Anti-vaxxers protest in Geelong streets

A small group of anti-vaccination protesters took to the streets of Geelong as part of national rallies.

A SMALL group of anti-vaccination protesters took to the streets of Geelong as part of national rallies.

It comes as hundreds of protesters brandishing signs gathered to protest coronavirus vaccines South Yarra on Saturday.

Western Victorian MP Andy Meddick said he contacted police and parliamentary security this week after brochures advertising the local rallies were distributed across the Geelong and Bellarine.

It’s understood the group of protesters gathered outside Mr Meddick’s Gheringhap Street office for a short period on Saturday.

“Conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers, just like anyone, have right to opinions and to protest as long as it is peaceful,” Mr Meddick said.

“I do believe that these people are someone misguided.

“There is no mandatory vaccine law coming into this state.

“The government has been very, very clear in this.”

Protesters rally against 'mandatory' COVID-19 vaccinations in Melbourne on Saturday. Picture: Luis Ascui/Getty Images

Mr Meddick said he was concerned that politically motivated anti-vaxxers were targeting and manipulating the fears of more vulnerable community members by spreading myths about medically approved vaccinations.

“Increasingly, there is a cohort of people more than willing to take advantage of them for political gain and it is absolutely atrocious,” he said.

Mr Meddick urged anyone who was concerned about the vaccine to seek advice from medical professionals.

Victoria Police has been contacted for comment.

The protest comes days after flyers, which refer back to several websites promoting anti-vaccination material, were dropped in Bellarine Peninsula letterboxes.

Headed ‘Educate your family about the vaccine’, the propaganda claims vaccine ingredients can cause “a host of issues” and criticises the pharmaceutical industry.

Barwon Health public health unit director Eugene Athan said at the time research for the Pfizer vaccine shows it is highly effective and extremely safe, with extensive trials around the world.

The first doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected to be administered to 100 Barwon region health professionals from Monday.

Originally published as Anti-vaxxers protest in Geelong streets