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

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

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

The government-run Therapeutic Goods Administration branded the claims as misinformation when the Port Hedland Council in Western Australia sent letters to all other Australian local governments to warn them about the alleged issues.

‘The TGA reassures the public that all COVID-19 vaccines approved in Australia have been rigorously assessed and meet our high standards for safety, quality, and efficacy,’ the body said in a statement last month.

It said the reports of the risks as claimed ‘are based on studies that currently fall short of the scientific rigour expected in pharmaceutical testing and are contributing to the spread of vaccine misinformation’.

But Julie Sladden, a retired doctor who proposed the West Tamar motion that was carried five to four, accused the TGA of shutting down scrutiny and debate.

Dr Sladden said her motion was about ‘the potential health risks’ and was not stating outright that the vaccines were dangerous. 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has branded the claims as misinformation

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

‘I am very open to having my mind changed if someone can present me the information that is available. 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 of the motion.

‘People were overflowing into the corridor,’ she said. ‘Between 100 and 150 people turned up to support the motion.

‘There were at least two doctors, an ex-pastor from a church a couple of other allied care health workers and a number of vaccine injured people or people who had vaccine-injured family members who were all concerned about the shots.

‘They simply told their stories.

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

‘They were from our municipality, they were known to the councillors. I was close to tears at a number of points. That was very, very powerful.’

Dr Sladden said the Covid Inquiry Response, authored by the three-expert panel set up by the Albanese government to investigate how Australia handled to pandemic, found public trust had been greatly eroded during the period.

‘If we are going to build back public trust than there needs to be more advocacy happening,’ Dr Sladden said.

‘It is really important to remember who it is we serve, who elected us, we serve the people first and foremost.’ 

In response to the Port Hedland motion WA Premier Geoff Cook, who was state health minister during the pandemic, defended the vaccines and said the council should ‘stick to their knitting’. 

‘It should stay focused on the services and people of that community. It should lift its game,’ he said.

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

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

They also voted to send warning letters to all health practitioners and also 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.