Taylor Winterstein
Taylor Winterstein | |
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Born | Taylor Moors[1] 1989 (age 34–35)[2][3] Australia [4] |
Nationality | Australian[5] |
Occupation | Instagram influencer[6] & Alt "health warrior"[7] |
Years active | 2017 - present[1] |
Known for | Anti-vaxxer & wife of ex-NRL player[8] |
Spouse | Frank Winterstein[9] |
Children | Two[6] |
This article is part of a series on |
Alternative medicine |
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Taylor Winterstein is an Australian-Samoan online
Personal life
Winterstein was born in
Her relationship with her husband, who previously played in the NRL, [16][17] has allowed her to gain a substantial following as a social media influencer.[7][18][19] She has said that there is a "strong core group" of anti-vaxxers in the NRL,[20] but during the 2020 NRL season the Gold Coast Bulletin reported this was not the case as "most of the anti-vax players said they weren't really anti-vax but were still getting around to it".[21]
Online influencer
Winterstein brands her website and internet influence business as the "Tay's Way Movement".[22] As of December 2019, she had over 22,000 Instagram followers.[23] Winterstein claims: "I know for a FACT there are MANY high profile, 'influencers' on social media among the sport and wellness industry, who do not vaccinate their children but won't publicly share their beliefs."[24]
Online, Winterstein offers opinions on
In 2019, The Australian newspaper suggested that Winterstein is getting traction with her health messages "because she's a WAG - the wife of an NRL player".[18] Her current business 'Tay's Way Moment' was established in 2017, before this Winterstein operated a business called 'Taylor'd Tans'.[1]
Anti-vaccination activism
Winterstein says that the "mainstream media constantly slander, dehumanise and degrade" anti-vaccine "footy wags" such as her.[28] Despite having no degree or qualifications,[29][18][23] she claims she has done her "own research on vaccines" on the internet, and that she had "vaccinated" her son "at least six times a day with breastmilk".[30] Due to her belief that vaccinations cause allergies, Winterstein prefers to call herself an "ex-vaxxer," and has chosen not to vaccinate her two boys, aged 10-months and 3-years old.[14]
In 2018, Winterstein was selected as the "Australian face" and ambassador of the second tour of the anti-vaccination film
Winterstein urges parents to question the safety of childhood vaccinations and says parents are being bullied and pressured by GPs to give their children vaccinations.[22][9] She says she is a "big believer that you do not need a qualification to know how to critically think for yourself".[22][31]
During the 2020
Involvement in 2019 measles epidemic in Samoa
Samoan health officials and the
At the time Samoa had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the world.
Nikki Turner, director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre at the University of Auckland accused the anti-vaccine movement of ramping up their activity in Samoa when the vaccination rates had dropped, particularly on social media. She said: "Anti-vaxxers arrive in big numbers when there's concerns and lack of trust and the core of the problem that is happening in Samoa is lack of trust, lack of trust in vaccines in health service delivery."[44]
Samoan Ministry of Health Director-General Take Naseri described Winterstein's planned anti-vaccination seminar "Making Informed Choices" in Apia as a "public health threat".[46][44][43] It was cancelled after the government backlash,[41][46] but she continued to campaign online.[47] Winterstein claimed she was not encouraging non-vaccination, but rather, "informed consent, freedom of choice and vaccine injury awareness".[4]
Medical experts warned that the deadly measles outbreak in Samoa is a sign of the expansion of an increasingly predatory anti-vaccination movement.[5]
A measles outbreak was declared on 16 October[41] and led to the Samoan government declaring a state of emergency on 15 November 2019 and to the introduction of an emergency mandatory vaccination strategy.[4][38] Under the emergency measures children and adults[48] were obliged to vaccinate, while kindergartens, schools and the university were closed, and unvaccinated pregnant women were barred from attending work.[49] With assistance from overseas, the government began a mass vaccination campaign.[25][50][42][41] To assist in the mass vaccination measures, Samoa's prime minister decreed that citizens "tie a red cloth or red flag in front of their houses and near the road to indicate that family members have not been vaccinated".[47][38]
After the outbreak, the anti-vax activists doubled-down on social media,[4] and the Samoan government met resistance from anti-vaxxers to its emergency strategy, notably from Winterstein.[40][8] Helen Petousis-Harris, a vaccinologist at the University of Auckland, condemned those anti-vaxxers involved saying: "In a sense it's a pro-death movement", adding that "We've got children dying and people are actively trying to stop people becoming vaccinated, and that vaccination is what's going to prevent more deaths."[40]
Winterstein likened the emergency mandatory vaccination strategy introduced after the outbreak to Nazi Germany,[49][4] saying Samoa is "in violation of the Nuremberg Code" by enforcing mandatory immunisation, and posted a #NaziSamoa hashtag on social media.[47][8] On social media she also said: "Facism [sic] is well and truly alive in Samoa",[46][25] also noting "ambulances doing drive-bys to find children who are unvaccinated".[40] Winterstein claimed Samoan children infected with measles were making a full recovery after using "simple and effective protocols" adding that "the media are still trying to rubbish and debunk".[4] She was critical of the current medical treatment of antibiotics and acetaminophen being given, recommending vitamin A tablets for those with measles instead.[25] Immunologist Nikki Turner said vitamin A could be used as part of treatment, but it is no cure.[44][48]
The Samoan Government ordered anti-vaccination advocates such as Winterstein to stop discouraging people from seeking vaccination, with the Prime Minister
On 6 December, Samoan anti-vaxxer, Edwin Tamasese, was charged with "incitement against a government order". Winterstein supports the traditional healer as a "true hero" calling him the "hero on the ground".[6][33][39]
As of late December, there were 83 deaths and 5,700 confirmed cases of measles[51] out of a Samoan population of 201,000. Almost three per cent of the population had been infected. The majority of those who had died were children under the age of five and infants.[47][50]
Workshops and life-coaching programs
Winterstein is a self-proclaimed "Integrative Nutrition Health Coach",[31][17] and runs workshops such as "Making Informed Choices" which costs A$200 per person[26][17]. She promotes scepticism about vaccinating children while raising fears about so-called "vaccine injuries". In an attempt to counter the Australian state and federal no-jab, no-play laws, the workshops also canvass anti-vaxxer parents' options for daycare and preschool.[22] Winterstein has been critical of those who say they cannot afford the workshop entry fee,[14] suggesting to followers; "if a money block is coming up for you, I invite you to explore that a little deeper and reflect on those limiting beliefs."[12][9]
Winterstein also presented at the 2019
In 2019, Winterstein had planned tours of Samoa, New Zealand and Australia,[22] but the Samoan[4] and New Zealand legs of the tour were cancelled with Winterstein blaming "organised groups ... working hard to sabotage" her.[31][53] An online petition was organised to stop Winterstein's tour of New Zealand.[16]
Alfa PXP Royale
Winterstein used her website to sell Alfa PXP Royale (PXP),
Winterstein sold PXP for up to $1000 a kilogram,[7] whereas purple rice, which is the same as black rice, can be purchased from supermarkets for around $10 a kilogram.[22] Customers could get a discount on PXP if they signed up to sell the product, also giving them the prospect of bonuses and luxury rewards. Enzacta, the company behind PXP, lists its office as a postbox in Wyoming, USA which is also a depot for hundreds of other businesses.[22] An Enzacta salesperson in New Zealand stated it was a multi-level marketing company.[22]
In March 2019, Winterstein announced that she was no longer selling PXP to focus on her workshops.[22] Following a report on Winterstein by the Australian television program A Current Affair, the product was removed from sale from her website.[23]
See also
- 2019 Tonga measles outbreak
- Measles resurgence in the United States
- Vaccination
- Jeanette Wilson (also PXP promoter)
- 2019 in Oceania
References
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- ^ a b Winterstein, Taylor (30 December 2019). "(@tays_way_) Archive of instagram post". Instagram. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ a b c "UC 322: Mobilizing The Next Generation Of Parents". Wellness Couch Podcast. 18 February 2019. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Hendrie, Doug (2 December 2019). "Anti-vaccination advocates double down as measles kills 50 Samoan children". news GP. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019.
- ^ a b Opray, Max (4 December 2019). "Samoa measles outbreak". The Saturday Paper. Carlton, Vic: Schwartz Media. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d Hansen, Jane (7 December 2019). "Anti-vax roots of Samoa's measles tragedy: 'It's like a war zone'". The Sunday Telegraph. NSW: News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d Grimshaw, Tracy (18 April 2019). "Footy WAG's false hope". A Current Affair. Australia: Nine Digital Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Alt URL
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- ^ a b c d e Molloy, Shannon (19 April 2019). "Doctor lashes anti-vaxxer's 'miracle' cure". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019.
- ^ a b Demachkie, Sirine (9 December 2019). "Evenings - Interview with Dr Brad McKay". ABC Local Radio (audio). Australian Broadcasting Corp. Event occurs at 8:00. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019.
- ^ Winterstein, Taylor (7 May 2019). "(@tays_way_) Archive of instagram post". Instagram. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Hansen, Jane (28 March 2019). "Research makes you a vaccination expert. Not Google". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ a b c Sparke, Carmel (12 March 2019). "GPs bully parents into vax, claims social media blogger". AusDoc.PLUS. Australian Doctor Group. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019.
- ^ a b c Kenna, Siobhan (2 March 2019). "NRL Wife Taylor WInterstein Launched Anti-Vax Workshops". 10 daily. Network Ten Pty Limited. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019.
- ^ Darbyshire, Drew (24 October 2019). "Frank Winterstein joins Toulouse". Love Rugby League. UK: Ole Media Group. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019.
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- ^ Harvey, Claire (16 May 2020). "What's the remedy to NRL anti-vaxxers? Cold hard cash". Gold Coast Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Hall, Bianca (25 March 2019). "Anti-vax football WAG Taylor Winterstein in purple powders scheme". The Canberra Times. Australian Community Media. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Golman, Lauren (21 November 2019). "Footy star's wife's new 'life coach' course worries experts". A Current Affair. Australia: Nine Digital Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019.
- ^ a b Coates, Sally (10 March 2019). "NRL star Frank Winterstein's wife Taylor slammed for spreading vaccination safety fears". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d Bedo, Stephanie (5 December 2019). "Anti-vax WAG Taylor Winterstein continues attack on Samoan government". News.Com.Au. News Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019.
- ^ a b Coates, Sally (22 March 2019). "NRL WAGs Taylor Winterstein, wife of Frank Winterstein, and Bryce Cartwright's wife Shanelle Cartwright have restrictions placed on Instagram accounts". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020.
- ^ Golman, Lauren (24 April 2019). "'Hope your mother was disgusted': What happens when a story triggers a wave of online abuse". 9 News. Australia: Nine Digital Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 23 January 2020.
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- ^ a b Purtill, James (4 December 2019). "Influencer backs Samoan 'healer' who says vaccines spread measles". triple j - Hack. Australian Broadcasting Corp. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019.
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- ^ a b Schumaker, Erin (27 November 2019). "Low vaccination rate and deadly medical mistake led to Samoa measles outbreak". ABC News USA. US: Disney. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019.
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- ^ a b Smith, Chris (11 March 2019). "'Irresponsible': Wife of NRL player charges $200 for anti-vax workshop | Interview with Dr Kean-Seng Lim" (audio). Radio 2GB. Australia: Macquarie Media. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
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- ^ a b c d Sutton, Candace (4 December 2019). "Samoa's 'Black Death' tactics over measles". The Advertiser. South Australia: News Corp. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019.
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External links
- Tay's Way Movement website
- 'Why My Baby?': How Measles Robbed Samoa of Its Young - The New York Times, 19 December 2019