Sunrise panellists Elka Whalan and Sally Obermeder have come under fire after suggesting parents had the right to choose whether to vaccinate their kids . Both mums joined host David Koch and commentator Shelly Horton on the program for a spirited debate about vaccination on Wednesday morning . The discussion came just weeks after baby Riley Hughes died in a Perth hospital after suffering complications from whooping cough . In views later labelled 'dangerous and irresponsible ' , Ms Whalan suggested parents should take anti-vaccination views into consideration . And in a fiery exchange with host David Koch , Ms Obermeder said that parents choose whether or not to vaccinate out of love for their children . Scroll down for video . David Koch , the father of four adult children and a grandfather , was vocal in his defence of vaccination . Fiery debate : Former swimmer Elka Whalan ( centre ) and Daily Edition host Sally Obermeder said parents should investigate both sides of the vaccination debate . Shelly Horton ( left ) said parents should 'definitely ' vaccinate their children . Under fire : The Daily Edition host Sally Obermeder ( pictured left ) is the mother of toddler Annabelle , while former swimmer Elka Whalan ( right ) is pictured while pregnant in 2011 with her husband Thomas Whalan . Ms Whalan said : 'We are hearing this terrible story ( about baby Riley ) but we are also not hearing figures of people who have also died from being vaccinated as well . ' The former Olympic swimmer said she vaccinated her children , adding that people need to 'research both sides of the story ' . Ms Obermeder , the host of The Daily Edition and a mother of one , argued : 'Is n't it the parents ' right to choose what they want for their child ? ' 'No parent chooses to do it or not do it because they do n't love their child , ' she told the panel . 'Parents love their kids , and they make the best decision ... ( they ) think they 're making . ' Her remarks sparked a heated riposte from David Koch , a grandfather and the dad of four adult children . Koch said parents must depend on the word of experts , not 'Dr Google ' ( or information parents find online ) . 'There is no argument , ' he said . Ms Obermeder said parents should speak to their doctors about vaccination and that people would then 'probably decide ' to vaccinate . 'No parent chooses to do it or not do it because they do n't love their child ' , Ms Obermeder told the panel . Koch ( left ) said : 'If you talk vaccinations in general , it is n't their decision if it effects somebody else 's child ... Not if it affects my grandkids ' . Obermeder ( right ) said : 'Parents love their kids , and they make the best decision ... think they 're making ' Poppa Koch : The Sunrise host poses alongside family members at a Disney On Ice premiere last year . Media personality Mia Freedman flayed Elka Whalan for her remarks on Twitter . Media identity Mia Freedman honed in on Ms Whalan 's comments on social media , labelling them 'truly dangerous and irresponsible ' in a series of Twitter posts . Ms Whalan fired back : ' @ MiaFreddman every parent & person well educated has the right to research . I am pro vaccine but you must see every side . ' The parents of Riley Hughes urged parents to get their children vaccinated earlier this month . After their call , West Australian authorities approved a plan for mums-to-be to receive free whooping cough vaccinations . Around 2500 mums will be eligible to receive the jabs each month . 'Our greatest desire out of our own personal tragedy is to stop parents from having to endure the heartache of preventable childhood deaths , ' Riley 's dad Greg wrote on the family 's Facebook page . Riley Hughes ( pictured ) died after complications from whooping cough . He was remembered at a memorial service last week .
Sunrise panellists Elka Whalan and Sally Obermeder have come under fire for their remarks about vaccination . Both mums suggested parents should consider the views of anti-vaccination activists as well as medical experts . Ms Whalan and David Koch both said they had vaccinated their children . David Koch , a mother of one , said : 'Is n't it the parents ' right to choose what they want for their child ? ' Their remarks drew a fiery response from host Ms Obermeder and commentator Shelly Horton . David Koch said parents should talk to their doctor , rather than 'Dr Google ' Mia Freedman labelled Ms Whalan 's remarks 'truly dangerous and irresponsible ' on social media . The debate comes just weeks after Perth baby Riley Hughes died after suffering complications from whooping cough .