AN IMAGE on the Facebook page of a controversial anti-vaccination group comparing vaccination to rape has been condemned as abhorrent and insulting by the Australian Medical Association, the NSW Rape Crisis Centre and politicians.

Even supporters of the Australian Vaccination Skeptics Network have expressed disgust, describing it as “totally out of line”.

The controversial image shows a man gripping a terrified woman’s head, his hand over her mouth. The caption reads: “Forced penetration really no big deal, if it’s just a vaccination needle, and he’s a doctor. Do you really need control over your own choices?”

media_camera Rape comparison ... the controversial Facebook post has been slammed. Picture: Facebook

The post, which has since been removed, comes on the heels of a tough new government policy on vaccination that bans families with unvaccinated children from accessing family tax benefits.

Social Services Minister Scott Morrison has removed the religious exemption that used to apply to this ban.

Tasha David, president of the Australian Vaccination Skeptics Network which campaigns for parents to have choice in vaccination, said her organisation “does not own this page and have no power over what is put on it”.

“We do not agree that rape and vaccination are the same and believe that this picture should be taken down as it is offensive to rape victims,” she said.

Health Minister Sussan Ley said vaccination did not equate to rape and to suggest otherwise was not only “repulsive”, but “off the planet”.

“This type of ill-informed and, frankly, disgusting campaign only serves to inform parents about the dangers of listening to these groups peddling anti-vaccine myths,” Ms Ley said.

media_camera Not good enough ... Health Minister Sussan Ley and Australian Medical Association President Professor Brian Owler have slammed the post as “deeply offensive to rape victims”. Picture: Supplied.

“Vaccination is essential to protecting the health of our children and this only spurs me on as Health Minister to rollout out our proposed myth-busting campaign to ensure parents can make an informed choice without having to witness this vile rubbish.”

Opposition health spokesman Catherine King has condemned the post.

“This is a disgraceful and disgusting slur to doctors, and deeply offensive to rape victims. The AVN must immediately remove the slur and apologise,” she told News Corp.

“At a time when a Royal Commission is uncovering the true horror of child sex abuse, equating doctors with rapists, this shows how completely unhinged the AVN has become. The facts are no one in Australia is forced to be vaccinated.

“While Labor strongly believes in immunisation, and supports measures to improve our vaccination rate, this remans a personal choice.”

media_camera Another example ... Another advert advocating anti vaccination. Picture: Somethingawful.com

Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler said comparing vaccination to rape was “abhorrent”.

“It is hard to comprehend how someone could put that post up, it undermines the organisation and shows lack of intelligence and common sense,” he said.

The head of the NSW Rape Crisis Centre, Karen Willis, said comparing vaccination to rape was “appalling”.

“It’s guttershock tactics to compare serious sexual assault to a needle, it’s outrageous,” she said.

“No-one is talking about forcing anyone to have a needle or holding them down.”

One anti-vaccination campaigner posted their disgust in response to the graphic.

“This is disgusting and abhorrent to me. I am a very strong AV supporter and fighter, but this meme is one of the most disgusting things I have ever come across. It in no way encourages any normal person to see and believe in the AV message and does more harm and no good whatsoever. Totally out of line.”

media_camera Outcry ... Facebook users reacted angrily to the post with one describing it as a “disgusting way to draw attention to a socially irresponsible policy.”

Facebook users reacted angrily to the post with one describing it as a “disgusting way to draw attention to a socially irresponsible policy.”

Another declared they were unsubscribing from the Australian Vaccination Network Facebook site after the post.

Another asked whether the meme “was originally made by a man who believes that women are inferior to men & only exist to serve & have sex with men? Is that really a view you want to associate with?”

One parent who said they were considering not vaccinating due to what you have previously shown, had reconsidered.

“I doubt there is a chance now. How dare you mix the two. Sexual assault is nothing compared to the government saying jab or don’t get benefits. You still have a choice whether to vaccinate, people that are sexually assaulted, don’t.”

Originally published as Outrage as vaccines compared to rape