Adjudication No. 927 (June 1997) [1997] APC 28

ADJUDICATION No. 927 (June 1997)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint by Greg Wilson about a Sydney Morning Herald opinion piece of 7 December 1996 on the side effects of vaccination. In it the writer observed that vaccine reactions to whooping cough vaccine (DTP), such as persistent or high pitched crying, occurred "very rarely". The complainant says this is a serious error claiming that these reactions are a common event, and citing medical literature to support his case.

The Herald, believing it was in no position to rule on the issue, referred the complaint to a medical expert who had chaired the National Childhood Immunisation Committee. He advised that the definition of common or rare was subjective, and would be determined to some extent by people's attitude to the benefits and risks of childhood immunisation. He added that he believed "the description ... of worrisome side effects as very rare is appropriate".

The Herald urged the complainant to submit a suitable letter to the editor for publication, setting out his views. The complainant declined, insisting that only a correction from the newspaper was acceptable.

The Council believes that a published letter from Mr Wilson would have been a reasonable way to settle the matter, and that the newspaper did not breach any of its principles.