The anti-vaxxers are looking more and more desperate by the day. 

And they’ve reached a new low this week, here in Canterbury anyway, setting up their pathetic protests outside some primary schools at drop-off and pick-up time. 

I say pathetic for several reasons. 

First, when you think about it, these clowns have fallen into the same trap they think those of us who have been vaccinated have fallen into. 

They’ve been sucked-in by stupid conspiracy theories - just like they think we’ve been sucked-in by the Government and the pro-vaccination messages. 

And second - how dare they stick their signs and nasty messages in the faces of children as young as five? 

I’ve seen photos of some of the placards they were holding up outside one school in Rangiora yesterday. 

Here’s what some of the signs said: 

• “Don't risk your kids”
• “Risk your child's life, no way”
• “Kids at risk from Covid jab”

Another sign said “Remember Thalidomide” - which was the drug given out in the late 1950s and early 1960s to help people sleep and deal with morning sickness. Which, as we now know, also caused harm to unborn children. 

For me, that “thalidomide” sign is probably the most hysterical - but that’s what these types do. They create imaginary links between the thing they’re protesting against and some historical piece of nastiness. 

The other one they love to trot out is saying the vaccine mandates are like Nazi Germany. They are just offensive these idiots and they’ve got no limits - and setting up camp outside schools in Canterbury this week is further proof. 

And, as far as I’m concerned, calling them “idiots” is quite generous on my part - but you get the gist of how I feel about them. 

Apparently, there were even police outside one school in North Canterbury yesterday - and we understand at least one school reported them to the police. 

Now don’t think for a minute that I’m anti-protest. I’m not. 

But I will never tolerate protest action that targets children, and makes them scared and upset. Because that’s what happened here. 

A report I read this morning quoted a parent at one school who said the kids were scared walking past this lot. 

Here’s what they told our newsroom: “It’s the lowest of the lows bringing kids into it, at their safe place.” 

And I couldn’t agree more. It is the lowest of the low. It is despicable. 

Especially at the start of the new school year, when we’re being told that Omicron is about to run rampant, and when we know there is already anxiety about the kids going back into the classrooms. 

And when we also know that there are parents doing the drop-offs and pick-ups who will be dealing with vaccine conflict in their own families - and when we know kids will already be dealing with anti-vax messages in the playground and classrooms. 

Someone I spoke to this morning said a child at one of the schools where these protesters have been this week has had other kids telling them that their parents are going to die because they’ve had the vaccine - and then they walk out the gate and see these turkeys. 

Not to mention the parents themselves, some of whom will be struggling with the idea of their kids getting the jab. Because, as we know, making a decision for yourself is completely different than making a decision for someone else. 

And when that someone else is your own child - well, the last thing you need is a bunch of conspiracy theorists with time on their hands making you feel like a bad parent. 

I cannot see how any one of these people can think holding up these nasty signs outside schools in Canterbury this week is the right thing to do. The kids don’t deserve this, nor do their parents, nor do the schools - and they shouldn’t be there. Go back home and get back on the internet. 

Put simply, what these people are doing makes my blood boil.