I knew this guy was anti-vax, anti-solar, a health “guru” and a total charlatan. I had no idea he thought gravity was a conspiracy and that the planet was flat though. How the fark can people not point and laugh at him?
David Wolfe: Flat Earther brings anti-vax message to Australia
JANE HANSEN, News Limited
February 26, 2017 9:58am
RENOWNED international ‘wellness’ guru and antivaccination proponent David ‘Avocado’ Wolfe has raised the hackles of health experts and parents in the Byron Shire regarding his upcoming visit on March 16 in Byron Bay.
Critics says the event, which promises Wolfe will “give Byron Bay the latest download on “how the world really works” will provide a platform to mislead parents on the issue of vaccination.
The shire is renowned for the lowest vaccination rates in the country. Only 46 per cent of five-year-old’s in Mullumbimby, and 61 per cent of Byron Bay children are fully vaccinated compared to the national average of 92 per cent.
Controversial American health spokesman David “Avocado” Wolfe.
Alison Gaylard, co-founder of the Northern Rivers Vaccination Supporters group based in Mullumbimby said the area was a magnet for conspiracy theorists and anti-vaccine advocates who are embraced by a community that prides itself on being alternative, if not misinformed.
“He is a well-known anti-vaxxer and in among his inspirational memes thousands share on Facebook, he also posts misinformation about vaccination and people like Wolfe are drawn to this area for that reason, they find the echo chamber they need,” Ms Gaylard said.
Two babies, including Dana McCaffery lost their lives to whooping cough during the 2009-12 epidemic in the region which researchers pinpointed as the epicentre due to the low vaccination rates in the area.
An alarming number of mothers have embraced the anti-vax message. Picture: Megan Slade.
David Wolfe, who refers to himself as “the rock star and Indiana Jones of the superfoods and longevity universe” and boasts “the world’s top CEOs, ambassadors, celebrities, athletes, artists, and the real superheroes of this planet — mums — all look to David for expert advice in health, beauty, herbalism, nutrition, and chocolate.” He incorrectly states on his website that “a growing body of evidence indicates that vaccines are not safe and that they can injure, permanently maim, or even kill you or a family member”. There is no such body of evidence.
Ms Gaylard and the NRVS has sent an open letter to the host of the upcoming seminar, Jing Organics requesting they not provide a venue for misinformation.
“Hosting anti vaccination activists in this area does nothing to help accurately inform the community about vaccines; but it does place them at risk by exposing them to falsehoods that could easily lead them to stop vaccinating themselves and their children.
We see this as a Public Health issue and ask that you support us in our efforts to prevent the spread of misinformation like that which Mr. Wolfe has spoken about in the past,” the letter reads.
Local paediatrician Dr Chris Ingall said hosting such people ‘just creates further confusion and misleads people’.
“We see a high prevalence of vaccine preventable illnesses here that take a real toll on children and parents. These people like Wolfe land up here with these ill-informed views which may change the minds of some people and that can have a ripple effect which puts families at risk,” Dr Ingall said. On Thursday, Sydney company Mr Vitamins cancelled a sponsored David Wolfe appearance in Chatswood after a social media backlash against the company.
Owner of Jing Organics Adam Kingsley said he did not care about the concerns of people and hoped David Wolfe would spread the anti-vaccine message.
“I’m anti-vaccine, I’m publicly open about that, just because stuff is peer reviewed doesn’t mean it’s true. David Wolfe is a world health expert,” Mr Kingsley said.
David Wolfe calls himself a nutritionist, believes the world is flat and claims gravity is a hoax.
Mr Kingsley claimed vaccines cause autism because he is in the health industry, (he makes saukraut and fermented foods and sell organic products) and he speak to mothers whose children have autism.
There are over 100 international studies that have debunked the link first put forward by struck off doctor Andrew Wakefield.