Perth Seminar - Another fantastic AVN event

I meant to write about this seminar as soon as I got back from WA, but it seems to take 3 days just to catch up from 5 days away - why does it work like that? :-)

Tuesday night saw the AVN hosting yet another fantastic seminar at the State Library in Perth. We would like to thank the library staff for their help, support and kindness - especially in the face of continued attacks from the skeptics who oppose parents' right to hear information from both sides of this issue. 

About 120 people attended - many of them either pregnant or with young bubs (and better-behaved babies I've never seen!) and there was great interest in the talks by Judy Wilyman and myself with lots of fantastic questions afterwards and many people requesting the slides from the evening.

I am in the process of putting the audio together but we had some problems with the audio system (feedback was an issue) so I am not sure whether it will be good enough to post to the blog or not. If it is, look to see it by Monday - if not, I will try to put up whatever is salvageable.

Judy's talk was about the Gardasil vaccine and the supposed connection between the HPV virus and cervical cancer. She drew together a lot of the most recent information on these shots and many of those who attended were astounded at how much referenced information never makes the mainstream media nor do most doctors tell patients these details (chances are most of them don't even know).

With an emphasis on ensuring that parents are able to make educated vaccine choices instead of using blind faith as so many do - on both sides of this issue - Judy's talk was a scholarly contribution to this debate.

My talk - Investigate BEFORE You Vaccinate - discussed many but not all of the common childhood vaccines and the diseases they are meant to prevent. With a discussion of why vaccines don't immunise (antibodies are not a sign of immunity - they simply indicate exposure) and how they can cause such side effects as asthma, eczema, autism, permanent brain damage and death, the parents in attendance were able to see a side of this medical procedure that is not generally available in mainstream literature.

In addition, they were informed that vaccinations are not compulsory for school, preschool or childcare (many of them thought that it was) and that they can still get all of their financial entitlements whether they vaccinate fully, selectively or not at all.

We were sorry that Prof Fiona Stanley was, once again, unable to schedule the time to speak at our seminar as we would have welcomed her input and her alternative point of view. 

I thank those who made the effort to come out at night  - especially since I know how hard it can be to plan to attend these sorts of seminars with children and young babies. 

I also thank Greg, Georgie, Callum, Ken and everyone else who helped out at the door and on the sound system - you were all troopers and worked so hard to ensure that the seminar ran smoothly and well.