Early in 2007, the AVN submitted an ad on mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers to the NSW Doctor magazine. The ad was rejected without being seen. A copy of this ad has appeared on our website in the box below since that time. This ad has temporarily been removed by the AVN at the request of lawyers for the AMA. The AVN has obtained legal advice on this issue.
The ad below was removed upon demand by the Australian
Medical Associaiton and its legal representatives. The following “correction”
is being published for the next 3 months upon the demand of the Australian
Medical Association and its legal representatives.
We refer to the publication 'Why doesn't the AMA want doctors to see this ad?' dated March 2007 which previously appeared on this website ('the publication').
In the publication comments were made regarding the AMA (NSW) Editorial Committee's decision not to publish an advertisement of the Australian Vaccination Website in its magazine, NSW Doctor.
It has been brought to the attention of the Australian Vaccination Network that the comments published not only contained a number of factual errors but were felt to be offensive and embarassing to AMA (NSW), its officers and employees.
In particular it has been brought to the attention of the Australian Vaccination Network, the the Australian Vaccination Network accepts, that:
1- AMA (NSW) does not obtain any of its funding from pharmaceutical companies;
2- AMA (NSW) has not published any advertisement or advertorial for a pharmaceutical company in the NSW Doctor for a perios of at least four years, and at no time has the advertising in NSW Doctor been almost exclusively that of pharmaceutical companies;
3- AMA (NSW) does not actively censor information made available to its members.
The Australian Vaccination Network unreservedly apologises for any offence or embarassment the publication may have caused AMA (NSW), its officers and employees.
Bill Statham, author of The Chemical Maze Shopping Companion and the Chemical Maze Bookshelf Companion - fantastic reference books on the additives and chemicals in foods and personal care/cleaning products - came forward a couple of weeks ago and kindly donated the funds needed for the AVN to place the above ad in the NSW Doctor magazine.
This magazine is publised by the AMA (Australian Medical Association). This magazine goes to to all AMA members which make up around 40% of doctors in NSW, although in practice the magazine can have a wider reach than just the membership base. Just a reminder, NSW was the first state in Australia to mandate full vaccination for all medical professionals and students who work out of the hospital system.
The magazine accepted our booking form, took down our credit card details and then, only days later, wrote to tell us that:
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I refer to your request to place an advertisement in The NSW Doctor.
The AMA (NSW) Editorial Committee must approve of all new advertisements that are submitted for placement inThe NSW Doctor.
The Committee has decided not to accept your advertisement.
Please be assured that the credit card details provided have not, and will not, be accessed.
Laurie Pincott
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Medical Association (NSW) Ltd
PO Box 121 St Leonards NSW 1590
Phone: (02) 9439 8822 Fax: (02) 9439 8822
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When we questioned the AMA as to what possible reason they could have for rejecting our ad (especially considering the fact they hadn't even SEEN it yet), they told us that the decision was made after checking our website and finding out that we only had one medical practitioner listed amongst our Professional Members.
Bill Statham has kindly extended the offer to take the funds from the NSW Doctor ad and apply them to an ad in the Lamp magazine, the publication of the Nurse's Union - a body which was actively involved in drafting this mandatory vaccination policy. I don't know if we will be any luckier there but we will certainly give it our best shot.
Make a stand!
It is time for those who will be the most affected - the nursing and medical students, the doctors, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, the laundry and kitchen staff of hospitals - to do something to protect their own rights. Let them join with the AVN in fighting against this injustice. Through their support, financial, active and moral, they can ensure that others will not have to face the specture of deciding between their job and their health.
Just a few stories from the last few days that I can share with you:
1.I received a phone call from Brigitte Harvey (refer to your past issues of Informed Voice for her full story) - the nursing sister and student who won against the Hunter Valley Health Department and was allowed to do her practical work in hospital without any ramifications (after a very long fight and going to the media with her story). Brigitte has now been called into the matron's office and told that she has until November to get fully vaccinated or she is out of a job! She works with another sister who has an anaphylactic allergy to egg products - the MMR, Flu and TB vaccines all contain egg material. This nurse has been told that she needs to get the shots anyway and that they will vaccinate her in a hospital setting. I'm sure she will find that a great comfort when she is lying on the floor of the hospital, unable to breathe and losing consciousness!
2.A nursing sister in Victoria contacted me about a week ago to say that he was getting very nervous about the situation requiring vaccination. It is not yet mandatory in Victoria but he saw the writing on the wall. A few days later, he wrote back to say - "Don't worry about it. I have been told that the Victorian Health Department is holding off on implementing this policy until they see what happens in NSW." Well! If people like this nurse - who will be directly and immediately affected should this policy come into being - don't do anything now to stop it, it is only a matter of time before they will also be looking down the barrel of a syringe which is aimed fairly and squarely at them.
3.We just received a very, very generous donation from someone in Portugal - yes, Portugal! Now this person is not affected by this policy nor does he have anyone in his family who is affected. He heard about this via Philip Day's E-Club newsletter and felt that it was very important to help preserve the rights of Australians and so, he has given us a donation to help keep us going! You see, this is an issue that transcends political ideals, medical dogma and just about any other restriction you might want to think of. It is a matter of civil rights and the right to choose - plain and simple.
I hope that those of you who have not yet donated or become involved with this issue will do so now. Give where you can, tell others about this situation - especially nurses, doctors and those who will be affected, and if you are not yet a member or subscriber, please do consider joining now.
Until the next time - yours in health,
Meryl Dorey
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