Mother's outrage at anti-vaxxers' protest outside schools and college in Taunton

The ten people have been holding up signs protesting against the Covid-19 vaccine programme in South Road.

They have positioned themselves beside the road on the approach to King's College, Richard Huish College and Bishops Fox’s Community School.

Lucy Atherton said: “These people are idiots.

"Literally no one is honking in support.

"They are blocking the pavements where children walk to school on their own, which must be quite intimidating and confusing for them.

“Anti-vaxxers are irresponsible and deluded.

"It’s up to parents to make this decision and not some ill-informed stranger with a banner.

"We have seen a drop in Covid cases in the Taunton area and that is largely due to young people now being vaccinated.

"It makes my blood boil.”

RIGHT TO REPLY

It is unfortunate that your piece about a group of protesters entitled ‘Outrage at anti-vaxxers’ (18 November) was illustrated by a photograph of a Taunton resident and friend holding a placard which read ‘No Vaccine Passports’.

Her father collapsed at the wheel of his car driving home from his covid vaccination and died shortly afterwards.

But how could your reporter have known?  He did not take the trouble to interview her or any of those who were trying to raise public awareness of the concerning and often severe adverse reactions that many are suffering after receiving their Covid shots.  Instead you presented the one-sided view of a single angry witness who branded the grieving woman and her campaigning allies ‘ill-informed, irresponsible, deluded, idiots’.

Is this responsible journalism?  Please inform your readers that official MHRA adverse reactions data may be researched online at https://yellowcard.ukcolumn.org/yellow-card-reports.

Eliza Waugh.