Anti vaxxers film target kids with life-threatening measles myths

ANTI-vaxxers have snubbed senior medical authorities to re-screen a film urging parents not to vaccinate their children against deadly diseases.

A private screening of the film Vaxxed was held at Crown Villlage Cinemas on Wednesday night.

DANGEROUS anti-vaxxers on Thursday night snubbed senior medical authorities to re-screen a film urging parents not to vaccinate their children against deadly diseases.

The film, Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe, was screened in Hawthorn by the Australian Vaccination-sceptics Network.

The screening, which followed a screening at Crown on Wednesday night, was accompanied by propaganda, including one children’s book, Melanie’s Marvellous Measles, which says the deadly virus makes a child “stronger” and that vaccinations compromise the immune system.

It also suggests children are “lucky” if they contract the life-threatening disease, and encourages them to resist vaccination and expose themselves to those infected.

ANTI-VAXXER MOVIE SCREENING IN SECRECY AT CROWN

An image taken at the private screening of the film Vaxxed at Crown Villlage Cinemas.

Children’s books available at Village Crown’s screening of Vaxxed — From cover up to catastrophe.

Such myths have been discredited by medical experts.

Federal MPs were stunned by Wednesday’s screening, which was attended by hundreds of people, including children.

The screening was followed by a Q & A session in which vaccinations were linked to death and disability.

A Crown spokesman said: “Crown in no way endorses the anti-vax film. Crown was not aware of the film screening until contacted by the media. While Village make decisions about what movies screen at their cinemas, we will be clearly communicating to Village that such a film is not screened at the Crown venue in the future.”

An image taken at the private screening of the film Vaxxed at Crown Villlage Cinemas.

Village declined to comment on Thursday.

The film, which is banned in theatres across Australia and the world, showed again to a sold-out crowd at Hawthorn Arts Centre on Thursday night.

Centre representatives were not available for comment on Thursday night.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt condemned the film, saying vaccinations saved lives and without them young children were at risk.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has condemned the film. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

“I flatly condemn the movie and the anti-vaccination message as being based on unscientific conspiracy theories,” he told the Herald Sun.

“I will be calling on all state ministers to join me in supporting vaccination and condemning both the anti- vaccination movie and message at tomorrow’s Council of Australian Governments health council.”

The federal Opposition’s health spokeswoman, Catherine King, on Wednesday wrote to Village Cinemas demanding it explain why it had decided to show such “uninformed and discredited rubbish” in its cinemas.

“I am absolutely shocked and appalled at this film’s screening, and its potential to spread such dangerous health misinformation,” she said.

Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon fears the film will influence parents to make decisions on their children’s behalf that may risk their lives.

“Even if there is a 2-3 per cent reduction in vaccine rates, that can allow viruses to take hold of a community. It’s desperately disappointing to hear the screening has gone ahead,” he said.

 ARE VACCINES SAFE? VACCINATION FACT VS. FICTION

HEALTH MINISTER JILL HENNESSY RESPONDS TO ANTI-VACCINATION TROLLS

Dr John Cunningham, who was awarded an Order of Australia for work promoting vaccines, said he tried to stop Wednesday’s screening by offering to compensate Village Cinemas for any losses.

He said he was bitterly disappointed by the cinema’s decision, and had attended Thursday night’s screening to expose the “fantasy and lies”.

“Everyone has freedom of speech, but that doesn’t mean companies are obliged to give these groups access to their services,” he said.

“I want them to treat anti-vaxxers with … disdain.

“They are providing advice on a paranoid theory,” Dr Cunningham said.

Public health warnings have been issued in relation to AVN, which has been investigated by interstate government bodies.

Since 2005, Victoria has had 319 confirmed measles cases, many of them in schoolchildren.

@AneekaSimonis

[e-mail]