Christian Scientists sole group to refuse Australian vaccination shots on religious grounds

Christian Scientists have been revealed as the only group allowed to object to vaccinations on religious grounds, under a new Australian programme to restrict conscientious objections to immunisation.

Social services minister Scott Morrison earlier this week announced that the government would cut off childcare payments and family tax benefits to parents who did not immunise their children. He noted that there was one group who had previously registered their objections to vaccinations but he refused to say who they were.

"There is only one religion. It is a very small religion that has such a registered objection and I am not about to publicise it because I am sure they want to protect the integrity of their exemption and not have others abuse it," Morrison said on Monday.

But the Family Assistance guide, published by the social services department, says the exempt religion is the Church of Christ, Scientist, otherwise known as Christian Scientists.

Parents and carers must produce a letter from a church leader stating they are an active member of the organisation before they can be granted an official exemption. Christian Scientists are not required to shun modern medicine, but maintain that healing prayer is more effective without medical intervention.

There were 1,356 people who classified themselves as Christian Scientists in the 2011 Australian census.