Vaccine injury campaigner urges Murray Bridge council to support investigation
Robert Roach and Forest of the Fallen want a pause on vaccines based on mRNA, despite assurances from health authorities.

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Murray Bridge’s councillors have been urged to join a campaign seeking justice for people who have suffered adverse effects after being vaccinated.
The town of Port Hedland, Western Australia made national headlines late last year after its councillors voted to demand that the federal government suspend the use of vaccines based on mRNA technology, including those made by Pfizer and Moderna to protect against COVID-19, and to investigate their side effects.
Last Tuesday, Robert Roach urged the Murray Bridge council to do the same.
He alleged that mRNA vaccines were commonly contaminated by nanoparticles of DNA, which he said could be harmful – a claim debunked by the Therapeutic Goods Administration – and that the rates of vaccine-related injuries were many times higher than health authorities acknowledged.
Mr Roach said he was not an anti-vaxxer – “get that, media”.
He, and the other members of a group called Forest of the Fallen, just wanted people who had suffered adverse reactions to be heard.
“What I’m asking council here tonight is to show the same concern we have for the health of our families and the community, and support Port Hedland council and ... their motion,” he said.
“(There should be) an open, transparent, fully independent investigation.”
About 24 out of every 100,000 boys aged 12-17 who received the Pfizer vaccination had developed myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, he said.
Murray Bridge News checked: the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation did estimate the figure was about right for that group of patients.
“That’s far from rare,” Mr Roach said.
“We were told at the start of this that one in a million would be rare.
“These are the ones going into the workforce, playing sports, starting families, and a good chunk of them are going to come down with myocarditis.”
Mr Roach also blamed vaccines for a spike in Australia’s mortality rate in 2022 – a claim not supported by Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.
The number of deaths in Australia did increase by 10 per cent that year, but about half of those deaths were caused by the coronavirus, and many of the others had COVID-19 as a contributing factor.
The death rate dropped back down to its previous level in 2023.
Murray Bridge News asked Mr Roach for a copy of the additional information he sent to councillors, but had not received anything at the time of publication.

Studies which showed excess DNA in vaccines were not trustworthy, TGA says
Vaccine misinformation is a problem in Australia, according to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which approves medicines for public use.
In a statement in October, a few days after the Port Hedland vote, the TGA said the “small number of studies” which had shown DNA contamination in mRNA vaccines “fail to apply the required scientific rigour”.
The TGA was concerned that:
- the testing process used in some of the studies was likely to have produced inaccurate results
- some of the studies did not rely on enough samples to produce an accurate result, and/or did not verify whether test vials had been stored securely before testing
- it was not clear whether the labs involved in testing were up to international standards
“The TGA reassures the public that all COVID-19 vaccines approved in Australia have been rigorously assessed and meet our high standards for safety, quality, and efficacy,” it said.
The TGA had 28 batches of vaccines tested late last year, and found every one of them was under the World Health Organisation’s recommended limit of 10 nanograms of residual DNA per dose.
While more than 40% of people who received a COVID-19 vaccination reported having an adverse reaction of some kind, most were just a bit sore or tired for a day or two afterwards, according to Aus Vax Safety.
Fewer than 1% went to see a doctor about their symptoms.
The TGA reported in November 2023 that COVID-19 vaccines had been associated with 14 deaths nationwide, and none since 2022.
For context, COVID-19 caused the deaths of 17,673 people in Australia prior to the end of 2023, and thousands more died of other causes while infected with the virus, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The federal government did temporarily introduce a compensation scheme for people who suffered serious adverse effects from COVID-19 vaccinations.
However, it was shut down on September 30.
Both the Senate and infectious diseases experts have called for an ongoing, nationwide vaccine compensation scheme to protect people who suffer adverse effects, and to uphold public faith in vaccination.
Councillors listened politely, but did not immediately act
Mr Roach received a loud round of applause from the public gallery when he finished speaking.
However, the council did not hold any kind of vote in response to his presentation.
The only response he received came from Cr Clem Schubert, who said he hoped the council would support the push for an mRNA vaccine ban.
It was not the first time Mr Roach had addressed councillors – he led a push to privatise a council-owned electric car charging station in 2023.
- Report a vaccine side-effect: Call 1300 633 424 or visit 1300medicine.com.au.
- Read more: Visit www.tga.gov.au or www.ausvaxsafety.org.au.
Clarification: This story has been updated to reflect the fact that Mr Roach called for a suspension of mRNA vaccinations and an investigation, not an outright ban.