SWAN Hill Rural City councillor Nicole McKay says she is “deeply concerned” about United Australia Party (UAP) text messages urging Australians to not trust vaccinations.
The UAP texts are being authorised by MP Craig Kelly and party leader Clive Palmer and have been sent, unsolicited, to millions of Australians.
On Saturday people receiving the text messages were directed to a Therapeutic Goods Administration report outlining the very rare adverse reactions that could be caused by vaccines.
Cr McKay, who is also a nurse, said she was concerned the texts could cause people to delay vaccinations, or even decide not to be vaccinated.
“There is strong evidence that the COVID-19 vaccinations are working,” Cr McKay said.
“Unvaccinated people are much more likely to end up in hospital and ICUs with COVID-19.
“If you are not vaccinated, you are at higher risk of becoming severely ill – right now, these vaccines are protecting people against severe illness, hospitalisation and death.”
A NSW Health Department report found that 95.5 per cent of people who presented to hospital with COVID weren’t fully vaccinated, and a report from Victoria’s Department of Health found that no patients hospitalised with COVID were fully vaccinated.
“I strongly encourage the community to look to their local health professionals, and trusted sources of health information, to guide them in regard to taking up COVID-19 vaccination,” Cr McKay said.
“If you are worried, make an appointment with your GP to discuss it thoroughly.”
Cr McKay said Mr Palmer and Mr Kelly did not have backgrounds that specialised in medicine or health, and that even though the situation was evolving, vaccinations were shown to have worked overseas.
“In the United States, the states with low vaccination rates, such as Florida, are experiencing higher levels of severe illness, hospitalisation and ICU admissions,” she said.
“In Britain, they have very high vaccination rates across the nation, and so they have more freedom and low levels of severe cases of COVID.
“Britain is also showing that AstraZeneca has been highly effective and providing lasting immunity.”
Cr McKay said Swan Hill and district residents who contracted COVID and needed medical assistance faced long journeys to major hospitals.
“For us (residents), the prevention of severe illness caused by COVID is essential, and the best way to do that is by being vaccinated,” she said.
“For anyone not yet vaccinated, it is important to know that it will take at least five weeks from your first vaccine to develop strong protection against COVID-19.
“So the best day to get your vaccination is now, because we don’t have time up our sleeves.
“We all want to return to our normal way of life.”
Cr McKay said she knew the community was “fed up” with measures such as lockdowns.
“Lockdowns have been extremely hard on individuals, and particularly small businesses.
“But there is hope, and if we continue to follow the health advice, things will improve.
“Delaying vaccination will only make things worse. “
