Nurses, midwives warned there will be consequences if they preach or share anti-vaccination messages

EXCLUSIVE: Nurses and midwives have been warned they will be investigated and punished if they preach or share “false or misleading” anti-vaccination messages, including via social media.

Pamela O'Connor, a Nurse from Murwillumbah who is one of an increasing number of Nurses and midwives taking to social media to preach dangerous anti-vax messages. Picture: Facebook

NURSES and midwives have been warned they will be investigated and punished if they preach or share “false or misleading” anti-vaccination messages, including via social media.

And the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s tough new position statement on the issue also urges patients and colleagues to dob in those promoting dangerous anti-vaccination views in blatant disregard for health authority protocols.

Pamela O'Connor, a Nurse from Murwillumbah who is one of an increasing number of Nurses and midwives taking to social media to preach dangerous anti-vax messages. Picture: Facebook

The NMBA said it was aware of “a small number of registered nurses, enrolled nurses and midwives who are promoting anti-vaccination statements ... which contradict the best available scientific evidence”.

“Any published anti-­vaccination material and/or advice which is false, misleading or deceptive which is being distributed by a registered nurse, enrolled nurse or midwife … could result in prosecution.”

Already some posts on an anti-vaccination Facebook group have pledged to defy the crackdown, with one person writing: “I’m a nurse and will continue to say what I believe about vaccines. They can shove their guidelines up there (sic) ass.”

O'Connor posted this status with a link to a petition asking Tony Abbott who was prime minister at the time to stop the removal of childcare rebate and benefits for those who chose not to vaccinate their children.

The nurse posted a lot about anti-vaccination as well as sharing similar messages.

One of the many posts she shared but O’Connor has decided she will take down the posts from social media.

And Melbourne midwife Belinda Henkel, who is under Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority-imposed practising restrictions and required to undertake re-education, yesterday told The Daily Telegraph she would not remove anti-vaccination information from her professional Facebook page.

“No, f ... them,” Ms Henkel said. “I’m not removing anything that I’ve got on the site but I’ve agreed to acquiesce to AHPRA’s request and I have said that I will give unequivocal support to the vaccination regime that we have.”

Asked if she believed in the safety of vaccines, Ms Henkle said: “I can’t answer that question.”

Meanwhile, Murwillumbah District Hospital nurse Pamela O’Connor yesterday said she would take down anti-vaccination posts she had shared on her Facebook profile — including claims that vaccines cause autism, brain damage and death — so she wouldn’t lose her job. “I’d have to be more aware of what I did post,” she said.

A midwife in Melbourne, Belind Henkel stood by her beliefs and said she would not remove her posts.

She shared this post which suggests parents who give their newborn the hepatitis B vaccination are dicing with death.

Ms O’Connor said she knew a young woman whose mental health declined after having the cervical cancer vaccine, saying: “I have seen clear evidence from personal experience.

“I don’t know what the stats are on it (but) for me that’s a concern. Certainly the stuff I’ve put (on Facebook) I think is from quite reputable people who’ve done some research.”

Asked about Ms O’Connor’s posts, Northern NSW Local Health District CEO Wayne Jones would not comment directly and said there had not been enough time to educate staff on the NWBA’s tough stance — despite it being available for more than a week.

The position statement also outlines numerous protocols that already applied to nurses.