Louisiana's best official said in an internal memo to the state's health department on Thursday that they would no longer use media campaigns and health fairs to promote vaccinations against preventable diseases.
Dr. Ralph L. Abraham, official Louisiana surgeon general, said that the state “encourages each patient to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with providers” but “will stop promoting mass vaccination.” “I wrote in a memo.
The letter came on the day the US Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who cited questions about the vaccine as the new US health secretary. However, it was not clear whether the memo had responded to changes in federal leadership.
“Vaccinations should be treated with nuances and recognize the difference between seasonal vaccines and childhood vaccinations. This is an important part of providing immunity to our children,” said the former Republican lawmaker. Dr. Abraham writes.
A Louisiana Department of Health spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions Thursday night about the scope of the directive and how it would affect the distribution of the vaccine.
The health department in New Orleans, Louisiana's largest city, said it won't be following the state's lead anytime soon.
“We will continue to strongly promote childhood and seasonal vaccinations and expand our efforts locally to fill the gaps left by the new state direction,” says New Orleans Health Department director. Dr. Jennifer Abeno said in an email.
The city's health department is the only state that operates independently of the Louisiana Department of Health.
In his memo, Dr. Abraham said the state health department will halt vaccination promotion through “partnerships” and “parish health units.”
He wrote that state health officials should not instruct individuals to receive all vaccines, but instead provide data on reducing health risks associated with being vaccinated. Ta.
“For many illnesses, vaccines are one tool in the toolbox of how to combat severe illness,” wrote Dr. Abraham, who state health officials “focus on meeting people who have them.” He added that the focus should be on.
During the Covid pandemic, Louisiana had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, where health workers struggled to combat misinformation about the safety of coronavirus vaccinations.
On Thursday, Dr. Abraham also issued a pointed official statement with Associate Surgeon General Waishh T. Coleman, criticising how state and federal health officials responded to the pandemic.
Dr. Abraham and Dr. Coleman wrote that the implementation of the vaccine order was “a crime against the autonomy of individuals that takes years to overcome.”
In June, Dr. Abraham was appointed Louisiana Surgeon General by Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican. Last year, Landry replaced Democratic Gov. John Bell Edwards, who led Louisiana through the pandemic. Edwards fought state legislators and Landry (then the state attorney general) and carried out vaccination duties.
Dr. Abraham did not mention Covid in the immunization memo provided by Pete Krugan, the department's assistant secretary.
The Times Pikaune of New Orleans previously reported on the notes.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night.
Louisiana has experienced a surge in flu this winter.
Emily Cochran Reports of contributions.
