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Top Australian Doctor Slams Pete Evans' Anti-Vaccination Beliefs That 'Defy Logic'

Top Australian Doctor Slams Pete Evans' Anti-Vaccination Beliefs That 'Defy Logic'

The former My Kitchen Rules celebrity chef has been warning people about forced vaccinations.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

One of Australia's top doctors has slammed celebrity chef Pete Evans for trying to promote his anti-vaccination beliefs.

The former My Kitchen Rules co-host, who was recently dumped by Channel 7, has been telling his followers on social media about the unfounded dangers of getting various vaccinations.

In between pictures of yummy meals, Evans has been reposting news headlines about vaccinations, the 5G network and coronavirus.

He claims he's not against vaccinations and used a 20-minute slot on The Kyle and Jackie O Show to explain his concerns about medical freedom and why people should be pro-choice.

Evans claimed many parents have told him that their child's behaviour changed after getting a vaccination, however failed to provide any academic papers or peer reviewed evidence that supported his claim.

Australian Medical Association vice president Dr Chris Zappala warned that Evans wasn't challenged by the radio hosts during the segment, which can be very dangerous to people who are susceptible to misinformation.

"It's really worrying - they're getting inexplicably some airtime," Dr Zappala said in an interview with 2GB Radio.

"I'm all for patients having info to make their own informed choices, but critical in that is that the information they're basing those choices on is accurate and true," he told the station.

PA

"That's why, if people have any concerns around vaccination, they need to go and have a chat about it with their GP and not listen to all of these false and misleading reports and social media.

"When you don't know what other variables, for example, existed in that child's life at the same time that might be equally relevant in considering a change to their behaviour...to leap to the conclusion that 'goodness me, it must have been the vaccination' is incredibly premature.

"We need to say, 'Alright, let's look at this systematically and appropriately' - as part of a trial or as part of an approved method of observation to see if there's anything in it, and try to work out what's happened and why."

There are decades of evidence from multiple studies and countries that prove vaccinations have helped saved millions of lives and prevented avoidable sickness and death.

Pete Evans/Instagram

While Pete Evans tries to claim that he isn't against people getting vaccinated, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says his history of campaigning against people being forced to get immunised proves otherwise.

RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon said: "Pete Evans now appears to be trying to walk back his anti-vaxxer messaging but I don't think anyone is buying it.

"His long history of anti-vaxxer advocacy, his questioning of the science underpinning vaccinations and his incredible description of himself as 'pro-choice for medical freedom' on vaccines makes any turnaround difficult to believe.

"I think it is more likely that he is just as intent on anti-vaxxer advocacy as ever but is simply trying to modify his language to achieve maximum reach on mainstream media platforms and get more Australians on board."

Featured Image Credit: Pete Evans/Instagram

Topics: News, Australia, Health