Cartoonist Michael Leunig has defended a cartoon in which he calls the Victorian government's ban on un-vaccinated children attending kindergarten or childcare a "fascist epiphany".

The cartoon by Leunig was published in Wednesday's edition of The Age.

Age cartoonist Michael Leunig. Credit:Jay Cronan

The work, which has drawn criticism on social media, takes Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam and shows one hand holding a needle.

The text reads, "The God of Science grants politicians the divine right to enforce mass medication among babies and small children".