Louisiana to Shift Focus Away from Mass Vaccine Promotion, Top Health Official Announces

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The Louisiana Department of Health has decided to halt its mass vaccination promotions. This news comes from a memo from the state’s health official, Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham.

Abraham instructed his team to stop media campaigns and community health events aimed at encouraging vaccinations, despite a rise in influenza cases in the state.

This announcement coincides with the swearing-in of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the new health secretary, a figure known for his skepticism about vaccines. In a letter on the department’s website, Abraham criticized “blanket government mandates” for vaccines and the CDC’s push for COVID-19 vaccinations. He believes individuals should make their own choices about getting vaccinated.

“Government should acknowledge its limits and step back from medical decisions,” said Abraham.

However, the department will continue to provide and stock vaccines, according to the memo.

Jennifer Herricks, who heads Louisiana Families for Vaccines, expressed concern that this shift could lead to more preventable diseases and deaths. She noted that many residents rely on vaccination drives for easy access to vaccines, which may no longer be available.

In New Orleans, city leaders are taking a different stance. The city council recently passed a resolution to keep supporting vaccination efforts. Health Department Director Jennifer Avegno mentioned that state-supported initiatives have successfully supplied vaccines to thousands. She fears that vaccination rates for preventable diseases may decline because of the state’s new direction and the misinformation stemming from the surgeon general’s letter. Avegno emphasized that vaccines are most effective when a large number of people are immunized.

“Public health is united on this: vaccines have been vital to improving health in America for over a century,” Avegno told the city council. “There’s no serious scientific debate on this point—widespread vaccinations save millions of lives.”