Landlord refuses to rent to anti-vaxers
An Auckland landlord is refusing to rent to anti-vaxers, telling prospective tenants, ‘‘no vaccinations, no flat’’.
Melissa Mills has taken a firm stance when it comes to the safety of her children.
The Karaka mother, and her husband Simon, are looking to let a two-bedroom flat attached to their home. It is connected to their main home through a single hallway. However, there is one condition: ‘‘They must have their vaccines,’’ Mills said,
Because the flatters will come into regular contact with their four young children, Mills says she and her husband will not risk anyone who hasn’t had their measles shots.
‘‘I think that’s reasonable, it is becoming quite dangerous.’’
She says the decision was not only about safety. In the past she has tried to respect the different views of those around her, but after the recent measles outbreak, she feels it’s important to draw a line to the sand.
‘‘This is also a stance I’m taking . . . it’s about the bigger picture. Safety should come before things like being polite or protecting someone’s feelings.’’
‘‘Some children will possibly die, I think it’s time people act.’’
She understands some cannot have their shots due to medical reasons, and might be willing to make exceptions so them but has no sympathy for those who choose not to vaccinate due a perceived risk of autism.
‘‘We’re parents of a child with autism and we don’t see that as something to be worried about.’’
There have been no valid studies linking vaccines to autism, but according to US research roughly 1 in 500 unvaccinated children under five will die after contracting the measles virus.
‘‘Well I would rather have an autistic child, than a dead one.’’
She says this attitude also reinforces negative stereotypes about autistic children. ‘‘Our son is a blessing, we should celebrate differences.’’
A social media post advertising the rental conditions received a mixed response.
Most of those commenting supported her decision, but a vocal few were not happy, with some calling the conditions discrimination.
Under the NZ Bill of Rights Act, people have the right to refuse medical treatment but the Human Rights Act has an exception when ‘‘there would be a risk of harm to that person or others, including the risk of infecting others with an illness, if that person were to live in that accommodation and it is not reasonable to take that risk’’.
From January to September, there have been 1149 confirmed cases of measles notified across New Zealand.