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Australian Vaccination-risks Network

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The Australian Vaccination Network (AVN), formerly called the Vaccination Awareness Network, is an Australian non-profit organisation registered in New South Wales. It is dedicated to the idea that one's health can be maintained without the use of pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines. Headed by Meryl Dorey, the organisation campaigns against mass vaccination programs and promotes the use of homeopathy as an alternative. AVN has been widely criticized by medical professionals and was the subject of an official complaint in 2009. The group has been called the "stronghold of the anti-vaccination movement" in Australia.

Organisation

The Australian Vaccination Network was formed in 1994 as the Vaccination Awareness Network by a group of parents and health professionals "concerned about protecting the rights of Australians to make free and informed health choices." The group's mission statement says it "is dedicated to the idea that health can be achieved and maintained without the use of pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines" and that it seeks to enable people to make informed health choices.[1]

AVN is currently run by Meryl Dorey, who serves as president. According to Dorey, she got involved after her eldest son was adversely affected by DPT and MMR vaccines that were administered when he was a child. Dorey disputes that she is part of the anti-vaccine movement and considers herself, "pro-information and pro-choice".[2] She has stated that AVN doesn't try to tell anyone not to vaccinate, but instead only wants to ensure everyone makes informed decisions.[3] The AVN publishes material restricted to an anti-vaccination viewpoint [4].

AVN says that vaccines can cause autism, ADHD, brain damage, and cancer.[5] The group argues that vaccines contain a variety of toxins that have no place in the human body.[6] Dorey claims that most doctors "may not know more than the average parent who's read a few articles and a book or two about vaccinations" and thus don't adequately warn patients of the potential risks.[6] In response to studies that show few side effects to most vaccines, Dorey argues that doctors are very hesitant to report adverse reactions and thus the data is highly skewed.[7] Vaccination expert Robert Booy counters these claims. He notes that while minor side effects such as soreness, swelling, and fever are not uncommon, no large scale scientific study has found evidence of more serious reactions.[8]

AVN has also questioned the effectiveness of vaccines. While admitting that infection rates dropped dramatically in the twentieth century, they argue that the change is due in large part to improved hygiene and living conditions. Doyle has argued that infection rates were already on the decline before vaccines were invented and that diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox are benign conditions that do not kill children in industrialized countries.[3] AVN has expressed doubts about the cost-benefit ratio and effectiveness of flu vaccines.[9]

Infectious disease specialist, Professor Peter McIntyre has accused AVN of manipulating research and statistics in order to make its case.[6] "It's been a real characteristic of the anti-vaccine movement ... [to claim] to be looking very extensively at the scientific evidence," says McIntryre, "[but their conclusions are] really a complete misinterpretation."[6] Paediatrician Chris Ingall says that AVN's efforts are "negative, destructive and [have] no scientific basis."[6] Australian Medical Association SA state president Andrew Lavender states that groups like the AVN "[act] on very little information and ... [pose] a risk to others."[10]

In 2009, the Australian Broadcasting Company described AVN as the "stronghold of the anti-vaccination movement" in Australia.[6] An in-depth story on Australia's Channel 7 "Sunday Night" program reported the death of a four week old Australian girl from whooping cough, in which Dorey was quoted as saying (in respect to measles and whooping cough): “You didn’t die from it 30 years ago and you’re not going to die from it today”.[11] The north coast of NSW, where AVN is located, has a childhood vaccination rate of only 70% compared to the national average of over 90%.[7]

Publications

AVN publishes a quarterly magazine called Informed Voice,[1] and a bimonthly digital magazine called Living Wisdom.[12] The AVN's paid-for memberships also include a quarterly insert called Inside Edition which contains "12 pages of current news from around the world regarding vaccination".[12]

Activism

The Australian Vaccination Network has regularly spoken out against vaccine-related positions adopted by the Australian government and defended controversial research.

In May 2000, Meryl Dorey spoke out against a government initiative that cut child care payments for families who failed to get their children vaccinated. She called the legislation a type of "civil conscription" and said the program was likely in violation of the Constitution.[13]

In response to a 2002 proposal to extend free vaccination programs, Dorey argued that the Australian government should first do independent tests of the new vaccines. She said that she had doubts about the accuracy of the existing studies that were "funded ... by the pharmaceutical companies."[14] A member of the government's immunisation advisory group countered that they always assess all available scientific data.[14]

In February 2004, AVN defended Andrew Wakefield's 1998 study that found a possible link between autism and MMR vaccinations, implying that Wakefield had been treated unfairly and that he lost his job for "[refusing] to lie."[15]Less than a month later, ten of the twelve scientists associated with the study retracted their conclusions.[16]

In August 2004, AVN spoke out against combination vaccines being considered by health authorities. The organisation claimed that there were too many untested variables and that it was irresponsible to keep combining vaccines without knowing the effects.[17]According to the British Medical Journal a similar vaccine had actually resulted in reduced side effects.[17]

In April 2007, Meryl Dorey compared a NSW Health policy change requiring immunisation for its workers to concentration camps saying "these are the sorts of [immunisation] tactics you would expect in concentration camps, not the sort of tactics you would expect in the Australian health-care system."[18] The policy was also opposed by some civil libertarian and health-care groups,[18] but the NSW Nurses' Association noted that "vaccinations have always been compulsory for health workers" and that the change was only a minimal update to the existing policy.[19]

Views on vaccination incentives

In July 2007, AVN spoke out against the government's practice of giving pediatricians bonus incentives for immunising their patients. Doyle argued that the practice was unethical and led to doctors making decisions based on their pocket book rather than their conscience.[3] She would later liken the payment to a bribe noting that doctors aren't paid extra for prescribing antibiotics, for example.[20]

Dorey further argued that the government began the practice in order to meet World Health Organisation mandates on vaccination percentages and thus was more interested in playing a numbers game rather than doing what was right for the nation's children.[3] The payment was discontinued in October 2008.[20]

Views on swine flu

Meryl Dorey, the president of the AVN, has argued that more testing is needed on the H1N1 vaccine before it is offered to the public. She argues that the vaccine could prove to be more dangerous than the flu itself and that it should not be compulsory for children. She was quoted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as saying that the swine flu should be treated no differently than the seasonal flu and the government shouldn't be spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the H1N1 vaccine.[21] The group's claims were rejected by the Australian Medical Association and other medical experts.[22]

Dorey has displayed support for David Icke's conspiracy theories in relation to the Swine Flu vaccination programme[23], and believes that microchips are currently being injected with the vaccine [24].

She has also written that "this incredibly ineffective vaccine has NO benefits - except for the bank accounts of Big Pharma, that is"[25].

Health Care Complaints Commission complaint

In August 2009, Ken McLeod filed a complaint against AVN with the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission.[5] The complaint, which was supported by the group Australian Skeptics, said that the organisation was in breach of the Health Care Complaints Act because it made "unsubstantiated health claims based on 'conspiracy theories', pseudo-scientific evidence and debunked research." The complaint was also supported by Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith, who earlier had run a national ad in The Australian asking parents to ignore AVN's claims.[26]

In response to the complaint, the AVN argued that they are not actively providing health care service and therefore are not under the jurisdiction of the Health Care Complaints Commission.[27]

The commission agreed to look into the complaint, but a spokesperson admitted that they "did not have power to shut down or gag the Australian Vaccination Network." He left open the possibility of pursuing action against individual members of the AVN or making a public statement against the organisation's activities.[28] As of November 2009, no official action had been taken.

References

  1. ^ a b "About the AVN". Australian Vaccination Network. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  2. ^ Sunrise Interview with Dr Trevor Mudge and Meryl Dorey, 21 August 2002
  3. ^ a b c d "The Immunisation Maze Part 2". Life Matters. 11 July 2007. ABC Radio National. {{cite episode}}: External link in |transcripturl= (help); Unknown parameter |transcripturl= ignored (|transcript-url= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Australian Vaccination Network website
  5. ^ a b "Vaccine fear campaign investigated". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Whooping cough deaths spark vaccination debate". ABC News. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  7. ^ a b "The Immunisation Maze Part 1". Life Matters. 10 July 2007. ABC Radio National. {{cite episode}}: External link in |transcripturl= (help); Unknown parameter |transcripturl= ignored (|transcript-url= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "The Immunisation Maze Part 3". Life Matters. 12 July 2007. ABC Radio National. {{cite episode}}: External link in |transcripturl= (help); Unknown parameter |transcripturl= ignored (|transcript-url= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Sarah Price (30 July 2006). "High cost of kids with flu is avoidable, study shows". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  10. ^ http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26306408-5006301,00.html
  11. ^ "Sunday Night" archive footage for "Fear and confusion" and "A mother's choice?" http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunday-night/video/-/page/11/#fop
  12. ^ a b "Join AVN". Australian Vaccination Network. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  13. ^ Reporter: Mark Willacy (3 May 2000). "AM on ABC Local Radio". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. {{cite episode}}: External link in |transcripturl= (help); Missing or empty |series= (help); Unknown parameter |transcripturl= ignored (|transcript-url= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b "Proposal to extend toddler vaccine program causes concern". ABC News Online. 7 June 2002. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  15. ^ Tim Moynihan; Lucy Beaumont (22 February 2004). "Doubt cast on vaccine scare". The Age. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  16. ^ Murch SH, Anthony A, Casson DH; et al. (2004). "Retraction of an interpretation". Lancet. 363 (9411): 750. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)15715-2. PMID 15016483. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ a b Cathy O'Leary (24 August 2004). "Fears over vaccine cocktail for babies". The West Australian.
  18. ^ a b Bellinda Kontominas (11 April 2007). "No immunisation, no job: public health policy". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  19. ^ "Revised Vaccination Policy For Health Workers". NSW Nurses' Association. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  20. ^ a b Alison Rehn (10 October 2008). "GPs may refuse child vaccinations if bonus cancelled". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  21. ^ "Lobby group urges more swine flu vaccine tests". ABC News. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  22. ^ Carmel Egan (20 September 2009). "Vaccine claims rejected". The Age. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  23. ^ . Australian Vaccination Network. 26 July 2009 http://nocompulsoryvaccination.blogspot.com/2009/07/flu-is-not-biggest-danger-its-vaccine.html. Retrieved 2009-11-19. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. ^ "Implantable device to tell doctors what viruses are in you". Australian Vaccination Network. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  25. ^ "Flu Vaccine Exposed". Australian Vaccination Network. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  26. ^ Dick Smith pushes immunisation, Macquarie National News, Brunero, Tim. 6 August 2009
  27. ^ "AVN e-newsletter, October 2008" (PDF).
  28. ^ Sarah Colyer (21 August 2009). "Moves to silence anti-vaccine group". Australian Doctor.
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