A SOCIAL media campaign has begun to stop an American anti-vaccination campaigner running a series of lectures in Australia in March.

US anti-vaccine campaigner Sherri Tenpenny is an osteopath who is the author of Saying No to Vaccines.

The series of six seminars held in four states called ‘Healthy Lifestyles Naturally’ has been organised by Brisbane — based anti-vaccine campaigner Stephanie Messenger.

Ms Messenger wrote the controversial children’s book Melanie’s Marvelous Measles, espousing the benefits of children falling ill with vaccine-preventable diseases.

EX-HIPPIES BLOW WHISTLE ON ANTI-VACCINATION MYTHS

The seminar is also supported by Ms Messenger’s Get Rid of SIDS Project.

Now debunked 40-year-old research from Japan made a tentative link with sudden infant death which has been disproved by hundreds of studies, the latest of which shows vaccinated children have a lower rate of SIDS.

The series of seminars is also being promoted on the anti-vaccination site the Australian Vaccination Skeptics Network: “Anyone who wants to learn about all aspects of natural child raising by international experts come along!” the new president of the AVSN Tasha David said on the website.

At the seminars, Dr Tenpenny will be accompanied by another US anti-vaccine campaigner Norma Erickson and Isaac Golden, a Melbourne-based homeopath who recommends homeopathic’ vaccines’ over regular vaccination.

Last week in the Federal Court, homeopathic vaccines were dismissed as scientifically void in an action against Homeopathy Plus which the court found falsely and misleadingly claimed homeopathic vaccines were a safe alternative.

media_camera Anti-vaccination T-shirts for sale on Dr Sherri Tenpenny’s website.

media_camera Anti-vaccination T-shirts for sale on Dr Sherri Tenpenny’s website.

Venues of the proposed seminars have received letters from pro-vaccine lobby groups and concerned parties.

Members of Stop the AVN, a pro-vaccine lobby group have begun a letter-writing campaign to politicians and venues hosting the seminars.

“It is extremely concerning that Tenpenny is coming here to misinform parents, she is rabidly anti-vaccine and venues might not know what their motives are. She is a public health menace,” Peter Tierney, from the SAVN, said.

Dr Ken Harvey, from Monash University’s School of Public Health, said homeopaths were telling lies that homeopathic vaccines work when there is no scientific basis for the claims whatsoever.

Dr Jeremy McAnulty, Acting NSW Chief Health Officer, reminded parents that vaccine preventable diseases, such as whooping cough, measles, diphtheria, and meningitis, are serious and sometimes life threatening infections.

“There is very good evidence that the approved vaccines protect against these infection, and over the years have saved countless lives.

“Homeopathic vaccines do not provide protection against diseases such as whooping cough, measles, diphtheria, and meningitis. People who receive a homeopathic vaccine should not be lulled into a false sense of security that they or their children are protected,” Dr McAnulty said.

Health Minister Jillian Skinner said: “The best experts in the land agree that vaccination is the safest, most effective way to protect children against infectious diseases.

“There is nothing to fear from vaccination but much to fear from the devastating consequences of leaving children unprotected against potentially fatal diseases.’’