​Autistics United Manitoba Opposes Secret Anti-Vaccine Gathering

On February 12, 2020, Canadians for Vaccine Choice (CFVC) and the Park Theatre held a secret showing of Vaxxed II: The People's Truth for the Winnipeg audience. This film is a propaganda piece that spreads false and exaggerated claims of harm resulting from vaccines. The viewers received the location of the presentation on the day the film was shown, almost certainly in an effort to avoid protests.

After the viewing was completed, a question-and-answer session was held by Gerry Bohemier, D. C. This presentation, which was uploaded to YouTube, included the following claims:

Claim: 100 per cent of children are injured by vaccines.
Truth: If this were the case, every children's hospital would be overflowing with patients all the time.

Claim: Fifty per cent of children that will be born five years from now will be autistic due to vaccines. Truth: The apparent increase in autism is due to two factors. One is improved diagnostics; the other is a change to the definition of autism in the DSM-5 which added the former Asperger's Syndrome to the definition.

Claim: Vaccines contain poisons.
Truth: This is likely a reference to thimerosal, a compound that contains mercury, and aluminum salts. Thimerosal has been removed from all vaccines except the one from influenza; there also exists a thimerosal-free version of that vaccine. The average person eats more mercury and aluminum in a single day than is contained in a vaccine. This may also refer to formaldehyde, which is actually manufactured by the human body as a part of the metabolic process.

Claim: There is no science indicating that vaccines are effective.
Truth: Vaccine efficacy is constantly being measured; if a vaccine turns out to be ineffective, it would be removed from the market. Smallpox has been completely eliminated due to vaccines; several other diseases have almost been eradicated.

Claim: Vaccines have no benefit to society.
Truth: This insinuates that vaccine-preventable diseases are good for society. Should we bring back smallpox?

Autistics United Canada firmly condemns the filmmakers, CFVC, and the Park Theatre for their roles in spreading falsehoods and endangering the health of all people; and in their efforts to hide this misinformation session from the public.

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Autistics United (AU) Canada is a grassroots self-advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of Autistic people in what is colonially known as Canada.