The Australian medical community has joined together to rip Pete Evan’s dangerous anti-vaxxer views to shreds.
Over the weekend, the celebrity chef, 47, attempted to bolster his unscientific theory that flu vaccines are ‘unsafe’ by uploading a letter to Instagram which explained how jabs are tested.
The letter was written by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in response to an unnamed woman who had questioned whether any safety testing for a 2020 flu jab called Fluad Quad had been independently funded.
‘Enough is enough!’ The Australian medical community has joined together to rip Pete Evans’ dangerous anti-vaxxer views to shreds by exposing why his conspiracy theory is totally flawed
The TGA is responsible for approving vaccines for public use.
The letter explained that all of the safety tests for Fluad Quad were funded by companies with a financial stake in the product.
Clearly regarding this as a ‘gotcha’ moment, former My Kitchen Rules judge Pete gleefully highlighted two paragraphs explaining that no such independent test exists.
Sham science: Over the weekend, the celebrity chef, 47, attempted to bolster his unscientific theory that flu vaccines are ‘unsafe’ by uploading a letter to Instagram which explained how jabs are tested
Testing: The letter was written by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in response to an unnamed woman who had questioned whether any safety testing for a 2020 flu jab called Fluad Quad had been independently funded. Pete gleefully highlighted two paragraphs explaining that no such independent test exists
‘Are there any other questions you would like answered after reading this?’ Pete smugly wrote in his caption.
However, if Pete had contacted the TGA himself, he would have learned that his conspiracy theory about vaccine safety doesn’t hold up.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia about Pete’s post, a TGA spokesperson explained that Australia has laws in place to ensure vaccines are safe, regardless of who funds safety studies.
Irresponsible: However, if Pete had contacted the TGA himself, he would have learned that his conspiracy theory about vaccine safety doesn’t hold up
‘Irrespective of who funds the study, human studies should always involve independent Ethics Approval, and adherence to the principles of International Good Clinical Practice and human experimentation in the Declaration of Helsinki,’ explained the spokesperson.
The TGA representative explained that the TGA has a rigorous process when it comes to assessing the results of clinical trials for all medicines – including Fluad Quad
‘The TGA also scrutinises the way in which trials are conducted. We require well-designed trials of a sufficient length with a sufficient number of people who represent the people for whom the vaccine is intended,’ they explained.
‘The TGA also scrutinises the way in which trials are conducted’: Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia about Pete’s post, a TGA spokesperson explained that Australia has laws in place to ensure vaccines are safe, regardless of who funds safety studies
‘The results must demonstrate that the benefits of the vaccine greatly outweigh the risks,’ they added.
Additionally, when approving certain vaccines for public use, the TGA also works with an independent government committee of scientific, medical and public health experts, the spokesperson explained.
They also explained the logical reason why most vaccine tests are funded by companies with a financial interest in the jabs.
‘What are the anti-vaxxers trying to achieve?’ Meanwhile, Dr Harry Nespolon, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, (pictured) also blasted Pete’s Instagram post on Wednesday
Simply put, due to the large volume of vaccine tests – and the sheer cost of undertaking such safety studies – it’s unlikely that companies with nothing to gain from the vaccine would have the incentive to fund them.
Meanwhile, Dr Harry Nespolon, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, also blasted Pete’s Instagram post on Wednesday.
‘The adjuvant over 65 influenza vaccination has been used for many years to help protect older people who are a vulnerable group when it comes to influenza disease. What are the anti-vaxxers trying to achieve?’ the top doctor told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Perhaps it is time that the companies responsible for these platforms enforced stronger measures to combat anti-vaxxer messaging’: He also called for social media platforms such as Instagram to take action against those who are using their accounts to disseminate dangerous messages
‘Enough is enough. Celebrities with massive numbers of followers are exploiting community anxiety about COVID-19 to foster fear about vaccinations and spread conspiracy theories such as 5G compromising our immune systems,’ he said.
Dr Nespolon warned that if anti-vaxxers aren’t stopped from spreading their harmful messages, the public trust in vaccinations and expert medical advice will be further eroded.
He also called for social media platforms such as Instagram to take action against those who are using their accounts to disseminate dangerous messages.
‘Perhaps it is time that the companies responsible for these platforms enforced stronger measures to combat anti-vaxxer messaging,’ he said.
Semantics: Pete insists that he is not an anti-vaxxer but instead ‘pro-choice for medical freedom’. Many anti-vaccination campaigners are beginning to use the term ‘pro-choice’ – which is generally associated with abortion rights – instead of ‘anti-vaxxer’ in order to make their views seem more socially acceptable
Pete was recently released from his contract with Channel Seven after making a series of unscientific and dangerous claims relating to COVID-19 and vaccines.
The chef insists, however, that he is not an ‘anti-vaxxer’ but ‘pro-choice’.
Many anti-vaccination campaigners are beginning to use the term ‘pro-choice’ – which is most commonly associated with abortion rights – instead of ‘anti-vaxxer’ in order to make their views seem more socially acceptable.
Vaccinations are a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases before they come into contact with them.
The jabs protect individuals and others in the community by reducing the spread of preventable diseases.
Dangerous: Pete was recently released from his contract with Channel Seven after making a series of unscientific and dangerous claims relating to COVID-19 and vaccines.. Pictured with his wife, Nicola Robinson