The Australian doctor who says not vaccinating your children is "child abuse".

By GRACE JENNINGS-EDQUIST

Choosing not to vaccinate children is “a form of child abuse”, according to a prominent obstetrician and gynaecologist.

Dr Michael Gannon, the Australian Medical Association’s West Australian president, told the ABC’s The World Today he had been ‘quoted as saying it’s a form of child abuse’.

He confirmed he still held that view, saying on the program on Wednesday: “No, I don’t retract the language at all.”

“This is not for one moment to diminish…  the horrific crimes put onto children in other circumstances, but denying your child and denying its little cousins, its schoolmates and its friends, the clear benefits of vaccination is something which potentially impairs their future potential,” Dr Gannon said.

“We should do everything we can to look after our kids,” he said.

“When you make a decision not to vaccinate your own child, you’re not only putting them at risk but you’re putting their school mates at risk. This is the most important single thing you can do for your child’s health.”

Dr Gannon’s comments followed a measles outbreak among unvaccinated children at Essendon North Primary School in Melbourne this week, as well as an ongoing outbreak of whooping cough across the Bathurst region of NSW.

Three children tested positive for measles at the north-western Melbourne school, while a further two have suspected cases of the highly infectious disease, Fairfax Media reports.

Victoria’s chief health officer, Rosemary Lester, said: “All five pupils have not been immunised, further strengthening the importance of parents and guardians ensuring their children are vaccinated against highly infectious diseases such as measles.” She added the children had attended community and sporting functions while infections, heightening concerns about further cases potentially arising.

Measles, which begins with common cold symptoms, causes a skin rash and fever. The World Health Organisation describes the disease as ‘an important cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine’.

According to the organisation:

Those unvaccinated against the disease are at risk of severe health complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and encephalitis (a dangerous infection of the brain causing inflammation) and blindness…

Routine measles vaccinations for children, combined with mass immunisation campaigns in countries with low routine coverage, are key public health strategies to reduce global measles deaths.

The measles vaccine has been in use for 50 years. It is safe, effective and inexpensive. WHO recommends immunisation for all susceptible children and adults for whom measles vaccination is not contraindicated. 

Meanwhile, classrooms across Bathurst have been struck by the flu and whooping cough, the Western Advocate reports.

Western NSW Local Health District communicable diseases co-ordinator Priscilla Stanley said she encourages people to get vaccinated.

“We have seen an increase in the past couple of weeks across all age groups, in particular young adults through to middle-aged people,” she said.

“We are particularly concerned about people who may have whooping cough being around unvaccinated babies.”

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