The Louisiana Department of Health is prohibited from advertising or promoting vaccines for influenza, COVID-19, and mpox. As reported by NPR, KFF Health News, and New Orleans Public Radio WWNO..
The report, based on interviews with multiple health department officials who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, found that officials were informed of the surprising policy change at meetings in October and November, and that the policy was quietly implemented. It has become clear that this will be implemented. I’ll transcribe it into text.
Ars Technica has reached out to the health department for comment and will update this post with any new information.
The health department released a statement to NPR saying it is “reevaluating both the state’s public health priorities and messaging regarding the vaccine drive, particularly for COVID-19 and influenza.” The statement said the changes would “move away from one-size-fits-all paternalistic guidance” and “make vaccination of any vaccine a personal choice for individuals, along with practices such as mask-wearing and social distancing.” ”, he explained.
As explained by NPR, the new policy will cancel this year’s standard fall flu vaccination event and impact every other aspect of the health department’s operations, employees said.
“Employees may not send press releases, give interviews, host vaccine events, give presentations, or make social media posts encouraging the public to get vaccinated. Nor could they put up signs in the department’s clinics stating that no COVID-19, influenza, or mpox vaccines were available on site. ”
“We’re really talking about death.”
The change comes amid a dangerous rise in anti-vaccine sentiment and misinformation in Louisiana and across the nation. President-elect Trump has selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine advocate and one of the most frequent spreaders of vaccine misinformation, to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
