Anti-vaccine lobby group back in WA

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O'Leary at the West Australian has a long and sordid history of suppressing information on vaccination. Her reporting of this issue is nothing short of scandalous. She called me yesterday whilst I was in Perth and asked me about the seminars we have had so far and the ones we had up-coming. I told her that we had a good roll-up and that the people who came were very interested in this information since their doctors were not informing them of the downsides - only of the benefits. I also said that the media was not doing their job and was only telling half the story, which was unfair because it was their job to inform their readership - not to support their advertisers. Perhaps this got her pissed off? Who knows? Whatever the case may be, she wrote the story I expected her to write - one full of vilification, personal attacks and without any information whatsoever such as the fact that WA's children were being used a guinea pigs 2 years ago and there have been no improvements in reporting of reactions since the Stokes report was released. I guess the West's backers are more important than the population of this State? if you would like to make a comment on the page (though you will be limited to 300 characters which is VERY short!), please do or alternatively, a letter to the editor of the West Australian would be very much appreciated. The email address is letters@... and the Editor's name is Brett McCarthy.Please feel free to forward this article to friends and family and ask them to do the same.http://au.news./thewest/a/-/breaking/10884147/anti-vaccine-lobby-group-back-in-wa/#post-commentAnti-vaccine lobby group back in WA

An anti-vaccination group that sparked a political row in Perth last year is back in WA charging parents $15 for its public forums.The Australian Vaccination Network held meetings in Busselton and Perth this week and will hold others in Jurien Bay and Geraldton next week. Last year, the Uniting Church in Perth refused to let the NSW group use one of its halls and the State Library came under fire when it let the group use one of its buildings instead.The NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing also stripped the group, based at Bangalow near Byron Bay, of its charity status after health authorities found its information was biased and said its website should

state that its claims were not medical advice.Spokeswoman Meryl Dorey attracted criticism this year when she likened a court order for a child to be vaccinated to rape.She

wrote on the group's Facebook site it was "assault without consent and with full penetration" but was forced to apologise after some of her own

supporters found the comments offensive.But Ms Dorey claimed "strong support" for her group in WA yesterday and said the meetings were aimed at drawing attention to problems with vaccines for the flu, cervical cancer and whooping cough.About 90 people, mostly parents of young children, had attended a forum in Floreat on Tuesday night.She said parents were still not given all the information about vaccines, including side effects."I

always say to people to go to their doctor and get information but get the other side as well so they can make a real decision about whether to

vaccinate," she said.Australian Medical Association WA president Dave Mountain said the group was trying to whip up anti-vaccine hysteria again."They are zealots who pick and choose bits of information to make it look like they're presenting real evidence," he said.This

led to parents refusing to get children and themselves vaccinated, which affected everyone, particularly the most vulnerable who benefited from herd immunity and, in that respect, they were a danger.

Meryl Dorey,SpokespersonThe Australian Vaccination Network, Inc.Investigate before you vaccinateEditor,Living Wisdom MagazineFamily, Health, EnvironmentPO Box 177BANGALOW NSW 2479AUSTRALIAhttp://www.avn.org.auhttp://www.living-wisdom.comPhone: 02 6687 1699 FAX 02 6687 2032skype: ivmmagFreedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them -- and then, the opportunity to choose. - C. MillsThe authority of any governing institution must stop at its citizen's skin. - Gloria SteinemWe rely on the help and support of our members and subscribers to continue offering our services freely and without prejudice.Please consider helping us by subscribing to Living Wisdom and renewing your membership promptly if you are already an AVN member. Go to http://www.avn.org.au to subscribe or renew.We also sell books, videos and DVDs on vaccination and other health issues. Go to http://shop.avn.org.au/ for more details.