Louisiana medical community pushes back against state’s rollback on vaccine promotion

Author(s):

Austin Littrell

ACP, medical groups, and Sen. Cassidy challenge the Louisiana Surgeon General’s decision.

The Louisiana medical community is pushing back against a recent directive from the state’s Surgeon General, which calls for an end to government promotion of mass vaccination events. The decision, which impacts community health fairs, partnerships, and public awareness campaigns, has sparked concern among physicians and public health advocates who warn that it could reduce access to immunizations, worsening health disparities.

The Louisiana chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP), alongside the Louisiana State Medical Society and the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians, has issued an open letter urging patients to consult their physicians about vaccinations.

“The physicians of this state felt compelled to say something directly to patients,” said Celeste Newby, MD, PhD, an assistant professor at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. “Vaccines are still available despite the push to roll back mass vaccine events.”

Angela McLean, MD, governor of the ACP Louisiana chapter and a professor at Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Medicine, emphasized that large-scale vaccination initiatives are critical for accessibility.

“Canceling mass vaccination events reduces access to care and fuels existing health disparities,” McLean said. “If we print out the schedule of where vaccine vans will be, it makes it easier, particularly for shift workers or those workers with no days off, to get the vaccines when they come to them.”

The controversy follows a statement from Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph L. Abraham, MD, who defended the rollback as a necessary step to restore trust in public health. Abraham has been critical of past vaccine mandates and government-led vaccination efforts, arguing that public health agencies have overstepped their role by aggressively promoting pharmaceutical products — particularly COVID-19 vaccines.

A newly issued policy directive from Abraham to Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) staff further solidifies this stance.

The directive states that LDH will no longer promote mass vaccination efforts, instead shifting the responsibility to individual conversations between patients and their health care providers. The document emphasizes that vaccines should be treated with nuance, distinguishing between seasonal and childhood immunizations, and underscores the importance of informed consent. Public health units (PHUs) will continue to stock and provide vaccines, but LDH will no longer engage in outreach efforts such as media campaigns or community fairs.

“For the past couple of decades, public health agencies at the state and federal level have viewed it as a primary role to push pharmaceutical products, particularly vaccines,” Abraham wrote in a statement last month. “As Americans, we should recognize that our rights come to us as individuals. We should reject this utilitarian approach and restore medical decision-making to its proper place: between doctors and patients.”

However, the decision has sparked criticism from medical professionals and lawmakers, including Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-Louisiana), who warned that the policy undermines public health efforts.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-Louisiana)

“LDH’s announced policy on immunizations ignores the reality of people’s lives,” Cassidy wrote in a statement. “Things like vaccine fairs keep a child from having to miss school and a mother from having to miss work. That is the reality of today’s medicine. To say that cannot occur and that someone must wait for the next available appointment ignores that reality.

“Advertising the benefit of vaccines and where to get them helps parents improve the health of their child. It’s important information they may not have known or needed to be reminded of. Removing these resources for parents is not a stand for parents’ rights. It prevents making health care more convenient and available for people who are very busy.”

The pushback in Louisiana comes amid broader concerns about declining vaccination rates nationwide. Recent measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico have reignited debates about vaccine accessibility, particularly for underserved populations.

“You should definitely be working with advocacy groups and your state medical society, and patient stories are really important,” Newby said, emphasizing the role that physicians in every state play in maintaining public trust in vaccines.

McLean echoed the urgency of the issue. “It is timely to see these outbreaks in neighboring states. It is a wake-up call about what can happen when people don’t have access to vaccines.”

As the debate continues, physicians and public health advocates say they remain committed to ensuring patients have the information and resources necessary to make informed decisions about vaccinations.

The Louisiana Department of Health has indicated whether it will reconsider the policy.