Anti-vaccine protesters have been condemned for blocking access to a Melbourne hospital for sick children and their families.
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The group of about 200 protesters rallied outside of the Royal Children's Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital and Royal Women's Hospital on Saturday over vaccine mandates.
They held placards and signs with slogans such as "sovereignty not tyranny" and "vaxxing our kids is child abuse", as well as chanting "the jabs don't work, let us work".
Officers were seen guarding the entrance of the Children's Hospital, keeping the protesters away from its main entrance.
"Whilst Victoria Police were able to safely facilitate entry and exit from these locations, they are extremely disappointed with the behaviour of the group targeting hospitals," a spokesperson said.
Senior Victorian government minister Jaala Pulford, whose daughter died from cancer, urged the demonstrators to muster a "skerrick of human decency" and find better ways to get their message across.
"I spent a month of my life living on a couch at the Children's Hospital and I think those people should have a good, hard think about what they're doing to people going through incredibly challenging personal circumstances," she told reporters on Monday.
"Spare a thought for what it might feel like for them should they be living on a couch at the Children's Hospital and for their children to ever be in a position where they're admitted to a facility like that.
"Think about what that might feel like if the shoe were on the other foot."
The protesters blockaded Flemington Road, making it difficult for sick children, their family and staff to enter the RCH, emergency physician Stephen Parnis said.
"I am disgusted beyond words at their ignorance and malice. You are beneath contempt," the ex-Australian Medical Association vice-president posted on social media.
Dr Parnis said the state government needs to give serious consideration to creating protest "exclusion zones" outside hospitals, similar to abortion clinics within the state.
"If they want to protest, which is an important right, then they need to do that well away from places where people need emergency care," he told Melbourne radio station 3AW.
But Ms Pulford wouldn't be drawn on the prospect, saying she thought the protest would be a "one-off".
Opposition police spokesman Brad Battin said hospital exclusion zones aren't the answer.
Instead, he argued for controversial "move on" laws to be reinstated despite police still having powers to direct protesters to leave public places over property and public safety concerns.
"Victoria Police must be able to have the power to move people on who are protesting to ensure access," he added.
Australian Associated Press