Taylor Winterstein slammed for anti-vax comment as deaths climb

As children continue to die in Samoa, a prominent Aussie anti-vaxxer has come under fire for criticising the country’s decision to run a compulsory vaccination campaign to stop the deadly infection rates climbing.

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AN AUSTRALIAN anti-vaxxer has been slammed for criticising Samoa’s response to a deadly measles epidemic, with the government ordering compulsory vaccinations for islanders who are not immunised.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has declared a state of emergency and instructed residents to hang red flags on their doors if they require a lifesaving inoculation.

As of this morning there were 4217 measles cases — 165 in the past 24 hours.

The death rate stands at 62 — 54 of which were children under four.

The tiny Pacific nation of 200,000 will grind to a halt on Thursday and Friday as non-essential government services close so public servants can help the vaccination campaign.

Taylor Winterstein, wife of Manly Sea Eagles player Frank Winterstein, has criticised Samoas vaccination campaign. Picture: Instagram

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Over the two-day period, teams will go door-to-door administering vaccines in a desperate bid to raise the low immunity levels in Samoa that have fuelled the epidemic.

Immunisation is compulsory under a state of emergency imposed last month and officials asked unvaccinated families to identify themselves.

But Rugby League WAG Taylor Winterstein, wife of Samoan international Frank Winterstein, has taken to ­social media to criticise the campaign and encourage ­locals to read the package ­before having the injection.

Samoa has adopted “Black Death” tactics reminiscent of London’s 14th century bubonic plague, decreeing citizens tie a red cloth or flag in front of their houses to indicate that family members have not been vaccinated.

The prominent anti-vax campaigner has compared the door-to-door action as a breach of the Nuremberg Code, which states that ­“voluntary consent” should be essential.

She said there were “distressed parents in Samoa who do not want their children ­injected with this toxic MMR vaccine and are literally hiding in their home”.

“What we do not support is bullying, coercion and manip­ulation by the medical establishment, the media or government, when it comes to a one-size-fits-all vaccine schedule which does not factor in bio-individuality for any infant or child,” she wrote online this week.

Taylor Winterstein, wife of Manly Sea Eagles player Frank Winterstein, runs an anti-vax blog. Picture: Instagram

Medical staff attend to patients during a measles breakout in Samoa. Vaccination efforts in recent weeks have concentrated on children will now broaden to the wider population.

As a result of the comments her husband Frank took to social media to claim that his “family’s safety has now come under threat”.

Australian travellers have been advised to check their vaccinations before travelling to the island.

Samoa’s immunisation rate was about 30 per cent before the outbreak and officials say it has now reached about 55 per cent.

Vaccination efforts in recent weeks have concentrated on children but the government has now broadened its program to include the entire population.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has vowed to get the figure above 90 per cent.

“Our children and people will never become immune to any future epidemic unless we have almost 100 per cent vaccination coverage,” he said while touring a hospital ward Wednesday.

“It’s the only antidote.”

Of the 60 deaths, 52 have been children under the age of four. Picture: Government of Samoa

The Smart Traveller website said: “All government ­offices will be closed on 5 and 6 December to assist with mass measles vaccinations.

“If you’re visiting Samoa make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date and your travel insurance covers medical evacuations.”

The Australian Sceptics Networks editor Tim Mend­ham said: “Anti-vaxxers are the problem here, they are an abomination on the earth.

“There is no scientific proof to what they are saying.

“Some time ago they used to say measles never hurt anybody and killed nobody.

“Now look at it now.”

– with AFP

Originally published as Taylor Winterstein slammed for anti-vax comment as deaths climb