US anti-vacciniation campaigner Sherri Tenpenny’s Australian tour is in jeopardy after every venue cancelled her appearance. Photo: Facebook
A high-profile anti-vaccination campaigner’s tour of Australia is in jeopardy after every venue booked to host her controversial seminars pulled out.
Sherri Tenpenny, an American osteopath who says vaccines are not safe and effective for children and that they are linked to conditions including autism, was booked to speak at 11 venues in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide in February and March.
According to the organisers of her “Birth Baby and Beyond” and “Raising Healthy Children Naturally” talks, hundreds of tickets have been sold for up to $200 each.
But after a pro-vaccination group’s campaign to stop the tour, all of the venues have cancelled.
An organiser of the events and anti-vaccination campaigner, Stephanie Messenger, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
However, a note on the website selling tickets for the events says the venues cancelled due to “bullying by vested interests who do not believe in informed consent, free speech and respect for other’s rights, and who appear to support censorship of thought and science”.
Melbourne surgeon and spokesman for Stop the Australian (Anti) Vaccination Network, John Cunningham, said the cancellations were a “testament to corporate ethics”.
“Ethically, the public deserve more, and demand the truth, and the truth is simply that vaccinations are safe, effective, and save lives,” he said.
Dr Cunningham had called on Immigration Minister Peter Dutton not to allow Dr Tenpenny into Australia because she posed a threat to public health and safety. But the minister has not commented on whether he would use his powers to ban her entry.
Dr Tenpenny, the author of Saying No to Vaccines, was expected to be joined by Australian homeopath Isaac Golden, who promotes the use of natural products to prevent infectious diseases.