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The Australian Vaccination-Skeptics Network, formerly known as the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN), is an Australian anti-vaccination lobby group〔 registered in New South Wales. The organisation has lobbied against a variety of vaccination-related programs, downplayed the danger of childhood diseases such as measles and pertussis, championed the cause of alleged vaccination victims, and promoted the use of alternative medicine such as homeopathy and chiropractic. The group has been described as a provider of "misleading, inaccurate, and deceptive" vaccination information by the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission(HCCC) (part of the Ministry of Health (New South Wales))〔 and has been heavily criticised by doctors and other experts on immunisation.〔 The group has been called the "stronghold of the anti-vaccination movement" in Australia and is subject to widespread criticism from medical professionals, scientists and other proponents of vaccination.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher = Vaccination Awareness and Information Service )〕 It has also been criticised for harassing the parents of a victim of vaccine-preventable disease, and for promoting the false idea that shaken baby syndrome is actually vaccine injury. In a July 2010 ruling by the Health Care Complaints Commission analysing the group's claims and activities stated that it "should include an appropriate statement in a prominent position on its website which states: On 14 October 2010, the organisation's right to fund-raise was stripped from it by the New South Wales Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, stating that its appeals had "not been conducted in good faith for charitable purposes".〔〔 The group appealed to the NSW Supreme Court against the HCCC and OLGR findings. In February 2012, the Court ruled that the HCCC did not have the power to investigate the particular complaints that had resulted in the public warning, however it dismissed the complaint relating to the fundraising ban.〔 In December 2012, the New South Wales Office of Fair Trading issued an order for the group to change its name within two months or be de-registered. The department described the group's name as being "misleading and a detriment to the community". This order was challenged by the group. The challenge has since been dismissed, and on 25 November 2013 the New South Wales Office of Fair Trading order was upheld by the Administrative Decisions Tribunal.〔 In February 2014 the group changed its name to the Australian Vaccination-Skeptics Network. ==Organisation== The Australian Vaccination-Skeptics Network was formed in 1994 as the Vaccination Awareness Network by Meryl Dorey and a "group of parents and health professionals concerned about protecting the rights of Australians to make free and informed health choices." The group's mission statement says it "is dedicated to the idea that health can be achieved and maintained without the use of pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines" and claims that it seeks to enable people to make informed health choices.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=About the AVN )〕 The group was led by Meryl Dorey, saying she got involved after her eldest son was allegedly adversely affected by DPT and MMR vaccines administered when he was a child. She announced in February 2010 she was resigning "and moving on to the next stage of my own personal development as mother, wife, activist and researcher", but held the position of President until 1 January 2013, when she was replaced by Mr Greg Beattie. Ms Dorey remains with the AVN as "Public Officer and spokesperson".〔(AVN to close its doors at the end of this month, 2 February 2010 )〕 The group is strongly against any form of compulsory vaccination, but Dorey disputes that the group is an anti-vaccine organisation. "We don't believe we have the right to tell people whether or not to vaccinate", says Dorey who adds, "but neither does the government." She says the group is just trying to fill "the information void" created by a pro-vaccine government and medical community that ignores negative information.〔 Dorey considers herself, "pro-information and pro-choice".〔(Sunrise Interview with Dr Trevor Mudge and Meryl Dorey ), www.ama.com.au, 21 August 2002〕 In 2009, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation described the AVN as the "stronghold of the anti-vaccination movement" in Australia.〔 The NSW Northern Rivers region, where the AVN is located, has a childhood vaccination rate of only 70% compared to the national average of over 90%.〔 The group is a privately funded organisation. Until October 2010, they were the holders of a charitable fundraising authority in NSW, however their authority to fund raise was revoked by the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing after an audit of the organisation finding that AVN fundraising appeals have not been conducted in good faith for charitable purposes, have been improperly administered and are not in the public interest. The AVN's attempts to obtain tax-deductible charity status have been repeatedly refused by the Australian Taxation Office.〔(【引用サイトリンク】author=Meryl Dorey )〕 In July 2009, the AVN claimed it had more than 3500 members,〔 however in a Constitutional change voting Proxy form published in March 2010, the AVN revealed the actual membership is considerably lower, at around 1867 financial members.〔(Australian Vaccination Network Proxy form )〕 The AVN is headquartered in Bangalow, New South Wales. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Australian Vaccination-Skeptics Network」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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