In your own words - Initial survey results

About 3 hours ago, I posted a 1-question survey to our Facebook page and to our members. So far, there have been 269 responses which is wonderful!

If you haven't yet answered the survey questions and you would like to, you can do so at this link: http://t.co/FRqdVIXN

Below are the comments which have been made by some of the people who have responded (not everyone who voted entered a response - these are all of them as of about 10:30 this morning). As you can see, there have been some members of Stop the AVN who have replied (they have actually put a call out to stack this poll - lovers of truth and justice that they are) but I have left them in so you can see the range of responses.

This is actually my favourite part - getting to read what everyone thinks about the current situation with suppression of information and rights in Australia. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.

In your own words...

I believe in freedom of choice, and their actions do not respect that. Thank you AVN for being strong and carrying on!!

What are they trying to hide?

The government tries so hard to not give both sides of the story when it comes to vaccinations, and try to scare everyone into it with all the stupid news and media. Its good theres a place that gives both sides(the AVN) to inform people properly on the benefits and risks of vaccinating.

I realize that the more they push, the more afraid they are. They're operating from a position of fear which has made them so irrational, it borders on mass hysteria. When paramedics start dishing out faulty vaccine info, that's when the importance of organizations such as the avn is enormous.

We want the truth and the government NEVER tells us the  whole truth. Every person is so individual but they treat everyone like "an Average"

I stand up for informed choice every chance I get and have done for thirty years now. I promote AVN whenever I can. I try and make people think and take responsibility every chance I get! Just as well life is not a popularity contest eh Meryl ; )

Please keep up the great work in informing parents of their rights and the dangers relating to vaccination.  The government are so stupid and the pharmaceutical organisations are killing us; slowly.

Those who deny others freedom of choice to decide what's best for themselves and their family often support an agenda concerned just with power. Always follow the money trail to see who profits most from decisions. Depriving people of knowledge on any subject seeks to keep people powerless. Knowledge is power and should be free to all.

I believe in everyones right for an informed choice!  The AVN gives free information to all Australians, unlike the government who choose which bits of information they deem relevant.

I will continue to support AVN financially when I can, this has not changed over the years. I will support AVN as an information provider until someone can disprove that my son's vaccine reaction was my imagination,a lie or an overreaction on my part.  Since this is now impossible to do, AVN is credible, honourable and worth supporting in my eyes. I will continue to tell my/my sons experience with vaccine reaction until the day I die.  No one can take that right or choice away from either of us.

Regardless of the medical aspect of the matter, the freedom to make your views known where and how you choose is a democratic right as is the right to form an association of likeminded people. If people are influenced by your views, so be it. Take religion as an example of this. Who is to say the AVN views are more harmful than most religions?

It has made the misinformation of the AVN more clear.

I'll admit it makes me want to keep my head low as a practitioner but more determined that these bastards must not win!!

I get worried when they say they will make the flu vaccine complusary in schools.  I will take my son out of school when he gets to high school when they have their vaccination day. (Just to be sure.  Its not really a free country if they make certain vaccinations complusary.

I dont care what they think. You guys should be commended for all your hard work. Meryl for PM.....  At least then we would get more honesty and less oppression from our government. I don't need ANYONE making decisions for me or my kids, especially anyone from government.

Here's an idea. You guys should follow the money trail and see how much pharma in this country lobbies our government and who benefits the most. Too much conflict of interest people need to know about.. Thanks again

Makes me tell everyone about their bully tactics!

If one investigates the use of Aborted foetal tissue,animal cells and the materials used in the vaccinations that increase allergies and cause neurotoxic effects,Austism,GBS,deaths and adverse effects,then it is neccessary to weigh up the information on the Pasteur Fraud which is available for all to see and that natural immunity is the best way and to see that most diseases were dying out until vaccinations started.there is many reports that fully vaccinated people still contracting diseases

100% Support and admire the AVN!!!

Vaccinations not good.

Initially I didn't know a lot about vaccination but whilst I was pregnant, I did my own research and made up my own mind.  Thank God the AVN is there to support people like me.  I am also a vegan so am used to going against the ignorant majority.  My kids and I are the healthiest people we know which I attribute to our informed dietary choices and decision not to vaccinate.

The govt. can make a song and dance and charade as much as they want...as long as we, the people, remain with FREEDOM OF CHOICE...not much to ask.

Govt & 'other organisations' do support informed choice. That is not what you offer though. Fairy stories made up by people profiteering from providing misinformation help no one make an informed choice. It is the misleading vulnerable people for profit & personal financial gain that people who dislike the AVN are against.

We have choice about vaccination in Australia. Fooling people into thinking you have any past, present or future role in that is dishonest.

Because you are wrong and dangerous

I don't like bully tactics being used against me. Copped too much of that from the Catholic church growing up, and will not tolerate it now. I will not vaccinate any of my family now, especially when I see the efforts at propaganda by our "health" system and "government. Shame on our "democratic" government.

I only partially vaccinated my 2 daughters who are now 28 & 31 & fit & healthy.  The older one is now challenging the system with her 2 small daughters. I support freedom of Choice.

I have always supported the AVN.

I am not swayed in any way by Governments bias and bullying.

I will never support the AVN, particularly financially. I will always support government interventions when it comes to public health matters. I financially support Rotary's End Polio Now, and also UNICEF's current vaccination drive.  Vaccination saves lives.

The assumption that parents are "better informed" if they choose not to vaccinate is fallacious. Saying things like this antagonise people who DO choose to vaccinate. Recent efforts by Meryl Dorey make me less likely to support the AVN, not the government or anyone else.

I am tired of the presentation in the media of those who have made informed choice being portrayed as ignorant, lazy hippies.  Many of us have made this choice due to bitter experience of being pro-vaccination with our children paying the price.

The AVN and Meryl Dorey was the only support I had when My son had a reaction to immunisation. There is no other place that will tell you that you have a choice.

I've also learnt though that the government feels they have the right to steal our children if we do actually think for ourselves... as this has been done.  So one has to be careful, and we need to band together.  There is power in numbers:)

I know they come from a place of fear with a lot of peer pressure put upon them.  We come from a place of fear as well but rather than peer pressure we research our choices.  Thank you for your wonderful work. But my personality is such that I do not like being told what to do!

I don't need the Government and other 'vested interests' to tell me how to think.  I can do that for myself very nicely thankyou!

Haha! Nicely formualated question.

Quack off!

I fully support vaccination. Anti-vaccination people make the world a dangerous place. I would never support the AVN.

There needs to be a choice!!

Having access to accurate information with which to make an informed choice is vital for parents and the AVN fills that role admirably.

I just do my own vaccine work--currently focused on child anthrax vax trials--and work loosely with other organizations.

Without free choice we are merely puppets living in a communist society. I shudder just thinking about it.

No one but myself and my husband knows what's best for our child or ourselves. And we know that pumping our bodies our bodies full of toxins is not good for our health.  I'd love to subscribe, but we are struggling financially. My birthday is coming up and I'm hoping that my family can put in for a subscription as a gift. We love you AVN. Keep fighting the good fight :)

It is about the right to make an informed decision.

I Already supported the government recommended schedule for immunisation and encouraged my friends to get their booster shots to better protect the vulnerable in society who are unable or too young to be vaccinated.

I have learnt through personal experience of the dangers of vaccination luckily my babies were not killed - but they were affected. When the HCCC and other "health" bodies fight so hard and underhandedly to squash any one or body offering information I wonder "Why" - The "health" authorities have never answered this.

What I wonder do Government & other opposing organizations have to fear from open, free and frank discussion at all levels on the merits of the whole of the vaccination process????

Surely if people are to make an INFORMED decision on such an important matter as personal health & welfare, then we should be allowed to access any, and all information on the subject to make that informed decision....after all, a failure to look, is a failure to find!!!!

It is as important as ever that consumers are given all the information necessary to make informed choices about a range of issues, especially where corporations are lobbying hard to sway opinions in favour of their products even when those products have proven to be, at best - of no benefit, and at worst - damaging to health.

Meryl has done a great job of exposing the hypocrisy, no to mention the irony, of the 'sceptics' who seek to shut down the debate.

already pretty well against the deceit and lies of the AVN and anti vaxxers in general

I am not against all vaccines if it can be proven beyond any doubt that 1.The vaccine is safe to be injected into a human body(beyond any doubt) 2.The purpose of the vaccine is proven (again beyond any doubt)t o stop a disease that is at it's peak not at it lowest.

It is also one of the main ingredients of vaccines - mercury - that is main reason I am against vaccinations

I think it is very important for people to find out every information about vaccination. Before I've had my children I've been getting every vaccination for myself. Then at the pregnancy support group we've had a guest speaker from the AVN. That was the first time that I've heard about all the side effects of vaccination. I've never vaccinated my children. They are 6 and one year old now and as healthy as you can wish for.

Having experienced autism bought on by vaccines in my own grandchild and working with thousands of parents whose children have also been affected, I am willing to stand up at any time in any arena to say to parents "research before you vaccinate"

once the skin is broken and the vaccines placed beneath it no medical practitioner on this earth can withdraw it or state categorically what the result may be..vaccinations are dangerous better to be safe than sorry for evermore..

In the current climate I am more likely to support the AVN & like organizations financially. However having young children I would not openly support them on Facebook etc... For fear of being labeled & making problems for my self later on when trying to make health decisions for my children.

people have the right to know the pros and cons of vaccination and make a informed decision..they also have the right to not be attacked for their choices. People who choose not to vaccinate are not ignorant and do not make this decision lightly. the avn provide information to people who question the safety of vaccines and taking away organisations like this is taking away peoples right to choose what is best for themselves and their children.

Enforced 'medicine' is not the way to go.

I am passionate about parents having a choice on this issue.  I see what the AVN is doing for this basic right as essential for the safety of my children.  The vehemence of the anti-choice camp worries/frightens/intimidates me however I am at a stage in my life where I can't just hope that everyone will see the negatives of vaccinating. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Edmund Burke

They are trying to make it harder for us to choose but we have made up our minds not too and I feel strong and comfortable with my truth, it feels right in my heart.

I will always support FREEDOM of CHOICE for any option as a citizen of the "free world".  Government has no right to remove this freedom.  When the government acts to remove our freedoms this causes me to more actively seek out any way to support rightful freedom.

I am very concerned by the lack of open debate on this subject. It appears to me that anyone who expresses any concern about vaccination is attacked as irresponsible etc.

In my opinion the AVN has a very important part in continuing to publish and fight for what we as parents need to make informed decisions on vaccination.

It's made me more determined to stand up for my beliefs but also more fearful of the repercussion's of that choice..

It may be true that some people who are anit-choice may now advocate more fiercely for this now that it has become a topic of debate. However, it is good that is a topic of debate now and I think that overall, it will increase the number of people questioning vaccines. Without a debate swirling, there would be people who will just vaccinate without thinking, now there will likely be more people who will look into it and probably chose not to as a result.

They've had absolutely NO EFFECT.

I have my own brain and have seen enough evidence of brain damage (and the rest) post vaccination in many friends, family members - which is the main reason I choose to oppose chemical vaccination. I choose to vaccinate homeopathically as a result.

I am interested in health and the wellbeing of myself and my family and support the freedom of choice. Why can't I be free to choose what is right for myself and my family? It is a basic human right!I support all groups with similar interests and freedom of speech and in this case - the AVN! Keep up the wonderful work and for 'keeping the bastards honest'!!

The Governments stand on vaccination and natural health alternatives makes more really angry and frustrated but at the moment I have limited time to take any action

I made my informed choices when my babies were born 20 years ago not to vaccinate. I was judged and condemned by all my family members some in the medical profession. Since then I have seen this choice become more main stream.

It's a shame the information isn't easily available to the masses!!

Becuase there is more informed information given out,than what the pro-vaccine lobbies say.

Of the 3 Doctors I visited (who all deeply questioned me as to why I was reluctant to vaccinate my child), not ONE could answer me when I asked "what is in the vaccine". They also could not answer the other questions I took to them so I went searching for the answers myself (both for and against immunisation). Ultimately, my own research led me to the AVN where I am now aware WHY the doctors could not (or would not) answer my questions. My committment has been strengthed!

As my children are all in their twenties,(unvaccinated) the govt is not affecting me directly. I am against a govt that seems bent on taking away the freedom of individuals to choose their own basic health care that I was allowed, and that everyone should have.

21 years ago we decided not to vaccinate our 2 children. we did not tell anyone because of the flak we got. our children were the healthiest in their environment. It is easier to take a stand now because they are older the information easier to find. I often send them to this site. More people are prepared to stand down with their opinion because they see the proof of my children.

I am alot more vocal because of the stiffling of the government. thank you for taking a stand.

I've always supported the AVN and always will. :)

I am a new mother & am choosing not to vaccinate our son. In our belief, the benefit does not out weigh the risk (I'm not talking about mortality, I'm talking about potential long term morbidity).

I know I am part of the minority, but I find it disheartening to hear other new mums not choosing to inform themselves due to their Dr's instilling fear into them.

AVN is one of the only communities of people I can trust will deliver all sides of the story with vaccination.

I'm concerned about a lot of misinformation on the avn website

Everyone should have the right to decided for themselves, and for their children, what medical treatment they will, or will not accept. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and because we uphold the Bibles clear command to "abstain from blood" we have come up against this issue many times. But with informed doctors, this is no longer a problem. Even in emergency situations, there are many safe and effective alternatives. The pressure to vaccinate though, continues to rise simply because of greed.

I do worry about being linked to the avn

100% yes.  Why are they so desperate to make it so difficult for people to think for themselves and make their own decisions.

The AVN is a $280,000 cashcow for its leadership and should be shut down.

there has always been opposition to natural forms of therapies. It doesn't phase me.  It definitely won't change my support of the AVN or change my personal stance on vaccinations.

There is so much  accurate information available which shows the dangers of vaccination that I have become more convinced than ever that people must be given an informed choice.

The actions of the government bodies, the fake skeptics, the AMA have had absolutely no effect upon my decision to not vaccinate either myself or my children. I made this decision many years ago as a direct result of personal experience and extensive and ongoing enquiry. Sadly, observing the actions of the above groups have only served to reinforce the possibility of an agenda that has little to do with preserving public health, and more to do with the exploitation of fear, ignorance and power.

Being fully commited to none vaccination for many years and a supporter of AVN, the Government attitude has just made me more on side with supporting you and this crusade.keep up the good work.

I simply want the truth have the information and make a responsible decision on what is best for myself and my family.

I will always support the AVN no matter what the government and other organiations say.

Never forget to follow the money trail when looking into any subject where motivations and agendas may be obscure. Thank you AVN for pursuing individual rights and exposing big pharma influence.

I'M ALL OUT FOR AVN, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!.

I support any group or individual whose right to choice is being challenged, regardless of whether I personally agree with that choice.  Self-determination - particularly with something as intrinic as health care - should underpin every democractic society.  I have to suspect the motives of any organisation that attempts to remove it.  History has shown time and time again that those who strive to deny choice have vested interests or something to hide. Count me in a new member.

We made our vaccination decisions based on research so scare campaigns had no effect on us. I am less comfortable discussing health concerns with gps though as a result of the 'responsible vaccination' lecture I anticipate receieving, whether my perception of their attitude justified,I am not sure about.

They have made me more likely to, because after years of research, I do believe the ingredients within vaccinations, and the reasoning as to why we need them, is not the right way to go. When I see the people with power push so hard against this, it annoys and frustrates me, and comes across that they have not done their homework, it is just about their money. I therefore and driven by my emotions to support AVN more. This sort of thing happens with many topics. This is one I most passionate for

Even before government warnings on AVN, I knew their message was incorrect and fearmongering.

The AVN is a necessary voice.

Let's face it, the 'establishment' Medical fraternity act like a mindless herd which appears to follow a budget and layers of hierarchy that have no thought of the individual, collateral damage is accepted.

My eldest non-vaccinated child is 14 & my youngest is 3 (I have 5 children) I am amazed how over that time there has been no changes in the information available to the public. When talking to my friends a lot of them are totally ignorant to the choices they have, they believe what the government & doctors say without giving it another thought - they have never thought of the ingredients or possible side effects. Like the current Antibiotic ad....I wonder if we will one day see for vaccines!!!

I do not vaccinate my children, but I also do not get involved in community debate, and have not told my family (all GPs and nurses) of my choice. I am intimidated by their wilful ignorance, and the severe emotive reactions that characterise the exchanges.

I would tell them if it was at all possible to have a reasoned debate, but as with fanaticism everywhere, the freedom of speech that I stand for is not accepted. I respect their choices, for/against, but am not given the same respect.

Thank God for the AVN

I really want the avn to continue, i think local support networks would help strengthen your voice.

I wish that an informed and open debate of the issues could occur. I don't appreciate being bullied by the government and health professionals who treat me like a naughty little girl, rather than an informed parent with concerns about the safety of prescribed health solutions.

After six years of research, I strongly oppose vaccinations and the proof of their uselessness is everywhere, not just coming from the AVN. Any number of organizations are now producing information regarding vaccinations and the HARM they are doing. Even magazine articles are now covering this topic and all the evidence is negative.

Informed implies accurate information. AVN does not provide accurate information Therefore AVN does not support informed choice

This is one of the truley reliable sources of truth.  It needs to be supported 100%.

any attempts to erode freedom of choice makes me more more determined to maintain our rights to choose

We have to be ever vigilant and make sure that the right to choose is never lost. Thanks to your efforts on our behalf, getting us all under the banner of choice,we stand a chance, thankyou for that.

The easiest question I have answered in ages!

Good work and thank goodness we are able to get useful information from you guys. Love your work.

When you know that something/someone is right and you see injustice occuring to cover it up or hide it, gives a person the determination to help the injusticed. The fact that they are trying so hard to oppress the AVN, that it makes one wonder why? What are they scared of?