Dr Lance O’Sullivan has made a public plea during the screening of an anti-vaccination documentary in Kaitaia, telling organisers their presence in Northland would “cause babies to die”.
Dr O’Sullivan, who was named the New Zealander of the Year in 2014 for his efforts around rural health and child poverty, took to the stage during a secret screening of the controversial film Vaxxed on Tuesday night, One News Now report.
He was invited to the screening along with other health professionals, but shared his views on the film with the audience, saying it was based on “lies”.
“This idea of anti-immunisation has killed children around the world and actually will continue to kill children whose parents are put off immunisation because of misinformation – misinformation based on lies.”
“Fraudulent people for their own reasons have decided that they would put forward false information that actually causes harm to children.
“Your presence here will cause babies to die.”
Dr O’Sullivan has since been criticised on social media for attending the event under false pretenses and verbally attacking the organisers – claims he has denied.
He has previously written an autobiography, telling his story of becoming a doctor.
