‘The decision is yours’: Pete Evans calls for end to mandatory flu jabs

Controversial celebrity chef Pete Evans has made headlines yet again this week, after publicly throwing his support behind a petition which describes mandatory influenza vaccinations as a “medical experiment”.

The petition, which closes on June 10, has been launched in response to the government’s rules regarding aged care home visits in the wake of Covid-19, as all staff, contractors and visitors are now required to be have been vaccinated before they are permitted to enter a facility. It also links the flu jab with increased health risks, stating that it has not been tested for the “potential to cause cancer, genetic mutations, and fertility impairment”.

“We believe this group of people is being coerced to take part in a medical experiment,” the petition reads. “We therefore ask the House to remove all federal directives which mandate medication with the Influenza Vaccination in order to maintain employment, visitation of loved ones, and contractor visits to Residential Aged Care Facilities.”

Despite insisting he is not an anti-vaxxer himself, Pete shared the “really important” petition on his Instagram account on Monday and revealed he had also signed it.

“URGENT: I have been sent so many messages about this subject in the last few days and heard such heart breaking stories,” Pete wrote. “If you feel it in your heart to say what you feel, then a petition has been released with Federal parliament to stop the mandatory injection for nursing home visitors. There are apparently studies linking the flu injection to an increased possibility of other illnesses.”

He added: “For the record, I have signed this and support this petition. Also for the record I am not anti v as many people have assumed. Feel free to share if you desire and feel free to sign or not sign. The decision is yours always. I send love to you all, regardless of what your beliefs are.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAUVqPcj6T2/

Evans’ post received mixed reactions, with many agreeing with his stance and declaring that they would sign the petition. One impassioned follower said: “To be debating freedom of choice in 2020 is beyond a joke! I can NOT get my head a round how people think its ok to force ANYTHING on ANYONE!!”

Another commented: “Thank you Pete for bringing this to light via your platform. There are so many of us with similar beliefs, I hope this petition stops this unjust madness.” And another user wrote: “It’s not often I agree with Pete Evans but the government forcing mandatory vaccines on anyone is not something I support. I choose to vaccinate – operative word being choose.”

However others questioned why, in the midst of a global pandemic, anyone would decide not to protect themselves. One wrote: “We’ve just seen what happens to the world without vaccines. Why would anyone sign this?” While another user commented: “Stick to roasting chickens as that’s all your [sic] qualified to do.”

It comes just weeks after Evans was slapped with a $25,000 fine by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) after he suggested that a AU$23,000 light machine could be used to treat Covid-19.

The celebrity chef received heavy criticism after he talked up the alleged health benefits of the BioCharger NG Subtle Energy Platform during a Facebook live video broadcast on April 9. During the video, Evans claimed the machine has several “recipes” designed to target the deadly virus and, according to the product description, it is “proven to restore strength, stamina, coordination and mental clarity”.

“We’ve had it for the last four or five months up at the farm, we use it pretty much everyday,” Pete, 47, said. “It’s a pretty amazing tool. It’s programmed with about 1,000 different recipes. There’s a couple of them for Wuhan coronavirus.”

As a result, the My Kitchen Rules star’s company – of which he is listed as the sole director – was hit with two infringement notices for alleged breaches of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, in relation to the comments.