A South Coast doctor believes his colleagues will support legislation allowing preschools and childcare centres to refuse children who haven't been vaccinated.
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"I think doctors will support this legislation," Berry GP Neil Donovan said yesterday.
"These changes are not being driven by doctors or politicians. This is being driven by parents.
"Parents who can see that the choice not to immunise your child is something that has effects on all of us, young and old."
"It is one of those times when the normally quiet majority are speaking up and saying that we all need to take responsibility," he said.
Dr Donovan said the science supporting vaccinations was "overwhelming" and there was a degree of public responsibility in increasing "herd immunity".
"The evidence leaves us in no doubt, parents who choose not to immunise their children should take responsibility for their actions, but also bear witness to what this means and how this affects the greater community."
"I think this legislation will succeed because it should. Immunisations are essential to protect us all," he said.
NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson yesterday urged the government not to play politics with the bill introduced in the lower house yesterday afternoon.
"I want to see this Parliament do something to ensure the safety of our children," he said.
"I am prepared to work with the Premier and the Minister for Health to get legislation through Parliament to achieve that outcome.
"I would be horrified if the government sat on this bill simply to play politics."
Premier Barry O'Farrell has said he is prepared to amend the state's anti-discrimination laws to empower childcare centres to refuse unvaccinated children.
"We're happy to see what their legislation is, but if we don't think their legislation reflects what we've decided, we'll introduce our own," Mr O'Farrell said.
Mr Robertson said the opposition's bill was about raising levels of awareness and also giving a gentle reminder to those parents who might simply have forgotten to vaccinate their kids.
Opposition health spokesman Andrew McDonald said the measures were about helping parents who wanted to do the right thing.
The bill would make it optional for childcare centres to refuse children, he added. Currently, they have no choice he said.
