Letters: Passing tainted judgement

Andrew Wakefield, the director of <i>Vaxxed.</i> Photo / AP

I wanted to go to the Kaitaia screening of Vaxxed. I mean, don't I have the right to see the film if I like and reach my own opinion? The exact same right as someone who wishes not to see the film if they don't want?

I hesitantly decided not to, out of fear of being bullied or publicly shamed in our close-knit community.

After seeing Lance O'Sullivan's performance plastered all over social media and on television I'm relieved I didn't attend. I've heard all sorts of things from both sides -- having to witness children who have contracted diseases, and see them suffer that have a readily available vaccine, and parents with a lively, healthy infant, only to have their world flipped upside down minutes after a vaccination, having to play the waiting game until the child turned two and a half to assess the extent of the brain damage, or worse, babies actually passing away.

Before anyone tries to rip me to shreds, I'm not pro-vaccine or labelled as an anti-'Vaxer'. I am, however, all for making an informed choice and respecting others' decision on whatever their, hopefully informed choice, is too. Actually having the freedom of choice is nice. I hope it stays that way.

Many of the comments and statements I've read online are completely one-sided. People who've decided not to vaccinate being labelled bluntly on live television as "stupid" by Hilary Barry and her co-host, and accused of being "fruit loops" by another New Zealand talk show. It's unfortunate these people decide to pass tainted judgement on something they haven't even taken the time to actually view.

Just because they're in a job with influence shouldn't mean they get to force their opinion on others and belittle anyone who challenges that.

I'm deeply saddened that we, as a community and as a country, have become so divided by these two nasty labels, each with the power to have you cyber-bullied and labelled all sorts of filthy names if you choose to voice your opinion. It's unfortunate we aren't all able to approach this deadly important topic with open minds and reasonable perspectives, with the intent to learn and make an informed decision for our and our families' health, with the same enthusiasm minus the spite.

I understand we have the same agenda -- what's best for our families and community as a whole. Why can't we discuss and question vaccines, from all angles, the good, the bad, the ugly, in a non-threatening environment? It's too bad immunisation doesn't help people be respectful of one another.

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