Covid-19 Qld: Ronald McDonald House bans unvaccinated children

A Queensland mother is furious after the charity accommodation banned unvaccinated sick kids and their families. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Ronald McDonald House is banning unvaccinated sick kids and their families from its hospital accommodation homes, in a move that has angered a Queensland mother.

Gladstone woman Anne Marinou said she was shocked to receive a letter from the charity revealing the looming ban when she brought her disabled daughter to Brisbane last week for specialist treatment.

“We’re very appreciative of the service they provide but this is a charity that’s being very uncharitable,” she said.

Ms Marinou said she and her 16-year-old daughter Artemis, who has severe cerebral palsy, stayed at Ronald McDonald House every two months when they came to the Queensland Children’s Hospital for special muscle relaxant injections.

She said she and other parents were handed the letter from Dr John Gilmour, southeast Queensland CEO of Ronald McDonald House’s, when they checked into the charity’s Herston facility.

“At Ronald McDonald House Charities, our highest priority is the health and safety of our families, volunteers and staff,” Dr Gilmour said in the letter.

Anne Marinou, her disabled daughter Artemis and other daughter Kassandra

“As you may be aware, the Federal Government has determined anyone aged 12 and over is now eligible to receive a Covid-19 vaccination.

“RMHC recognises that our Ronald McDonald Houses are places that support vulnerable children and their families, therefore our focus is to minimise the risk of transmission of Covid-19.

“For this reason, from Saturday 1 January 2022, all eligible families staying at a Ronald McDonald House in Australia, who are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination, must be fully vaccinated … for the health and safety of everyone, including our families and seriously ill children.”

Dr Gilmour said families from rural and remote locations who had not had access to the vaccine would be granted a ‘temporary reprieve’ but would still need to have had their first dose to stay in the house.

“Families will be required to provide RMHC with documentation related to their vaccination status before access is granted to our Ronald McDonald Houses,” he wrote.

Ms Marinou said she and her daughter were not vaccinated because she was concerned about how the vaccine had been “pushed on people”.

“I don’t think many sick and disabled children should be given the vaccine but there are virtually no exemptions given,” she said.

Ms Marinou said she was worried how they would cope with the seven-hour drive from Gladstone without access to Ronald McDonald House.

A Ronald McDonald House spokeswoman said the safety and wellbeing of seriously ill children and their families was ‘our highest priority.

“We are operating in accordance with government advice and working with our hospital partners o ensure the safest possible environment for our families, volunteers and staff,” she said.

Australia’s 18 Ronald McDonald Houses are funded with the help of millions of dollars in donations from McHappy Day, an annual event where celebrities man McDonalds stores to flip and sell burgers.

Originally published as Covid-19 Qld: Ronald McDonald House bans unvaccinated children