Dear parents
Do you have questions about immunisations?
We would like to assist you to find the answers.
My colleagues and I at Perth's The Kids Research Institute Australia study how to make current vaccines work better, reduce common side effects, and develop new vaccines.
As scientists and doctors, we are certain that the Australian vaccination schedule offers the best protection for our kids. And yes, our children (13 between us) are all fully vaccinated.
Let's be clear -- the vast majority of West Australians (more than 90%) immunise their children to protect them from deadly and debilitating diseases. It's only a tiny percentage (less than 1.5%) who oppose vaccination and an even tinier percentage of people who are vocal anti-vaccination activists.
Our concern is for the group of parents who hesitate to immunise their children because they feel they cannot find the answers to their questions or concerns. They tell us they want to understand more about what's in the vaccines and the benefits compared to the small risk of side effects.
In our experience, these parents are not anti-vaccine -- they are caring parents who simply want information they can trust.
That's why on Monday night we opened up our doors for a free public seminar where all questions would be welcomed and answered on the basis of the latest scientific evidence.
Unfortunately, we had to cut that session short because we couldn't be heard over the abuse from people who were not interested in the answers.
The Kids Research Institute Australia is here to serve the families of Western Australia.
If you have a genuine question about vaccination that you would like answered, then email us at vaccineinfo@telethonkids.org.au and we will do our best to answer.
Yours sincerely
Professor Jonathan Carapetis, Director, The Kids Research Institute Australia, Paediatrician, Infectious Diseases Specialist
On behalf of the panellists:
Associate Professor Peter Richmond, Paediatrician, UWA Researcher
Dr Chris Blyth, Paediatrician, Infectious Diseases Specialist, Researcher
Dr Tom Snelling, Paediatrician, Infectious Diseases Specialist, Researcher
Dr Asha Bowen, Paediatrician, Infectious Diseases Specialist, Researcher