Anti-vax ‘next-level stupid’
ANTI-VAXXERS have been condemned for for “new levels of stupidity” aftertelling a meeting in far-north Queensland “darker-skinned people” were most at risk from vaccine reactions.
The Australian Vaccination-sceptics Network (AVN) visited Kuranda, in the state’s far-north, this month for screenings of controversial film Vaxxed, which blames immunisation for autism.
Kuranda has a significant indigenous population and two Aboriginal women delivered a Welcome to Country before the screening.
AVN president Tasha David later told the audience she was of Samoan descent, and then warned: “Once you see this movie, you’ll see it is the darker skin people who have the most adverse reactions to these vaccines.
“It is our people who are getting hit. It’s up to us to get out there and educate our people. They need us to lead the way. All we’re hearing is what the white man is saying and it’s not right.”
Indigenous five-year-olds have better immunisation rates than the general population with 96.2 per cent, compared with 94.5 per cent.
Health Minister Cameron Dick described the comments as “reprehensible”, adding there was “absolutely no evidence” to support the claims.
Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon said the claims reached “new levels of stupidity”.
“Immunisation is one of the success stories when it comes to delivering health to indigenous people,” he said.