Anti-vaxxers target baby products in Big W
A NSW mum shopping at Big W with her baby daughter made an unpleasant discovery in the baby section after anti-vaccination material typed on stickers were stuck on several products.
Speaking to Kidspot about her find, the mother states she was furious after finding it and soon realised that there were other stickers lying on the floor in the same aisle.
The stickers have nothing to do with Big W or any other retailer who may have been targeted by the anti-vaxxers – they are guerrilla marketing tactics used to try and target vulnerable parents who may not yet have vaccinated their children.
The tactic has been seen before, as last year a Western Australian mother purchased a tin of baby formula for her baby daughter and when she opened it she discovered a propaganda card from the same organisation.
Catherine Hughes, a pro-vaccine campaigner whose son Riley tragically died of whooping cough at four weeks of age in 2015, spoke to the Daily Telegraph last year when the card was found and said it was a new low for the anti-vax movement.
“I think it speaks volumes they have to sink to such a low level, it’s disgraceful and if you were a new parent, it could influence your decision to vaccinate. Fear is a tactic they like to use, but it’s also a breach of safety that they can go into a Woolworths store and tamper with formula, it’s concerning on so many levels,” she said.
The message being delivered is not only dangerous but contains plenty of myths. Not only are they not based on fact, but they do not cite any sources to back up their claims.
Numerous studies have been conducted in the past to investigate whether there is any connection between immunisation and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and no evidence has been found to support the theory that the two are linked. Some studies have even confirmed the SUDI (sudden unexpected death in infancy) rate in the immunised group is nearly half that in the non-immunised group. You can find more information including links to those studies at Red Nose.
The popular theory used by anti-vaxxers is that vaccines cause autism, but the argument has been debunked countless times.
While the argument has been withdrawn, those against vaccinations also used to claim that the HPV vaccine causes cancer, but the researches have discovered the exact opposite. Vaccines prevent many cancers that are caused by viruses.
You can learn more about the important of vaccinating your child or grandchild at The Immunisation Foundation of Australia.
What are your views on vaccination? Tell us in the comments below.