Dingus behavior Louisiana bars health dept. from promoting flu, COVID, mpox vaccines: Report Staff worried they were no longer helping people and the ban would lead to deaths. Beth Mole Dec 20, 2024 10:58 am | 12 A healthcare worker prepares a flu shot during a drive-thru clinic at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. Shreveport recently completed a test run for distributing an eventual coronavirus vaccine, using a community drive-thru clinic for flu shots. Photographer: Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg via Getty Images Credit: Getty | Bloomberg A healthcare worker prepares a flu shot during a drive-thru clinic at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. Shreveport recently completed a test run for distributing an eventual coronavirus vaccine, using a community drive-thru clinic for flu shots. Photographer: Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg via Getty Images Credit: Getty | Bloomberg Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreLouisiana's health department has been barred from advertising or promoting vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and mpox, according to reporting by NPR, KFF Health News, and New Orleans Public Radio WWNO.Their investigative reportbased on interviews with multiple health department employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliationrevealed that employees were told of the startling policy change in meetings in October and November and that the policy would be implemented quietly and not put into writing.Ars Technica has contacted the health department for comment and will update this post with any new information.The health department provided a statement to NPR saying that it has been "reevaluating both the state's public health priorities as well as our messaging around vaccine promotion, especially for COVID-19 and influenza." The statement described the change as a move "away from one-size-fits-all paternalistic guidance" to a stance in which "immunization for any vaccine, along with practices like mask wearing and social distancing, are an individual's personal choice."According to employees, the new policy cancelled standard fall flu vaccination events this year and affects every other aspect of the health department's work, as NPR explained:"Employees could not send out press releases, give interviews, hold vaccine events, give presentations or create social media posts encouraging the public to get the vaccines. They also could not put up signs at the department's clinics that COVID, flu or mpox vaccines were available on site."We're really talking about deathsThe change comes amid a dangerous swell of anti-vaccine sentiment and misinformation in Louisiana and across the country. President-elect Trump has picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr.a high-profile anti-vaccine advocate and one of the most prolific spreaders of vaccine misinformationto head the US Department of Health and Human Services.Louisiana's health department has not updated its web page on influenza since last year. It has also noticeably refrained from mentioning vaccines on social media posts. A post earlier this month warned of flu season, but only urged people to wash their hands, cover coughs and sneezes, avoid touching their faces, and improve indoor air quality. There was no mention of flu vaccines.The shift has disheartened and shaken staff. "I mean, do they want to dismantle public health?" one employee at the health department told NPR."We're really talking about deaths," said another. "Even a reduction in flu and COVID vaccines can lead to increased deaths.""We've never felt so unsure of our future," an employee added. "Like, why am I here? Why am I doing this anymore? Because you're just so stifled and you are not helping people."Beth MoleSenior Health ReporterBeth MoleSenior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technicas Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. 12 Comments