Australian council takes a dramatic stand against Covid vaccines and the TGA advice – citing conspiracy theory

Two more Australian councils have voted to recognize a discredited conspiracy theory about Covid vaccines, following a similar decision by another local authority.

The Council of West Tamar in Tasmania and the Council of Ceduna in South Australia have backed claims that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are ‘contaminated’ with residual DNA, which can reportedly integrate into human DNA and potentially cause cancer .

The government-run Therapeutic Goods Administration labeled the claims as misinformation when the council of Port Hedland in Western Australia sent letters to all other Australian local governments warning them of the alleged problems.

“The TGA assures the public that all COVID-19 vaccines approved in Australia have been rigorously assessed and meet our high standards of safety, quality and efficacy,” the agency said in a statement last month.

It said the reports on the alleged risks are “based on studies that currently fall short of the scientific rigor expected in pharmaceutical testing and contribute to the spread of misinformation about vaccines.”

But Julie Sladden, a retired doctor who proposed West Tamar’s motion, which passed five to four, accused the TGA of shutting down scrutiny and debate.

Dr. Sladden said her motion was about “the potential health risks” but did not state outright that the vaccines were dangerous.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has labeled the claims as misinformation

“It’s really not about hanging your hat on a particular verdict, but about telling people that we are aware that it is a concern and that we are committed to transparency,” she said.

‘I am very open to changing my mind if someone can present me with the available information. An open scientific discourse is what we need.

“There’s been enough censorship, there’s been enough name-calling.”

Dr. Sladden said there were extraordinary scenes during the council debate on the motion.

“People flocked into the hallway,” she said. ‘Between 100 and 150 people showed up to support the motion.

‘There were at least two doctors, an ex-pastor of a church, a few other paramedical health workers and a number of people who had been injured by vaccination or people with family members who had been injured by vaccination, who were all concerned about the shots.

‘They just told their story.

“There was a palpable sense that this was the first opportunity they had to tell their stories in a public setting, with people listening.

‘They came from our municipality, they were known to the council members. At some points I was almost in tears. That was very, very powerful.”

Dr. Sladden said the Covid Inquiry Response, written by the panel of three experts set up by the Albanian government to investigate Australia’s handling of the pandemic, showed public confidence had been significantly eroded over the period.

“If we want to regain public trust, there needs to be more advocacy,” Dr. Sladden said.

“It’s very important to remember who we serve, who elected us, we serve the people first and foremost.”

Responding to Port Hedland’s motion, WA Premier Geoff Cook, who has been Health Minister during the pandemic, defended the vaccines and said the council should “stick to their knitting”.

“It has to stay focused on the services and people of that community. It should improve his game,” he said.

Dr. Sladden (pictured left) had 25 years of experience in medicine before entering politics.

Ceduna council voted on Wednesday to formally recognize the evidence and safety concerns raised in the Port Hedland motion.

They also voted to send warning letters to all healthcare providers and also to write to state and federal officials to express support for Port Hedland Council’s letters.

West Tamar Mayor Christina Holmdahl has been contacted for comment.