The State Government wants unvaccinated children excluded from childcare centres and kindergartens as it battles to end the State’s low child immunisation rates.

WA’s Chief Health Officer will have new powers from next month to shut childcare centres and kindergartens and exclude unvaccinated children if there is a disease outbreak, and to fine centres that do not comply.

Under laws being proposed by the Government to be introduced into Parliament early next year, the health officer will be able to stop unvaccinated children from enrolling at childcare centres and kindergarten, without there being an outbreak.

Parents would also need to provide their school with the immunisation status of their children, with the onus on education providers to make sure the information is collected or face being fined.

The changes are expected to come under the no-jab, no-play policy in as little as seven months for children entering childcare services and by 2020 for those going into kindergarten.

WA had the lowest immunisation coverage for two-year-olds in Australia last year, with only 89.1 per cent fully immunised.

To get herd immunity there needs to be 95 per cent coverage, which is the recommended minimum to stop outbreaks of highly infectious diseases from occurring.

Health Minister Roger Cook said the proposed changes would reduce preventable disease in WA.

“We are still seeing children who are not fully immunised putting other children and the broader community at risk,” he said.

“These changes will allow the Department of Health to readily access immunisation-related data and to support families to ensure their children are up to date with their vaccinations.”

Australian Medical Association WA president Omar Khorshid said he supported the policy and urged all politicians to back the Government’s Bill.

“There is a concern that some unvaccinated children come from disadvantaged areas and we don’t want this to have a lasting effect on their education but I think the plan by Roger Cook is very reasonable and targets the non-compulsory part,” Dr Khorshid said.

“This is the next logical step in our fight to get our immunisation rates for children off the bottom of the national table and to aim for over 95 per cent of children being fully vaccinated.”

Perth parent Ninka James said she was in favour of no-jab, no-play to help protect her son Ace, 4, and his classmates at Lake Monger Primary School.

“It’s a simple, effective, easy way of preventing disease and not only is it important for my own loved ones, but for that broader community if you get the pack immunisation happening,” she said.

“It (a jab) is a moment of pain for knowing that they’re going to be safe, so I think it is really important.”

Federal Government policy requires parents to have their children fully vaccinated before they receive family assistance payments, a policy known as no-jab, no-pay.