massively. the MIA used to be paid in one lump sum between 18 and 24 months - but the same thing started happening with the later immunisations - so it was split in two - with the other half paid between 4 and 5 when those vax have happened

the CP vax isn't compulsory for the earliest installment of MIA as it is not NATIONALLY scheduled. the federal government can't discriminate against someone in queensland (for instance) and not pay them the MIA for not having the CP as scheduled, when other states don't have that vax on the schedule and get the payment (hope that makes sense)

the childcare side of things is as Loula said - if your child is not up to date with their immunisations, you will be contacted and your child may not be able to attend care if their is an outbreak of something they are not immunised again. child care benefit payments are again based on your child being up to date with immunisations (incentive wise) - if your child is behind in immunisations by longer than a certain time, you get a letter reminding you to get these done or your child will not receive child care benefit (or child care rebate) - meaning you have to pay full fees. if you don't arrange to have imms done, you do end up paying full fees - and child care benefit will not be back dated to cover any time between when max rate fees start and when you get your child immunised. if you are unsure about whether to have your child immunised, i would suggest speaking to your GP/care provider and getting the conscientious objection form lodged

[AngelsMum]

if your child is behind in immunisations by longer than a certain time, you get a letter reminding you to get these done or your child will not receive child care benefit (or child care rebate) - meaning you have to pay full fees. if you don't arrange to have imms done, you do end up paying full fees - and child care benefit will not be back dated to cover any time between when max rate fees start and when you get your child immunised. if you are unsure about whether to have your child immunised, i would suggest speaking to your GP/care provider and getting the conscientious objection form lodged

So, just to clarify, once a CO form is lodged, the above scenario of having to pay full fees does not apply. Is that right?

Here's the link to the CO form:

http://medicareaustralia.gov.au/publ...ction_form.pdf

[briggsy's girl]

if you sign a CO, there is no contact from centrelink in regard to child care benefit as all the information comes from the childhood immunisation register (who deem you to be "current" with your immunisation decisions). it won't stop the child care provider from stopping your child from attending if there is an outbreak. and there are only limited absences from child care that you will be paid CCB for - i am honestly not sure if you will get CCB for the holding of your place if your child is prevented from attending due to an outbreak