No respect and very little intelligence
The other day, I received a reaction report via our website from a vocal supporter of Stop the Australian Vaccination Network (SAVN).
Let me explain that for almost a decade, the AVN has managed a database of vaccine adverse reactions which have all been submitted (anonymously - all reaction reports are de-identified) to the Federal Government. Prior to 2002, the government refused to accept reaction reports from anyone other than a doctor or clinic sister but after we lobbied ADRAC (The Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee), the government body charged with tracking and supposedly investigating reactions, they changed the policy and allowed us to submit these reports to them.
People can report reactions either via our 1800 number (1800 007 468) toll-free from anywhere in Australia or if they'd prefer, by using our web based form which you can see by clicking here.
This is a vital service that the AVN provides along with all of the other things we do such as supporting families who are being discriminated against because of their vaccination decisions, allowing parents and health professionals to access fact-based information on the risks and ineffectiveness of vaccines (information which they would not get otherwise) and lobby to ensure that the rights of Australians to make free and informed health choices are always maintained.
We feel that this is important work. We hope that you agree.
SAVN feels that you are not entitled to access this information. In fact, they feel that you are too stupid to look at both sides of this issue and make your own decision. They think it is dangerous for you to have this freedom and want to be able to tell you that when it comes to vaccination - the choice should be the same as that in an election in North Korea - only one vote allowed and that one compulsory.
We disagree.
SAVN has tried to get its members to contact us on our 1800 number - not because they want people to report reactions - full data on the harm that vaccination can cause is the last thing they want to encourage. No! They asked their members to contact us because they know that we pay for that line and they wanted to cost us as much money as they could so they could hopefully force us to close our doors.
That's the kind of people they are. They could not care less about your children or mine. They don't care if children live or die - get sick or stay well. All they want to do is shut down the AVN through any despicable means at their disposal.
Now, they have started to use our web-based forms to denigrate the families who have suffered and continue to suffer because of vaccine adverse reactions and vaccine-associated deaths. The lack of respect shown by these people is beyond belief and their lack of intelligence is so obvious it is an embarrassment to even have to read some of the drivel they have written.
For instance, a short while ago, I received this reaction report form from one long-time SAVN supporter - a woman who is the mother to 4 girls, one of whom recently celebrated the fact that she was getting her vaccinations at school and was looking forward to it greatly.
The mother reported a reaction which she claimed occurred to her daughter - this 'reaction' occurred within a short time of her daughter receiving an MMR vaccine - there were difficulties with a flight to the US - that is the reaction:
Date of first reaction - 14/1/2011
Was treatment prescribed for the reaction? - Yes - manual processing of entry into USA; put on a different flight for connection.
Please describe the reaction - Upon arrival at LAX she presented her passport to the Immigration officer who scanned it. The entire US Immigration computer system crashed which resulted in her having to be manually processed. When she was waiting to board her connecting flight to Denver there was a power outage resulting in her flight being delayed 5 hours.
Does this person really think that vaccine reactions are funny? Does she really feel that making fun of families who are living through vaccine-induced hell is an appropriate way to behave? As a mother herself, does she really have so little feeling for the pain of others that she can treat this situation with such disrespect?
It is no wonder that SAVN members' actions are completely vile - this person is indicative of the attitude of the entire lot of those who post on that page.
If you have friended SAVN and you agree with these sorts of actions, you truly should be ashamed of yourself.
If you have a vaccine injured child, how about sharing your thoughts on that here (I would not suggest going to SAVN to do so - you will not receive a warm welcome) - SAVN reads this blog. Perhaps something one of you says can get through to them and make them see the error of their way? You never know.