Calls for government to deny visa to US anti-vaccine activist

Campaigners are calling for the Australian government to deny a prominent US anti-vaccine campaigner a visa.

Sherri Tenpenny (Facebook)

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Pro-vaccine activists are urging the government to deny a visa to a prominent US anti-vaccine campaigner who is set to tour Australia.

A social media campaign is underway to stop Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, a US osteopath and author of Saying No to Vaccines, from participating in a series of lectures across Australia in March.

American anti-vaccine activist Norma Erickson, and Australian homoeopathic practitioner, Dr Isaac Golden, are to join Tenpenny during the appearances.

The events are being hosted by the Gan Kim Man Foundation, an unregistered organisation, using the names of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, and Nelson Mandela.

It’s believed the lectures, called "Raising Healthy Children Naturally", were organised by Stephanie Messenger, an Australian anti-vaccine campaigner.

Pro-vaccine campaigners are outraged by the tour and have called on the government to take action.

Members of Stop the Australian (Anti) Vaccination Network have contacted state and federal health ministers, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, and several of the venues hosting the events.

“The end result of her tour is that some well-meaning parents will be conned,” Stop the AVN's Ken McLeod said.

“The end result is misery, and extra stress on the health department budgets, and occasionally death.

“We are alarmed and we are calling on the Immigration Minister to take up on her duty to protect the Australian public.”

A statement from Mr Dutton's office said he was being advised on the matter.

In November last year, US pick-up artist, Julien Blanc left Australia after his visa was cancelled following protests and an online petition, which went viral.

In 2014, a major international review found no evidence linking the development of autism with commonly-used vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. 

In March last year, the Australian Vaccination-Skeptics Network lost its charity status over concerns it could adversely affect children’s health. The group was also forced to insert the word “skeptics” into their name over claims their title was misleading.

Last week, the Federal Court found a NSW homeopathy company guilty of misleading conduct for saying the whooping cough vaccine is “unreliable” and “ineffective” and claiming homeopathic solutions were a proven safe alternative.