Australian Vaccination-risks Network: Difference between revisions
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Why are we spending hundreds of millions of dollars on this vaccine?<ref name="Australian Broadcasting Corporation">[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/19/2690820.htm Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 19 Sep 2009]</ref> |
Why are we spending hundreds of millions of dollars on this vaccine?<ref name="Australian Broadcasting Corporation">[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/19/2690820.htm Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 19 Sep 2009]</ref> |
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==Criticisms and responses== |
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In response to a large increase in [[pertussis]] cases during a 2008/09 [[outbreak]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentPertussisAustralia.aspx|title=Pertussis in Australia|date=2009-04-17|publisher=Center for Disease Control|accessdate=2009-04-27}}</ref> the [[Australian Skeptics]] focused efforts on countering information from Meryl Dorey's AVN. The Australian Skeptics supported a complaint lodged<ref>{{Citation | url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/vaccine-fear-campaign-investigated-20090815-elsg.html | title=Vaccine fear campaign investigated | author=Hall, Louise | date=August 16, 2009 | newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | accessdate=August 16, 2009 }}</ref> by a private individual, Ken McLeod, against the organisation with the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission<ref>{{Citation | url= http://scepticsbook.com/wp-content/uploads/COMPLAINT-to-HCCC-1.pdf | author=McLeod, Ken | date=July 14, 2009 | title=Complaint Pursuant to the Health Care Complaints Act 1993 that the "[[Australian Vaccination Network]]" is Providing a Health Service That Endangers Public Health | accessdate=August 28, 2009 }}</ref> and running a national ad (funded by Dick Smith) in [[The Australian]].<ref>''Dick Smith pushes immunisation'', [[Macquarie National News]], Brunero, Tim. August 6, 2009</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 07:34, 8 November 2009
The Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) is an Australian anti-vaccination activism organization that advocates the use of 'alternative' medical practices generally lacking in clinical efficacy, such as homeopathy, as supposedly effective alternatives to vaccination of children and adults against infectious diseases. The AVN was formed back in 1994 by a group of activists and parents that were concerned that not all "sides" to every health choice were being made available to parents.
The AVN is at present being investigated by the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission for breaches of the Public Health Act of 1993, due to their dissemination of demonstrably wrong, misleading, scientifically inaccurate and dangerous advice to the public concerning healthcare practices. [1]
Publications
The AVN publishes a monthly magazine called living wisdom. The magazine includes articles on topics such as home birth, civil rights, autism, hormones and swine flu.
In the Media
Meryl Dorey, who is the president of the AVN, was quoted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as saying:
If we find that swine flu is milder than normal seasonal flu, and we have normal seasonal flu every year, and all the government does is simply offer a vaccine for those who want it, why should this flu be treated any differently.
Why are we spending hundreds of millions of dollars on this vaccine?[2]
Criticisms and responses
In response to a large increase in pertussis cases during a 2008/09 outbreak,[3] the Australian Skeptics focused efforts on countering information from Meryl Dorey's AVN. The Australian Skeptics supported a complaint lodged[4] by a private individual, Ken McLeod, against the organisation with the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission[5] and running a national ad (funded by Dick Smith) in The Australian.[6]
References
- ^ Health Care Complaints Commission to investigate the AVN
- ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 19 Sep 2009
- ^ "Pertussis in Australia". Center for Disease Control. 2009-04-17. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
- ^ Hall, Louise (August 16, 2009), "Vaccine fear campaign investigated", The Sydney Morning Herald, retrieved August 16, 2009
- ^ McLeod, Ken (July 14, 2009), Complaint Pursuant to the Health Care Complaints Act 1993 that the "[[Australian Vaccination Network]]" is Providing a Health Service That Endangers Public Health (PDF), retrieved August 28, 2009
{{citation}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ Dick Smith pushes immunisation, Macquarie National News, Brunero, Tim. August 6, 2009
External links
- Australian Vaccination Network - Organisation's Website