Flu cases surge in parts of the U.S. as vaccine rates for children drop compared to last year
PBS, December 21, 2024
Flu experts suggest everyone get vaccinated, especially as people prepare to attend holiday gatherings where respiratory viruses can spread widely.
“All those gatherings that are so heartwarming and fun and joyous are also an opportunity for this virus to spread person to person,” Schaffner said. “It’s not too late to get vaccinated.”
Even so, Louisiana’s health department said in a statement Friday that it was actually backing away from recommending flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. An official wrote that the department’s latest position is that people should talk to their doctors about whether the shots make sense for them.
Louisiana Department of Health no longer publicly promoting flu vaccines
WAFB, December 20, 2024
“For a lot of families, they depend on that local health department on their annual flu vaccine drives which the article also said that they are not allowed to do anymore,” said Jennifer Herricks, the founder of Louisiana Families for Vaccines.
Herricks said she saw this coming and noticed the lack of promotion for months now. She also believes this could lead to a rise in flu activity.
”We’re surrounded by people who depend on our community for immunity and vaccines are the way to make that happen,” added Herricks.
Louisiana forbids public health workers from promoting COVID, flu and mpox shots
WWNO, December 20, 2024
Staff at Louisiana's health department fear the new policy undermines their efforts to protect the public, and violates the fundamental mission of public health: to prevent illness and disease by following the science.
"I mean, do they want to dismantle public health?" one employee at the health department said.
"We're really talking about deaths," said another. "Even a reduction in flu and COVID vaccines can lead to increased deaths."
RFK Jr. may soon become health secretary, but Louisiana and other states are already passing anti-vaccine laws
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist, December 19, 2024
Should the anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. be confirmed as health secretary, he’ll be able to exert influence over federal funding, regulation, research priorities, and guidance related to vaccines. Some of Kennedy’s stated ambitions would have direct impact on the states, but changing federal policy can take considerable time. States, on the other hand, can move more rapidly, and state-level anti-vaccine activists have recently been growing more successful in shaping policy in legislatures, governors’ mansions, and even state and local health departments. They’ve benefited from the money and attention Kennedy and his allies raked in nationally during the pandemic. What used to be a fringe movement now has a platform that could smooth the path for ongoing efforts to limit access to or reduce support for vaccines nationally and at the state level. And the movement has resulted in legislative successes at the state level, most notably in more conservative states like Louisiana, likely due to the increasing politicization of public health.
Louisiana surgeon general’s opt-out for flu vaccines feels flimsy when held up to science
Louisiana Illuminator, November 22, 2024
Abraham makes no mention of specific flu vaccine risks in his letter. The most common side effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include injection site soreness, muscle aches and fever. More serious complications are extremely rare.
The message Abraham’s letter conveys concerns Jennifer Herricks, who holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics. She’s also the founder of Louisiana Families for Vaccines, a group that combats medical misinformation and falling vaccine rates.
“If there are certain health care workers who do choose to use this form … then it’s scary to think about people who are in the hospital, who are vulnerable, who could get exposed,” Herricks said.
Louisiana’s child vaccination rates are slipping. Health care workers are getting creative.
The Advocate, November 14, 2024
Two trays of needles sat on either side of 10-year-old Naomi Varela inside Children’s Hospital’s immunization bus on a recent Thursday.
By the fourth shot, she winced. But six vaccines later, she was still free of tears — and she’s up-to-date on her school vaccinations after moving to the New Orleans area two weeks ago.
Varela, her sister and mom were one of a long line of families standing outside the Children’s Hospital immunization bus outside an Algiers library in October. The bus is one way health care workers are reaching children in need of vaccines.
“It’s convenient,” said Noel Puentas, mobile director of the bus who signs in children and parents outside the bus five days a week, year-round. “They don't have to make an appointment.”
What Trump might do on vaccines, pandemics, global health, and more
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist, November 6, 2024
Of course, there is also the question of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s potential role in the Trump administration. Kennedy runs one of the nation’s largest anti-vaccine organizations and has promoted long debunked conspiracy theories about childhood immunizations that are again gaining a foothold in public discourse. Trump has signaled support for Kennedy’s spurious claims and Kennedy claimed that Trump would give him control over health agencies, including the CDC.
Overall, we could see a dismantling and restructuring of federal health agencies, which would fundamentally alter our national health policies and disrupt—or even reverse—the progress we have made in preventing many vaccine-preventable diseases. Now is the time for the pro-vaccine majority to make their support for immunizations heard. SAFE Communities Coalition and our Families for Vaccines state chapters will continue to advocate for immunizations policies based on science and evidence. The same policies that helped the United States to eliminate many vaccine preventable diseases—diseases we don’t want to see our children needlessly suffer from.
Vaccine legislation is a loser in Louisiana, but misinformation wins anyway: analysis
Louisiana Illuminator, October 2, 2024
In two days of hearings last week on the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the House Select Committee on Homeland Security heard hours of testimony from doctors with fringe views on the COVID-19 virus. They included the state’s chief medical doctor, Surgeon General Ralph Abraham, who himself amplified misinformation. Abraham is a general practitioner who is also a veterinarian…
Jennifer Herricks, a public health communicator with a Ph.D. in microbiology, works with the Louisiana Families for Vaccines to combat misinformation.
“Using taxpayer dollars to legitimize this harmful rhetoric when our vaccination rates are already dangerously low is irresponsible and not in the best interest of the people of Louisian,” Herricks said. “It was extremely disappointing to see these false narratives about vaccines promoted by LDH leadership.”
Guest column: State leaders' irresponsible COVID comments do more harm than good
The Advocate, October 24, 2024
Healthy, honest debate about policy decisions is necessary to improve public health. But false health information from state health officials can have deadly consequences. It sows confusion, erodes trust and leaves Louisiana families uncertain about how best to protect themselves.
We urge our leaders to remember that words matter. Spreading falsehoods about public health measures may serve short-term political ends, but it jeopardizes the well-being of Louisiana families. We have always risen to meet challenges when we set aside politics and focus on solutions. Let’s not let political gamesmanship endanger our health and safety.
Louisiana deserves better from our leaders than anti-vaccine rhetoric
Louisiana Illuminator, October 29, 2024
As a pediatric health care provider, it’s deeply disheartening to witness our state’s leaders squander an important opportunity to protect the health and safety of Louisianans —especially our children.
Recent hearings held by the House Select Committee on Homeland Security were supposed to be a chance to reflect on Louisiana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and identify ways to strengthen our public health systems. Instead, these hearings became a platform for spreading falsehoods, conspiracy theories and dangerous anti-vaccine rhetoric.
As health care providers, parents, and concerned citizens, we all have a role to play. We must advocate for evidence-based public health policies, support vaccination efforts and push back against the dangerous spread of misinformation.
Together, we can ensure a future where every child in Louisiana has the opportunity to grow up healthy and protected. It’s time to move past the noise and focus on building a stronger, healthier Louisiana for future generations.
Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham blasts state's pandemic response, doubts Covid vaccines
NOLA.com, September 26, 2024
Louisiana's Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham wasted no time Thursday in telling state lawmakers that, had he led the state's public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he would have done "just about everything" differently.
Though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical research organizations say masks reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus and vaccines lower the risk of severe infection, Abraham cast doubt on those measures while reading from prepared remarks during a committee meeting of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security.
Fact-check: Anti-vax proponents dominate legislative hearing on COVID response
Louisiana Illuminator, September 26, 2024
A state legislative hearing Wednesday that lawmakers said was to review Louisiana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic turned into a forum for anti-vaccine advocates and proponents for alternative cures.
The Louisiana House Select Committee on Homeland Security convened Wednesday for the first of two meetings meant to evaluate how the state responded to the coronavirus. The second takes place Thursday.
Louisiana parents opt out of standard vaccines with highest exemption rates in a decade
NOLA.com, August 16, 2024
Louisiana law requires vaccines for children entering school, but the law allows parents to opt out for any reason: medical, religious or philosophical. The state's opt-out rates increased an entire percentage point in the 2022-2023 school year.
Many Louisiana schools have exemption rates that exceed the threshold needed for herd immunity, or the point at which disease does not circulate. Such environments are prime breeding ground for outbreaks, according to health experts.
Louisiana COVID levels among the highest in the country as school starts. See the data
The Advocate, August 9, 2024
A COVID-19 summer surge continues to mount in Louisiana, according to the latest federal data. Louisiana has the second-highest level of COVID-19 in wastewater in the country, behind only Utah.
Four years after the first COVID- 19 cases were announced in the state, Louisiana has retired some of the tools for tracking the spread of the virus. Mask-wearing, regular testing and sanitizing efforts have also fallen by the wayside. However, rising wastewater levels, hospitalizations and emergency room visits for cold-like symptoms show that COVID is still a presence.
''There is clearly virus circulating,'' said Susan Hassig, an infectious disease epidemiologist and associate professor emerita at Tulane University. ''I would suggest it's at much higher levels than people are even contemplating.''
Although the virus is not the hazard it was in previous years, it can still be dangerous to people with compromised immune systems. That includes people in places like nursing homes, but could also extend to the workplace, especially in an aging population, said Hassig.
COVID is surging again. Here’s the latest on new variants, updated vaccines, and masking
AAMC, August 14, 2024
If there’s one thing that’s predictable about the virus that causes COVID-19, it’s that it will continue to evolve and find new ways to infect — and reinfect — the world’s population.
The latest mutations of SARS-CoV-2 — specifically KP.1, KP.2, KP.3, and their sublineages — accounted for most infections in the United States as of the first week of August, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveillance. A combination of slightly greater transmissibility, partial escape from immunity, and waning immunity from previous vaccinations and infections set the stage for another summer COVID-19 surge, explains David Montefiori, PhD, director of the Laboratory for HIV and COVID-19 Vaccine Research and Development in the Department of Surgery at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.
As of Aug. 3, the percentage of people reporting positive tests for the virus had reached its highest point since January of 2022, and emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 also inched up, according to the CDC’s data tracker. However, deaths remained far below the weekly rates during previous surges, with 340 reported during the week ending Aug. 3, compared with 2,578 weekly deaths during the last COVID-19 peak, in January 2024, and nearly 26,000 weekly deaths at the height of the pandemic in the United States, in January 2021.
Vaccines for Children Program Celebrates 30 years of Providing Lifesaving Vaccines to Children at No Cost
CDC Newssroom, August 13, 2024
When the Vaccines for Children (VFC) legislation was passed 30 years ago, it was a historic step in improving children's lives by providing recommended vaccines at no cost to eligible children.
Routine vaccinations are the best defense against illnesses. The VFC program was established to ensure that children below the federal poverty level and those without health insurance have access to critical, lifesaving vaccines that can protect their health throughout their lives.
“For 30 years, the Vaccines for Children program has been providing lifesaving vaccines to our nation’s children at no cost,” said CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Deb Houry. “Because of congressional support and dedicated partners across the country, we have prevented more than 1.1 million deaths in kids born during the VFC era. There is no better time than now, as families are planning for returning to school, to continue this effort that keeps our children safe from disease and prepares them for the fall and winter virus season.”
Almost 90% of VFC-eligible children born during 2011–2020 received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to a new CDC Vital Signs report. There were no differences in receipt of the MMR vaccine found among VFC-eligible children born in 2020 by race and ethnicity, poverty status, and urban-rural residency. This highlights VFC program efforts in achieving and maintaining measles elimination status in the U.S.
National Immunization Month Highlights Lifesaving Benefits of Vaccines
Trust for America’s Health, August 2024
National Immunization Awareness Month sponsored by the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) and observed every August, highlights the lifesaving benefits of vaccines. During the month, activities will raise awareness of the importance of vaccinating people of all ages against serious and sometimes deadly diseases. The awareness month also celebrates the successes of immunizations and educates Americans about vaccine safety and effectiveness.
According to a study by the Commonwealth Fund, from December 2020 through November 2022, COVID-19 vaccines prevented approximately 18.5 million hospitalizations and 3.2 million deaths in the U.S., but the lifesaving impact of vaccines extends far beyond COVID-19. Vaccines have dramatically reduced the spread of diseases like measles, polio, and whooping cough, protecting countless individuals and communities.
Unfortunately, numerous factors have led to a decline in vaccination rates in recent years including healthcare disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of misinformation about vaccine safety and effectiveness. In some cases, this has resulted in outbreaks of once-controlled diseases, including measles and to a lesser degree polio, jeopardizing the progress we have made.
A bright spot amidst vaccine disinformation
Star Tribune, August 1, 2024
A new study from George Washington University yielded surprising, yet hopeful findings. In an era in which disinformation has undermined the public’s confidence in vaccines, researchers documented good news about one important immunization: the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns
The parental refusal rate, previously recorded in the study at 12.1% in 2017, plummeted to 3.5% in 2022, meaning more parents are taking the responsible step and getting their children vaccinated. This development is an encouraging one, although it requires further scrutiny of the factors that created more parental trust in this particular shot. Lessons learned could help reduce refusal rates for this vaccine and other routine childhood immunizations nationwide.
Hepatitis B is a severe viral liver infection, which can be either acute (recovery within six months), or chronic (the infection lasts longer than six months), where it can increase the risk of cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, and premature death. Those with chronic hepatitis B are 25% more likely to die earlier due to related causes. Although there are treatments to manage the symptoms, there is no cure.
Families Fighting Flu and Voices for Vaccines Introduce ‘How to Host a Vaccine Clinic’ Step-by-Step Guide
EIN Presswire, August 1, 2024
As a kickoff to National Immunization Awareness Month, which is held each August, Families Fighting Flu and Voices for Vaccines are launching a new toolkit aimed at increasing the number of vaccine clinics being held around the U.S. this coming respiratory season.
The step-by-step guide offers expert advice and science-based evidence on every element of hosting such an event, including considerations like how to identify vaccine providers in your community, the necessary logistics of vaccine administration, deciding on a target audience, and how to promote an event to reach members of the community.
“Each year, we hear from organizations and individuals who want to help their community by offering immunization clinics,” said Karen Ernst, Director of Voices for Vaccines. “Local community-driven clinics have some of the best results in terms of the number of vaccines administered. So, we wanted to find a way to make hosting a clinic as easy as possible for interested stakeholders. The more clinics we host, the more vaccines we administer, means less disease burden and hopefully fewer deaths from preventable diseases.”
For example, during the most recent flu season, the CDC estimates there have been at least 35 million illnesses, 400,000 hospitalizations, and 25,00 deaths. Additionally, there have been 187 pediatric deaths.
Anti-vaccine movement gains steam with Louisiana politicians. Here's why doctors are concerned.
Times Picayune, June 20, 2024
An unprecedented number of bills and resolutions aimed at weakening vaccine requirements are now law in Louisiana following a wave of successful legislation taking aim at public health authorities.
Over a half dozen bills and resolutions related to vaccination mostly sailed through the legislative session that ended June 3, and most have been signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. Two still await his signature, which is expected.
The anti-vaccine movement, once promoted by a fringe cohort, is becoming more mainstream in the Louisiana statehouse, causing concern among doctors and public health officials who worry it is eroding decades of health policy and will result in more disease and death. The push also comes as vaccine exemptions among children have skyrocketed.
The legislation this session has been fueled by pandemic backlash, but politicians are also chipping away at a cornerstone of public health, critics say.
“This was the Trojan horse,” said Fred Mills, a pharmacist who retired as chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee earlier this year after three terms as a Republican senator.
Childhood Vaccinations - Not Just a Personal Choice, A Community Responsibility
Southeast Politics, May 24, 2024
Before becoming involved in PTA, I served 22 years in the U.S. Army and proudly retired as a lieutenant colonel. With Memorial Day upon us, I would be remiss to deny the vital role public health advancements play in maintaining our freedoms, even since the foundation of our nation with George Washington’s compulsory inoculation of his troops against smallpox. This strategy ultimately helped him defeat the British and win the Revolutionary War.
During my military career, ensuring the health and safety of the people in my unit was paramount — and that same priority extends to our civilian communities, especially our children.
Vaccination is not just a personal choice; it is a community responsibility. By vaccinating our children, we protect those who cannot themselves be vaccinated, contributing to the overall health of our society. The concept of “it takes a village” is particularly relevant here. Our collective efforts can ensure that our schools remain safe and open and that our children remain healthy and free.
As states loosen childhood vaccine requirements, health experts’ worries grow
Stateline, May 15, 2024
Although Louisiana scores among the bottom states in most health indicators, nearly 90% of kindergarten children statewide have complete vaccination records, according to data from the Louisiana Department of Health from last school year. That’s even as Louisiana maintains some of the broadest exemptions for personal, religious and moral reasons. The state only requires a written notice from parents to schools.
Edmonston has sponsored legislation that would require schools to provide parents with information about the exemptions. The bill is intended to ensure parents aren’t denied medically necessary information, she said.
Vaccines protect not only the patient, but also those around them. Science has shown that a population can reach community immunity, also known as herd immunity, once a certain percentage of the group is vaccinated. That herd immunity can protect people who can’t get vaccinated, such as those with weakened immune systems or serious allergies, by reducing their chances of infection. In the past few years, however, COVID-19 vaccines have terrified some people who oppose requirements to get the shot, even though research shows the vaccines are far safer than getting the disease.
Guest column: Louisiana's leaders should champion vaccines and children's health
Times Picayune, May 3, 2024
It’s been more than 60 years since The Advocate (then called The Morning Advocate) published a story about the Boy Scouts volunteering their time to help get kids vaccinated against the polio virus. It’s hard to imagine the devastating impact of that terrible disease, which often left young children unable to walk, because Americans rallied to the cause and got vaccinations that virtually eradicated it.
Many diseases like polio once plagued society. But due to the revolutionary implementation of vaccines, we have become desensitized to the dangers of these illnesses.
As experienced school nurses in Louisiana, we’ve seen firsthand the critical role that vaccines of all kinds play in maintaining the health of our children and the continuity of their education. The recent outbreak of several dozen cases of measles in 17 states, including here in Louisiana, is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities we face when preventable diseases are not kept in check
Nonprofit group Louisiana Families for Vaccines voice concerns over proposed bills
WBRZ, April 29, 2024
"Ultimately, disinformation is deadly and it deserves no hospitality of the legislature floor," vaccine advocate Crystal Rommen said. "A lot of the legislation that we're seeing come through the House and the Senate are trying to limit access to vaccines. We see things that are based in misinformation."
One bill, HB 866, will allow for individuals to submit vaccine exemptions to allow them access into any public facility regardless of their vaccination status.
"Louisiana has one of the broadest vaccination exemption policies in the nations. We have non-medical exemptions including religious and philosophical. Of course, we also have medical exemptions for people who truly can't be vaccinated," Rommen said.
Pediatrician Mikki Bouquet says the legislature should be recommending vaccines to promote a healthier state.
"We need strong public policies that are evidence-based that state vaccines are safe, effective and healthy," Bouquet said.
6 false claims in the debate to end Louisiana’s school COVID vaccine mandates
Louisiana Illuminator, March 28, 2024
The third time’s the charm for Rep. Kathy Edmondston, who has repeatedly tried to bring an end to mandates that require students to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of enrollment.
The Louisiana House Education Committee approved her bill Wednesday, which would apply to public and private schools. Edmonston, a Baton Rouge Republican, has insisted her legislation is needed, although a process has long existed for parents to exempt their children from required vaccines.
Just as in years past, Edmonston and supporters of her proposal have conveyed highly questionable information when promoting the measure. In this space, we strive to promote fact-based truth with full, applicable context, so let’s tackle their distorted talking points one by one
Baton Rouge doctors express concern over measles outbreak, emphasizing vaccine
WAFB, March 4, 2024
National health experts are monitoring a measles outbreak and local experts are keeping a close eye on cases nearby. Doctors are encouraging people to get their vaccines after two confirmed cases came out of the Greater New Orleans area.
The Food and Drug Administration said measles is one of the most contagious respiratory diseases in the world that has the potential to be life-threatening.
It is still common in many countries and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Louisiana may expand school vaccine exemptions for students. Here's how it would work.
nola.com, March 21, 2024
Currently, Louisiana law says that a person starting school or daycare should present administrators evidence of immunization against a list of vaccine-preventable diseases, which is overseen by the state health department.
However, the law dictates that a student seeking to enter a school or daycare is not required to comply with those immunization requirements.
Louisiana has some of the broadest exemptions in the country. Parents can submit a written exemption request for religious, medical, personal reasons, or even no reason at all.
Parents or guardians are required to submit the exemption paperwork to the school’s principal or daycare operator and all requests are granted, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
If there’s an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, Louisiana’s law allows school administrators to require unimmunized students to stay home during the disease’s incubation period.
Though exemptions are available, the health department says it strongly encourages students to receive vaccinations to prevent death and disability and prevent disease outbreaks. Vaccines are safe and can prevent deadly infectious diseases, LDH says.
Louisiana House rejects anti-vax bill after business lobby opposes it
LA Illuminator, March 20, 2024
Louisiana lawmakers rejected a bill to open businesses and schools who require certain vaccines to civil liability after a powerful lobbying group came out against it.
House Bill 87, by Rep. Mike Echols, R-Monroe, would have allowed employees and students required to receive COVID-19 or other vaccines with emergency use authorization to sue if they are injured as a result of the vaccination.
Echols’ bill failed on a narrow 51-50 vote, just two votes short of approval. Echols said he intends to bring the bill back for another vote this session.
His proposal was opposed by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), a powerful lobbying organization that represents business interests.
“LABI opposes HB 87 as anti-business and harmful to the long-established purpose of workers compensation throughout the country. [Worker’s compensation] is employees’ exclusive remedy for their workplace injuries,” LABI lobbyist Jim Patterson wrote in a floor note to legislators. “HB 87 cracks that foundation and would create a new pipeline of litigation against Louisiana businesses. The bill sends the wrong message to current and prospective employers when our state leaders are working to encourage economic investment in our state.”
RSV can be deadly for children and the elderly — but there’s a way to reduce the risk
The Current, January 5, 2024
…the night before Christmas Eve, they realized the 4-month-old couldn’t breathe. Seeing her baby’s stomach cave in as he struggled to fill his lungs with air, the family rushed Owen to the hospital.
“It was absolutely terrifying,” remembers Guidry, who said she knew little of Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, and how it could affect small children.
RSV kills thousands of adults and hundreds of infants each year in the United States, and until this fall, there was no vaccine to prevent it or lessen the risk to patients who contract the virus. This season marks the first time a vaccine has been made widely available, but it’s unclear how many patients are willing to accept the potentially life-saving measure.
Hebert is hopeful that in future RSV seasons, patients might be more open to trying the vaccine, as it becomes more established. Despite lingering hesitancy, she said she’s noticed some comfort around vaccines returning. “I think people are remembering what an opportunity vaccines are, that we get to protect our bodies against these diseases that used to disable and kill ancestors of ours,” she said.
Two measles cases diagnosed in New Orleans area: Answers to your FAQs
Louisiana Illuminator, February 22, 2024
Two people in the Greater New Orleans area have been diagnosed with measles, the Louisiana Department of Health reported Wednesday.
Both individuals recently returned from a trip out of state, according to state health officials who said a public health investigation has been initiated. The two people were not vaccinated against measles, the health department reported Thursday…
Measles is so highly contagious that the CDC says 90% of unprotected people who come in contact with someone who has the virus will catch it. The risk is far lower for those who have received the measles vaccine. They have only a 3% chase of contracting the virus, and their symptoms will be far less severe.
Should you worry about measles in Louisiana? Here's what to know
nola.com, February 22, 2024
Two measles cases were diagnosed in children in the New Orleans metro area this week, the latest addition to a surge of cases across the United States. Both had a history of recent travel within the U.S.
Information about whether the children are related or their possible exposure to others in Louisiana has not been released.
As Louisiana health officials conduct a public health investigation, here's what you should know about extremely contagious virus.
Louisiana had been strong on school vaccines. Rates are now falling.
The Current, September 11, 2023
The consequences can be severe, he said. Out of 1,000 children infected, 1-2 are statistically going to die from the disease.
An outbreak of a disease that has been largely eradicated due to high levels of vaccinations poses another challenge.
“There’s no healthcare system in the U.S. that is prepared for a mass outbreak of measles or polio. A lot of younger physicians have never seen a case,” Kanter said.
And despite his concerns, Kanter said Louisiana’s numbers were still strong, leaving him with the hope that things may improve again.
“There’s not a lot of things that 94% of people in Louisiana agree on,” Kanter said, referring to the percentage of kindergarten students statewide who received the measles vaccine in the first school year post-pandemic.
“Vaccines retain widespread support,” he said. “The overwhelming majority of families take their physician’s advice to heart and take reasonable measures to protect their children.”
Their kids got the flu — then they couldn’t walk
The Current, December 15, 2023
The 8-year-old had battled a second bout with the flu in just over a month, after the family had waited for a flu vaccine to become available at their pediatrician’s office. At first, the symptoms seemed similar to the first infection, but after a few days, Hadley started feeling a tightness in her legs that prevented her from standing or walking.
This lesser known symptom of a flu infection is caused by a condition called acute viral myositis, an inflammation of the muscles that causes them to feel extremely tense, making movement painful…
But the most important thing parents can do to protect their children is to get them vaccinated, Broussard said. South Louisiana, she noted, has the highest rates of flu infections in the state, making it more likely for children here to experience these symptoms.
How the anti-vaccine movement is gaining power in statehouses
The Washington Post, December 22, 2023
In Louisiana, 29 candidates endorsed by Stand for Health Freedom, a national group that works to defeat mandatory vaccinations, won in the state’s off-year elections this fall.
Fred Mills, the retiring Republican chairman of the Louisiana Senate’s health and welfare committee, said he fears that once-fringe anti-vaccine policies that endanger people’s lives will have a greater chance of passing come January when newly-elected lawmakers are sworn in and more than a dozen Republican moderates like himself leave office...
Growing vaccine hesitancy contributed to a measles outbreak in Columbus, Ohio, last year and in other communities with low vaccination rates.
In Louisiana, kindergarten vaccination rates dropped nearly two percentage points in one year to 89 percent by the 2022-2023 school year — well below the 95 percent required for herd immunity for measles.
“Our liberties and freedoms are really tied up in our community coming together to protect each other from diseases,” said Crystal Rommen, director of Louisiana Families for Vaccines, founded last year to combat growing anti-vaccine sentiment. “Individuals and our communities as a whole have a right to live a life free from vaccine-preventable diseases.”
La. residents urged to protect themselves against the flu this holiday season
KNOE 8 News, December 6, 2022
Cases of the flu are rising across Louisiana, and healthcare providers are urging residents to take action to be able to avoid getting sick this holiday season.
Holidays are coming up fast, so the director of Louisiana Families for Vaccines, Crystal Rommen, says now is the time for people and their high-risk loved ones to get the flu shot.
Rommen said the 2022 season is the worst flu season, both on a state and national level in a decade.
Dr. Eric Griggs of Access Health Louisiana said nearly 10.5% of patient visits in Louisiana have been due to flu-like illnesses, and the numbers began going up a couple of weeks ago.
Louisiana healthcare providers say now is the time to get the flu vaccine as it takes about two weeks to become effective.
For more information about the flu, where to get vaccines, and other ways to protect yourself against the virus, visit the Louisiana Department of Health website.
Louisiana MMR vaccine rates dip below community immunity threshold
Axios, August 28, 2023
Why it matters: "Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known to mankind," Louisiana state health officer and medical doctor Joseph Kanter tells Axios, but outbreaks are "entirely preventable" through vaccination.
For measles specifically, 95% of a community should be vaccinated to prevent spread, according to Kanter, and Louisiana dropped to 93.5% for the 2021-2022 school year.
Kanter hopes the latest data is "a blip" and not a continuing trend as families get back into their pre-pandemic routines and medical professionals fight against misinformation.
"This is the alarm bell," he says. "It takes years — sometimes decades — to recover lost ground. Sometimes it takes longer to recover lost trust for the people who have fallen victim to false truths out there."
Guest Column: Don't let childhood vaccination be another COVID casualty
nola.com, February 8, 2023
Over the past two years, there has been a 2% drop in the percentage of U.S. kindergartners receiving standard childhood vaccines. That may not sound like much, but it translates to 250,000 fewer U.S. children protected against diphtheria, polio, measles, rubella and Hib, as well as whooping cough, chickenpox and seven other diseases. Over the past year, polioviruses were detected in wastewater in several New York counties and an outbreak of measles in the Columbus, Ohio, area sickened at least 85 individuals, mostly unvaccinated children, requiring hospitalization in 34 cases. More examples of a resurgence in vaccine-preventable diseases are sure to follow.
It has been said that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Sadly, in the case of routine childhood vaccination, forgetting history will translate to more preventable suffering and death. Let’s not add that to the already sad legacy of COVID-19.
Clutch or not so much: Rating the 2022 Legislature standouts
Louisiana Illuminator, June 9, 2022
If there were a prize given for beating a dead horse in the Legislature, it would be a competitive bout when it comes to COVID-19.
It was disappointing to see physical therapist Rep. Larry Frieman, R-Abita Springs, vigorously – and ultimately fruitlessly – try to compel hospitals to extend privileges to health care providers who prescribe ivermectin to treat COVID-19.
Rep. Troy Romero, R-New Iberia, wanted “God-given antibodies” to be given the same recognition as those acquired through vaccination.
Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, was futile in his multiple attempts to undermine state health officials’ work through the pandemic. His doomed proposals provided a regular forum for anti-vax proponents and conspiracy theorists.
Most concerning were the proclamations on the COVID vaccine from Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall, who didn’t understand the difference between how a single vaccine works and the impact of mass vaccinations. Making matters worse is that Bagley chairs the House Health and Welfare Committee.
These states lag in polio vaccinations: Idaho and Washington, D.C., had the lowest vaccination rates among kindergartners. Louisiana and Mississippi had the highest.
NBC News, August 15, 2022
Poliovirus was recently found in wastewater in three New York counties, including New York City. One case of paralytic polio was confirmed in an unvaccinated adult in Rockland County, which health officials say means the virus is likely circulating undetected.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends four doses administered at specific intervals between the ages of 2 months and 6 years. The vaccine protects against severe disease in 99% of children who get the recommended doses, the CDC said.
CDC data shows that around 93% of U.S. kindergarteners had received four doses by the 2020-2021 school year. In Louisiana and Mississippi, vaccination rates were above 98%. But rates were far lower in other areas of the country: around 80% in the District of Columbia, 86% in Idaho and 87% in Wisconsin.
LDH issues recommendation on COVID vaccine for children ages 6 months and up
Louisiana Department of Health, June 20, 2022
CDC and the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) recommend that all eligible children receive the COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves and their families. The COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be safe for children ages 6 months and up and help guard against severe COVID-19 outcomes, including certain heart conditions, long-term complications, hospitalization and death.
As we continue to experience an increase in positive COVID-19 infections throughout the state, it is critical that all eligible Louisianans get the COVID-19 vaccine. Tragically, LDH has reported a total of 21 children in Louisiana have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began, all of whom were not up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.
COVID-19 can cause severe complications in some children, including over 300 Louisiana children who have been diagnosed with the life-threatening condition multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Vaccinating your children will reduce their chance of contracting severe complications from COVID-19. Staying up-to-date on vaccinations is key to keeping our families safe and enjoying summer with confidence.
Bill prohibiting schools from recommending vaccines, medical procedures rejected by House
The Advocate, May 24, 2022
The Louisiana House on Tuesday rejected a bill that would prohibit public or private schools from recommending vaccines or medical procedures for students.
The vote was 24-71.
The proposed ban would also apply to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the state Department of Education and local school boards.
Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Houma, sponsor of the bill, said she heard of a case where a teacher recommended that a hyper child be given Ritalin, and that the school was later forced to pay for the medicine.
Amedee said that is the type of instance her bill is meant to address.
But Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Pineville, said since he is married to a longtime school teacher an educator's first instinct is to help the student, not what rules might apply in an emergency.
Louisiana Families for Vaccines hosting Day of Action at State Capitol
BR Proud & Fox News 44, May 23, 2022
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – A new grassroots advocacy group, Louisiana Families for Vaccines, is hosting a diverse group of partners, including the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, for a day of action at the Louisiana State Capitol to support evidence-based vaccine policy in the state.
Founder Dr. Jennifer Herricks and Dr. Eric Griggs stops by Fox 44 studio ahead of them gathering on the steps of the State Capitol on Monday.
Click on image above for video.
House lawmakers reject vaccine reporting requirement for coroners: Bill would require coroners to report deaths 60 days after vaccinations regardless of evidence
Louisiana Illuminator, May 17, 2022
Although the coronavirus has largely taken a backseat to other issues in the Louisiana Legislature’s 2022 regular session, House lawmakers on Monday entertained but ultimately rejected a proposal that opponents criticized for perpetuating disinformation about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
House Bill 915, sponsored by Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, failed in a House floor vote of 30-61. All 30 votes in favor of the proposal came from Republicans, while 28 other Republicans voted against it.
Louisiana House advancing bills to ban vaccine mandates in schools, cities, Constitution
The Daily Advertiser, April 25, 2022
Jill Hines of Health Freedom Louisiana testified in favor of the bill, saying it "recognizes the proper limits of government."
But Crystal [Rommen] of Louisiana Families for Vaccines said such an amendment would "erode our public health infrastructure. Let's not forsake public health in favor of autonomy," she said.
The bill will require a two-thirds vote by the full House and Senate before it could be put before Louisiana voters to make the final decision. It now goes to the full House for debate.
Lawmakers take aim at Gov. John Bel Edwards rule adding COVID vax to school shots list
The Advocate, April 12, 2022
Lawmakers also rejected House Bill 407 sponsored by state Rep. Beryl Amedée, R-Houma, which would prohibit adding vaccines under emergency use authorization to the school immunization schedule.
Edwards' rule adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the school immunization schedule only applies to age groups that are fully authorized to receive it by the FDA.
"This bill insinuates that vaccines that are under EUA are not safe," said Jennifer Herricks, who has a PhD in microbiology and is the founder of Louisiana Families for Vaccines. "I ask you not to let fear and misinformation have a place in our public health policy."
Bill making it a crime to ask a person’s vaccination status advances to full House
The Advocate, April 6 2022
After significantly changing legislation that would create the crime of asking about vaccination status, the House criminal justice committee on Wednesday advanced the bill for consideration by the full Louisiana House.
State Rep. Debbie Villio, a Kenner Republican who calls herself an “anti-vaxxer,” said the actual wording of the legislation wouldn’t protect people who didn’t get vaccinated. But it would create a crime for those who asked questions about a person’s vaccination status.
After Getting COVID, This Louisiana Teen Made It His Mission to Get His Peers Vaccinated: 'This Is Our Fight'
People, April 1 2022
Trenton Barfield didn't think he could catch COVID. Then on spring break last year, he started feeling sick. When he got home, he tested positive for COVID. He began texting friends and family members, worried that he had gotten them sick too.
Now, the 18-year-old high school senior at Airline High School in Bossier City, Louisiana is an ambassador for the non-profit Teens for Vaccines. He now works to convince others – including his father, who is against vaccines – to take get the shot.
"I definitely want the virus to end," he says. "We have to work together."
Introducing Louisiana Families for Vaccines!
March 14, 2022
Formerly Immunize Louisiana. Same great advocates, same important mission!
Louisiana Families for Vaccines is a volunteer-led, grassroots network of Louisianans dedicated to advocating for public health and evidence-based public policy and promoting immunizations for healthier kids and communities.
We are looking forward to working with you as we fight anti-vaccine legislation in Louisiana this session and as we work to maintain strong, evidence-based vaccine policy in the future.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards adds COVID vaccine to required school shots, joining California
Lafayette Daily Advertiser, December 14 2021
Gov. John Bel Edwards is moving forward with adding COVID-19 vaccines to the required list of school shots, overturning a vote from a legislative panel last week to nix the mandate recommended by the Louisiana Department of Health.
Though Edwards' action will add COVID vaccines to the required list beginning next school year, parents can opt out by signing and submitting a form to their schools as they can for other required immunizations like polio and measles.