If you are among the many families that opt not to vaccinate children you will be pleased to know that Health Minister (Yesh Atid) Yael German has adopted a position favoring your decision. German has announced she will be paying full child allowance payments to all families, including those that do not vaccinate.

German was responding to a petition to the High Court in which petitioners sought to have the court bypass a 2009 law, which permits cutting child allowance payments to those refusing to vaccinate children. This is planned by the ministry in the hope of encouraging parents to have their children vaccinated.

German however has issued a statement promising all families entitled to child allowance payments will receive them in full, regardless of their decision to vaccinate their children or not. While the nation’s highest court defended the legality of the regulation, German announced on Wednesday, 27 Sivan 5773 that she will repeal the law as part of the Economics Arrangements Bill included in the 2013-2014 state budget.

German stated that she still believes children should receive vaccinations. However, she hopes to involve the public in setting policy regarding vaccinations and has already appointed a committee to make recommendations as how to best accomplish this goal.

The ministry announced back in March 2013 that it planned to begin enforcing the law against parents who don’t vaccinate. This was to begin in July 2013 but it appears German will succeed in repealing it in time.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)