Louisiana’s health department “will no longer promote mass vaccination”, including using media campaigns or health fairs to promote vaccines against preventable illnesses, according to an internal memo issued by the surgeon general in the state of 4.5 million people.
But, characterizing it as a matter of personal choice, Abraham said the state’s health department would do away with promoting the practice of mass vaccination – even as Louisiana has grappled with a surge in influenza, for which vaccines are offered seasonally.
In a letter posted on the health department’s website, Abraham denounced “blanket government mandates” for vaccines and criticized the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s push for vaccines meant to protect people from Covid-19.
A source with direct knowledge of the state health department’s operations said many “uninsured and underinsured residents” across Louisiana have relied on annual drives to get their families vaccinated against the flu and Covid.
The memo from surgeon general, Dr Ralph Abraham, immediately ignited fears of lower vaccination rates leading to increased sickness, hospitalization and death – as well as a return of diseases such as measles and polio that had all been mostly eradicated by vaccines.
