Australia bars entry to ‘world's no. 1 anti-vaxxer’ who planned book tour
Kent Heckenlively’s proposed trip came amid efforts by Australia to boost child vaccination rates
An American who describes himself as the “world’s #1 anti-vaxxer” has been barred from entering Australia, officials said Thursday, in a further crackdown on the anti-immunisation movement after outbreaks of preventable diseases.
Kent Heckenlively had outlined plans to travel to Australia in December as part of a “Dangerous Science” tour to promote his books and detail efforts to push for a five-year moratorium on childhood vaccines in the US.
His proposed trip came amid efforts by Canberra to boost child vaccination rates, including a “no jab, no pay” law to block parents who refuse to vaccinate their offspring from accessing some government benefits.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said Heckenlively, who wrote “I am the world’s #1 anti-vaxxer” in an online blog, would be blocked from the country.
It’s clear to me that it’s not in our national interest that he should come here
“Kent’s not got any travel plans to Australia because we’re not going to allow him to come here,” he said.