Louisiana public health officials have banned employees promoting certain vaccines. In a statement from the state Department of Health defending the policy, an official incorrectly stated that the flu vaccine cannot prevent individuals from getting the flu.
The Louisiana Department of Health “informed its employees that they were not allowed to promote COVID, influenza, or mpox vaccines.” This means that employees cannot “send out press releases, give interviews, hold vaccine events, give presentations or create social media posts encouraging the public to get the vaccines” or post signs that the vaccines are available at the department’s clinics. In a statement defending the policy, one state official claimed that promotion of vaccines by public health officials is “one-size-fits-all paternalistic guidance.” The official also stated, “While the flu vaccine does not prevent one from getting the influenza virus, it can lessen the severity of the illness and thus has a role in combating the effects of viral respiratory illnesses such as the flu.” This statement is inconsistent with the CDC’s guidance that flu vaccines actually reduce the risk of contracting the flu.