Local Australian vaccination push challenged

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The following article is just astonishing.

It's good to see that there are still some Aussies left with their original strong spirit:

Beerwah vaccination push challenged

10:00a.m. 5th March 2009
| By Janine Hill

Vaccination opponents have challenged Queensland Health's push to vaccinate students at Beerwah High after an outbreak of measles.

Meryl Dorey, of the Australian Vaccination Network, said she was concerned health authorities were waging "an unbelievable campaign of fear" over parents who had made informed decisions not to vaccinate their children.

Just over 800 of Beerwah High's 1073 students have been cleared to return to school after an outbreak of measles cases late last week prompted Queensland Health to ask students to produce their vaccination records this week.

Eighty-nine students are not allowed to return until 14 days after the onset of a rash in the latest case, because they are not vaccinated.

The vaccination status of 139 others remains undetermined.

Ms Dorey said parents who had made informed choices against vaccination felt pressured to have their children vaccinated so they could return to school.

A mother who has conscientiously objected against vaccinating her child said authorities had acted heavy-handedly and the ruling could mean that some children could be off school for months as new cases appeared.

"It's just the measles, not the plague," she said.

Ms Dorey said measles had once been considered part and parcel of growing up.

"My grandparents, if they were alive, would be laughing like anything," she said.

"When I was growing up and someone at school had measles, my parents would deliberately send us in the hope that we'd catch it, and then we'd be able to say that we'd had it."

Australian Medical Association Queensland president-elect Doctor Mason Stevenson said, however, measles was not a harmless disease and could have serious long-term consequences, such as a progressive and fatal "hardening" of the brain, a condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Dr Stevenson said the outbreak at Beerwah High should be taken seriously.

"The best treatment is prevention, and the best prevention is vaccination," he said.

Six cases of measles – about half the average number reported in Queensland annually – have been confirmed at Beerwah High.

No further information was available yesterday on nine other possible cases, and a Caloundra High student is awaiting test results after displaying measles-like symptoms, including a rash over his chest and arms.

Notice the quote from above:

Dr Stevenson said the outbreak at Beerwah High should be taken seriously.

"The best treatment is prevention, and the best prevention is vaccination," he said.

RED FLAG !!!

RED FLAG !!!

WHAT ABOUT PROPER NUTRITION, YOU SCAM ARTISTS ???!!!

Also, notice they didn't give the stats of those who came down with it - vaccinated vs unvaccinated.

AND WHO CARES !?!!?!

NO ONE IS GOING TO DIE !!!!!!!

This quote from above was just classic !!!!:

"It's just the measles, not the plague," she said.

Ms Dorey said measles had once been considered part and parcel of growing up.

"My grandparents, if they were alive, would be laughing like anything," she said.

"When I was growing up and someone at school had measles, my parents would deliberately send us in the hope that we'd catch it, and then we'd be able to say that we'd had it."

And check out the poll that's running in conjunction with the article. AT this point, 33% ARE AGAINST vaccination:

Poll: Are your children immunised?

Yes, it's the only sensible thing to do 66%

No, there are dangers with immunisation 26%

Yes they are but I regret it 7%

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