Coronavirus crisis: Anti-vaxxers descend on Perth CBD

Hundreds of protesters have descended onto the streets of Perth’s CBD as part of a state-wide anti-vaccine movement.

Vaccine Choice Australia is planning to hold several protests for a week across Perth suburbs before going to regional WA.

Protesters at today’s event gathered at the Supreme Court Gardens before making their way down William Street chanting, “freedom”.

The event is part of the “Stand-Up Australia’ tour, which — according to their website — aims “to gather like-minded people across our country and build a community of people that will Stand-Up together”.

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There are also Eventbrite events run by Vaccine Choice Australia priced at $17 for a 2-hour seminar with Dr Judy Wilyman.

Dr Wilyman’s research hasbeen described as a ‘conspiracy theory’ by medical professionals after she claimed the 2009 swine flu pandemic was declared by ‘a secret WHO committee, with ties to drug companies that stood to make big profits from the outbreak of the disease’.

The sudden rallies appear to be tied in with the next Federal Election.

According to one of the event pages, politicians “have lost their way”.

Australia’s coronavirus vaccine program was rolled out in February with 240,000 people vaccinated nationally, according to AAP.

Earlier this week two people suffered allergic reactions after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in WA, but the State’s chief health officer said both patients had a history of allergic reactions and recovered ‘without further incident’.

Both the AstraZeneca vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine have been approved and deemed safe by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Last month, thousands of anti-vaxxers protested against ‘mandatory vaccination’ in Scarborough.