Their move to form a Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA) has raised hackles. All but one council in the region has now passed motions expressing concern over the safety of vaccines — including the COVID-19 vaccine. The Robe Council and Naracoorte–Lucindale Council are the first to follow suit. Medical experts across the country are now sounding the alarm on the serious risks these anti-public health motions pose.
Both councils passed their motions unanimously. They call on staff to write or email state and federal health ministers, encouraging them to protect the right to express safety concerns about vaccines. In fact, local governments seem to be sounding the alarm on vaccines on an increasingly regular basis. This dangerous trend endangers confidence in communities for public health efforts.
Motions Passed Amid Controversy
The LCLGA’s decision to act on vaccine safety arose out of concerns presented by real members of the health and civic community. Lynette Martin, president of the LCLGA and mayor of Mount Gambier, stated that the association “raised the matter as it was of concern to some members of the community.” Rather, the motions are a sign of alarm from more and more local councils to challenge established, evidence-based, medical guidelines.
Along with the LCLGA, both the Robe and Naracoorte-Lucindale councils have expressed similar feelings. They adamantly demand that health authorities test every vaccine for contaminants and safety. This is true for both existing and upcoming vaccines. Misinformation about vaccine safety is everywhere these days, and it’s scaring public health officials half to death. Specifically, they are calling for greater vigilance to address this problem.
Their courageous leadership paved the way for this action, as the District Council of Grant went first by introducing an explicit pro-vaccine motion. They classified COVID-19 vaccine as “experimentally approved.” This claim has been universally decried by the medical community who have pointed out that this is a false and baseless claim.
“We have one of the strictest regulatory environments in the world,” – Professor Paul Griffin
Expert Opinions and Rebuttals
Medical professionals have expressed deep alarm about these motions. They claim that raising doubts about vaccine safety, without any good evidence, is a threat to public health with deadly consequences. Professor Paul Griffin, an expert who has worked on developing multiple vaccines, including eight for COVID-19, emphasized that vaccines undergo rigorous testing before approval.
Professor Griffin pointed out, “We carefully assess the ingredients as well as the safety in recipients on a continual basis to make sure that remains the case.” His remarks emphasize the decades long regulatory hoops that vaccines have to jump through before they are made widely available.
Further, an early Canadian study seemed to confirm last year’s findings by Dr. Philip Buckhaultz that vaccines are safe. But Dr. Buckhaultz’s initial findings came under intense fire from AAP FactCheck. This begs further questions about the credibility of the studies that local councils used to base their anti-movement motions on.
“These reports are based on studies conducted by a small number of laboratories that have attempted to investigate the amount of DNA in COVID-19 vaccines,” – Therapeutic Goods Administration
Public Health Implications
Medical experts warn that promoting vaccine skepticism can lead to decreased vaccination rates and ultimately jeopardize community health. Mayor Kylie Boston of Naracoorte-Lucindale articulated her belief in “the role of SA Health in keeping our community safe,” emphasizing that public health must remain a priority.
As these complex discussions continue, it is important for local and county councils to be mindful of the positive and negative implications their actions may have. We need to promote the priorities of our communities, combined with the best available scientific evidence and expert guidance. This careful balance is the foundation of public confidence in vaccination programs.
