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| ‘Darwin Awards, maybe?’ Australian vaccine-hesitant senator mocked for defending ‘choice to get Covid and die from it’ | ‘Darwin Awards, maybe?’ Australian vaccine-hesitant senator mocked for defending ‘choice to get Covid and die from it’ |
| (17 days later) | |
| Australia’s Senator Pauline Hanson has been slammed by health professionals and mocked online for arguing that people must have an option to reject Covid-19 vaccination, even if they die from the virus. | Australia’s Senator Pauline Hanson has been slammed by health professionals and mocked online for arguing that people must have an option to reject Covid-19 vaccination, even if they die from the virus. |
| The leader of the right-wing One Nation party, Hanson argued Monday on Sky News that businesses and the government should not “coerce or bully” people into getting vaccinated and claimed that Covid-19 vaccines have not been properly tested. | The leader of the right-wing One Nation party, Hanson argued Monday on Sky News that businesses and the government should not “coerce or bully” people into getting vaccinated and claimed that Covid-19 vaccines have not been properly tested. |
| “Give people the opportunity, have the vaccines… and if people, like myself, who hasn’t had the vaccine, then I get Covid-19 and I die from it, that’s my choice,” Hanson said. | “Give people the opportunity, have the vaccines… and if people, like myself, who hasn’t had the vaccine, then I get Covid-19 and I die from it, that’s my choice,” Hanson said. |
| “I won't be bullied or threatened into having a vaccine,” she added. | “I won't be bullied or threatened into having a vaccine,” she added. |
| The interviewer attempted to correct Hanson, saying that existing vaccines have passed the necessary trials and pose a much lower risk to health compared to getting infected with the virus, but the politician kept insisting she was right. | The interviewer attempted to correct Hanson, saying that existing vaccines have passed the necessary trials and pose a much lower risk to health compared to getting infected with the virus, but the politician kept insisting she was right. |
| Australia’s former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth told NCA NewsWire that the Covid-19 vaccine was “probably the most thoroughly tested vaccine of all time.” He said that Hanson, as a public figure, must direct people to credible sources. | Australia’s former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth told NCA NewsWire that the Covid-19 vaccine was “probably the most thoroughly tested vaccine of all time.” He said that Hanson, as a public figure, must direct people to credible sources. |
| “That’s the responsibility of politicians. Sure, raise the question, but also be open to the answer when it’s provided,” Coatsworth said. | “That’s the responsibility of politicians. Sure, raise the question, but also be open to the answer when it’s provided,” Coatsworth said. |
| Hanson’s comments were widely criticized and mocked online. “A candidate for the Darwin Awards maybe?” a person tweeted, referring to a joke honor given to a person dying a nonsensical or bizarre death. Another suggested that the senator deserved a Darwin Award for willingly “sacrificing” her life. | Hanson’s comments were widely criticized and mocked online. “A candidate for the Darwin Awards maybe?” a person tweeted, referring to a joke honor given to a person dying a nonsensical or bizarre death. Another suggested that the senator deserved a Darwin Award for willingly “sacrificing” her life. |
| Some commenters struck a more serious tone, saying that by spreading anti-vaccination messages Hanson endangers the lives of others. “A dangerous fool,” one person wrote online. | Some commenters struck a more serious tone, saying that by spreading anti-vaccination messages Hanson endangers the lives of others. “A dangerous fool,” one person wrote online. |
| Hanson is known for making controversial statements regarding the ongoing immunization program. Last month, producers at a popular Sydney radio show chose to ‘bleep’ out some of her anti-vaccination remarks during an interview that was broadcast with a 30-second delay. | Hanson is known for making controversial statements regarding the ongoing immunization program. Last month, producers at a popular Sydney radio show chose to ‘bleep’ out some of her anti-vaccination remarks during an interview that was broadcast with a 30-second delay. |
| Vaccination will be mandatory for all residential aged-care workers in Australia from September 17. However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday that the government has no plans for a wider vaccine mandate. | Vaccination will be mandatory for all residential aged-care workers in Australia from September 17. However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday that the government has no plans for a wider vaccine mandate. |
| “We know there is an in-built incentive in a vaccine,” the PM said. “You’re less likely to get [the virus], you’re less likely to get seriously ill and less likely to give it to a friend.” | “We know there is an in-built incentive in a vaccine,” the PM said. “You’re less likely to get [the virus], you’re less likely to get seriously ill and less likely to give it to a friend.” |
| So far, 22.5% of Australians aged over 16 have been fully vaccinated and 44.2% have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the government. | So far, 22.5% of Australians aged over 16 have been fully vaccinated and 44.2% have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the government. |
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