The highest health official of Louisiana declared in a note within the state health department on Thursday that would no longer use media campaigns or health fairs to promote vaccination against preventable diseases.
The official, Dr. Ralph L. Abraham, a general surgeon of Louisiana, wrote in the Memo that the state “would encourage each patient to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with their supplier” but will no longer promote mass vaccination “.
The letter arrived on a day when the United States Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who raised questions about vaccines, as a new secretary of the United States health. But it was not clear if the reminder had arrived in response to change in Federal Leadership.
“Vaccines should be treated with shades, recognizing the differences between seasonal vaccines and childhood immunizations, which are an important part of the supply of immunity to our children,” wrote dr. Abraham, a former republican deputy.
A spokesperson for the Louisiana health department did not immediately answer questions on the courses on the reach of the directive and how it could affect the distribution of vaccines.
The New Orleans health department, the largest city in Louisiana, quickly stated that she would not follow the example of the state.
“We will continue to firmly promote child and seasonal vaccination and to expand our efforts at the local level to fill any gaps left by the new direction of the state,” said dr. Jennifer Avegno, director of the New Orleans health department.
The city’s health department is the only one in the state that operates regardless of the Louisiana health department.
In his reminder, dr. Abraham said that the state health department would also stop promoting vaccinations through “partnerships” and “parish health units”.
He wrote that state health officials should not educate “people to receive any vaccine”, but instead they should provide data on the reduced health risks associated with the reception of vaccinations.
“For many diseases, vaccines are a tool in the toolbox to combat serious diseases,” wrote dr. Abraham, adding that state health officials should focus on “meeting people where they are”.
During the Covidid pandemic, Louisiana had among the lowest vaccination rates of the nation and the health workers there fought to combat the disinformation on the safety of the immunizations of the crownavirus.
Thursday, Dr. Abraham also released a pointed public declaration with his general vice surgeon, Wyche T. Coleman, criticizing the way in which the state and federal health authorities had responded to the pandemic.
Dr. Abraham and Dr. Coleman wrote that the implementation of the mandates of vaccines had been “an offense against personal autonomy that he will take years to overcome”.
In June, dr. Abraham has been appointed general surgeon of Louisiana by the governor of the state, Jeff Landry, republican. Last year, Landry replaced John Bel Edwards, the democratic governor who led Louisiana through pandemic. Edwards fought state legislators and Mr. Landry – then state general prosecutor – to implement vaccinated mandates.
Dr. Abraham did not mention Covidid in his note on vaccination, which was provided by Dr. Pete Croughan, the deputy secretary of the department.
The New Orleans Times-Piayune previously reported on the Memo.
The United States Department for Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday evening.
Louisiana is experiencing an increase in the influence this winter.
Emily Cochrane Contributed relationships.