Regulators are cracking down on nurses who publish anti-vaccination misinformation on social media
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia is cracking down on nurses who publish anti-vaccination misinformation on social media.
A small number of nurses and midwives had promoted anti-vaccination statements to patients and the public via social media, the board said in a statement last week.
The board warned that distributing false, misleading or deceptive information about vaccination might “constitute a summary offence under the National Law and could result in prosecution by AHPRA”.
“The NMBA expects all registered nurses, enrolled nurses and midwives to use the best available evidence in the making of practice decisions,” the board said.
“This includes providing information to the public about public health issues.”
Members of the public that were concerned about a nurse or midwife could make a complaint to AHPRA, the statement said.
The board said nurses and midwives were expected to provide advice on vaccinations based on the best available scientific evidence, which was laid out in The Australian National Immunisation Handbook 10th edition.
The medical community ramped up its efforts against anti-vaccination activists last week with the launch of a new information booklet for parents by the AMA.
