BETHESDA, Md. — Walter A. Orenstein, MD, professor of medicine and associate director of the Emory Vaccine Center at Emory University School of Medicine and president-elect of the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases, discusses the use of mandates to improve vaccination rates.

Starting in 2016, the Australian government will withhold certain welfare benefits from parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. According to Orenstein, it is “premature” to adopt such a measure in the United States, where mandatory vaccination in schools is meant to cover all children no matter their socioeconomic background.

VLA Comment:  Australia functions as the flagship model for USA.  Australia has recently passed laws to connect benefits, such as government child support and food stamps to vaccination compliance  See Australia program…