Latest news with #Herricks
The Guardian
14-02-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Louisiana's health department cancels promotion of mass vaccinations
Louisiana's health department 'will no longer promote mass vaccination', including using media campaigns or health fairs to promote vaccines against preventable illnesses, according to an internal memo issued by the surgeon general in the state of 4.5 million people. The memo from surgeon general Dr Ralph Abraham immediately ignited fears of lower vaccination rates leading to increased sickness, hospitalization and death – as well as a return of diseases such as measles and polio that had all been mostly eradicated by vaccines. Appointed to his position in June by Louisiana's extremist Republican governor, Jeff Landry, Abraham wrote that the state would continue to 'encourage each patient to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with their provider'. But, characterizing it as a matter of personal choice, Abraham said the state's health department would do away with promoting the practice of mass vaccination – even as Louisiana has grappled with a surge in influenza, for which vaccines are offered seasonally. In a letter posted on the health department's website, Abraham denounced 'blanket government mandates' for vaccines and criticized the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's push for vaccines meant to protect people from Covid-19. 'Unfortunately, many public health departments are still stuck in pandemic-response mode,' the letter reads. It goes on to say that the 'government should admit the limitations of its role in people's lives and pull back its tentacles from the practice of medicine'. Abraham's memo – which was obtained by the Guardian – came on the same day that the anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr was confirmed by the US Senate to serve as the nation's health secretary under Donald Trump's second presidential administration. The memo noted that the department will still 'stock and provide vaccines'. But that provided little comfort to Jennifer Herricks, the founder of the Louisiana Families for Vaccines non-profit organization. 'Public health officials should be working to increase access to lifesaving vaccines – not stepping away from the responsibilities,' Herricks said. Herricks pointed out inaccuracies in the letter from Abraham, a veterinarian, family medicine physician and former congressman from north Louisiana. She singled out his claim that Covid vaccines were 'shown to have no third-party benefit in terms of reduced transmission' when they in fact have been demonstrated to reduce transmission significantly. 'And the consequences of lower vaccination rates? More illness. More hospitalizations. More deaths', Herricks said. A source with direct knowledge of the state health department's operations said many 'uninsured and underinsured residents' across Louisiana have relied on annual drives to get their families vaccinated against the flu and Covid. 'We are now no longer allowed to do this at all … and we will absolutely see increased morbidity and mortality rates associated wtih vaccine preventable diseases, especially within historically disadvantaged communities,' said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share thoughts frankly. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion The source also said portraying vaccines as a matter of personal choice 'is infuriating' when Louisiana has a near-total ban on abortion. Advocates of abortion access see the matter as one of personal choice rather than something that should be dictated by the government. Early in the pandemic, New Orleans, Louisiana's best-known city, was among the US communities most disproportionately affected by Covid-19. Its local government has indicated it plans to continue supporting vaccinations. The city council on Thursday passed a resolution to support immunization efforts. On Friday, after the surgeon general's memo, New Orleans's municipal health department published a post on X encouraging residents to get their flu vaccines. The city's health department director, Jennifer Avegno, told the council on Thursday: 'There's not scientific debate on this, this is as close as you can get to established fact that vaccinations – particularly mass vaccinations – and community immunity saves millions and millions of lives.'
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Louisiana Department of Health to end mass vaccine promotion after RFK Jr confirmed
Louisiana's Department of Health (LDH) 'will no longer promote mass vaccination' according to a memo sent out by the state's top health official on Thursday shortly after vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr was confirmed by the Senate as Donald Trump's new Health and Human Services Secretary. In the memo addressed to all 'LDH Team Members', the southern state's Surgeon General Ralph Abraham, former Republican congressman, ordered his staff to stop engaging with media campaigns and community efforts to encourage vaccinations, despite Louisiana recently suffering a particularly harsh flu season. 'The State of Louisiana and LDH have historically promoted vaccines for vaccine preventable illnesses through our parish health units, community health fairs, partnerships and media campaigns,' Abraham wrote, according to a copy of the memo obtained by CNN. 'While we encourage each patient to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with their provider, LDH will no longer promote mass vaccination.' Abraham also urged healthcare providers to treat vaccines with 'nuance', stressing the distinction between 'seasonal vaccines and childhood immunizations.' In a separate letter posted on the department's website, he went on to denounce 'blanket government mandates' for vaccines and criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Covid-19 vaccination push, arguing that individual citizens should be free to make their own healthcare decisions and labelling the federal pandemic response 'an offense against personal autonomy that will take years to overcome.' 'Government should admit the limitations of its role in people's lives and pull back its tentacles from the practice of medicine,' Abraham wrote, adding that his department will nevertheless continue to stock vaccines and make them available to the public upon request. His directive has already drawn an adverse reaction, with Jennifer Herricks of Louisiana Families for Vaccines warning that the surgeon general's actions will lead to an increase in preventable illnesses and deaths. 'We are very concerned for people in Louisiana who have historically depended on vaccination drives to get easily accessible vaccines that are no longer going to be available,' Herricks said. New Orleans City Council responded on Thursday by passing a resolution pledging to continue supporting vaccination efforts, stressing that it is not bound by the instruction. Jennifer Avegno, the city's Health Department Director, said state-supported efforts have led thousands of people to receive vaccines in the past. Like Herricks, she said she anticipates vaccination rates for preventable diseases to drop as a consequence of Abraham's new policy, warned of the likely spread of misinformation and pointed out that vaccines are most effective when their use is widespread. 'Public health is really united on this issue: For more than a century, vaccines of all kinds have been a cornerstone of improving public health in America,' Avegno told the council. 'There's no scientific debate on this, this is as close as you can get to established fact that vaccinations, particularly mass vaccinations, and community immunity, saves millions and millions of lives.' Speaking subsequently to CNN, Avegno continued: 'When you deprioritize, when you create confusion and doubt to any kind of medical information, then the fact is that folks don't get it. 'We're already seeing that; our childhood vaccination rate has dropped in the last year or so, like many other states in the country. 'When vaccination rates drop, you get worse outbreaks.' Asked about the timing of Abraham's announcement coinciding with Kennedy's confirmation in Washington, Avengo said she did not believe it was a coincidence. 'Now they have, in the ultimate health authority in America, someone who has been a champion of the same falsehoods that have been promulgated locally,' she said. 'During his Senate confirmation hearings, [Kennedy] was given opportunities to walk back his stances on vaccines, and he really didn't take them... I think it gives folks who, for whatever reason, are in his way of thinking license to proceed.' Dr Robert Collins, a Dillard University political analyst, told Fox 8 that he believed Abraham's memo was entirely politically-motivated. 'What we're seeing here is the Louisiana State Government under the direction of Governor [Jeff] Landry basically just trying to come in compliance with what they consider current Trump rules to be under the federal government's guidelines,' he said. 'Even though Dr Abraham is a practicing physician, in his past life he was also a former congressman, he has deep ties to the Republican Party. 'He has deep ties to the national Trump organization. I think we have to put this in that political context.'
The Independent
14-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Louisiana Department of Health to end mass vaccine promotion after RFK Jr confirmed
Louisiana 's Department of Health (LDH) 'will no longer promote mass vaccination' according to a memo sent out by the state's top health official on Thursday shortly after vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr was confirmed by the Senate as Donald Trump 's new Health and Human Services Secretary. In the memo addressed to all 'LDH Team Members', the southern state's Surgeon General Ralph Abraham, former Republican congressman, ordered his staff to stop engaging with media campaigns and community efforts to encourage vaccinations, despite Louisiana recently suffering a particularly harsh flu season. 'The State of Louisiana and LDH have historically promoted vaccines for vaccine preventable illnesses through our parish health units, community health fairs, partnerships and media campaigns,' Abraham wrote, according to a copy of the memo obtained by CNN. 'While we encourage each patient to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with their provider, LDH will no longer promote mass vaccination.' Abraham also urged healthcare providers to treat vaccines with 'nuance', stressing the distinction between 'seasonal vaccines and childhood immunizations.' In a separate letter posted on the department's website, he went on to denounce 'blanket government mandates' for vaccines and criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Covid-19 vaccination push, arguing that individual citizens should be free to make their own healthcare decisions and labelling the federal pandemic response 'an offense against personal autonomy that will take years to overcome.' 'Government should admit the limitations of its role in people's lives and pull back its tentacles from the practice of medicine,' Abraham wrote, adding that his department will nevertheless continue to stock vaccines and make them available to the public upon request. His directive has already drawn an adverse reaction, with Jennifer Herricks of Louisiana Families for Vaccines warning that the surgeon general's actions will lead to an increase in preventable illnesses and deaths. 'We are very concerned for people in Louisiana who have historically depended on vaccination drives to get easily accessible vaccines that are no longer going to be available,' Herricks said. New Orleans City Council responded on Thursday by passing a resolution pledging to continue supporting vaccination efforts, stressing that it is not bound by the instruction. Jennifer Avegno, the city's Health Department Director, said state-supported efforts have led thousands of people to receive vaccines in the past. Like Herricks, she said she anticipates vaccination rates for preventable diseases to drop as a consequence of Abraham's new policy, warned of the likely spread of misinformation and pointed out that vaccines are most effective when their use is widespread. 'Public health is really united on this issue: For more than a century, vaccines of all kinds have been a cornerstone of improving public health in America,' Avegno told the council. 'There's no scientific debate on this, this is as close as you can get to established fact that vaccinations, particularly mass vaccinations, and community immunity, saves millions and millions of lives.' Speaking subsequently to CNN, Avegno continued: 'When you deprioritize, when you create confusion and doubt to any kind of medical information, then the fact is that folks don't get it. 'We're already seeing that; our childhood vaccination rate has dropped in the last year or so, like many other states in the country. 'When vaccination rates drop, you get worse outbreaks.' Asked about the timing of Abraham's announcement coinciding with Kennedy's confirmation in Washington, Avengo said she did not believe it was a coincidence. 'Now they have, in the ultimate health authority in America, someone who has been a champion of the same falsehoods that have been promulgated locally,' she said. 'During his Senate confirmation hearings, [Kennedy] was given opportunities to walk back his stances on vaccines, and he really didn't take them... I think it gives folks who, for whatever reason, are in his way of thinking license to proceed.' Dr Robert Collins, a Dillard University political analyst, told Fox 8 that he believed Abraham's memo was entirely politically-motivated. 'What we're seeing here is the Louisiana State Government under the direction of Governor [Jeff] Landry basically just trying to come in compliance with what they consider current Trump rules to be under the federal government's guidelines,' he said. 'Even though Dr Abraham is a practicing physician, in his past life he was also a former congressman, he has deep ties to the Republican Party. 'He has deep ties to the national Trump organization. I think we have to put this in that political context.'
USA Today
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
We love love: Here are 9 sweet first date stories of readers finding their perfect match
We love love: Here are 9 sweet first date stories of readers finding their perfect match Show Caption Hide Caption Valentine's Day contest winner meets USA TODAY reporter in NYC USA TODAY reporter and a lucky contest winner flew to NYC for a romantic Valentine's Day date. Here's how it went. Valentine's Day is upon us, and love is in the air. USA TODAY entertainment reporter Erin Jensen persuaded us to launch a nationwide search to help her find a valentine for her dream date in New York City. Nominations came in from coast to coast. As Jensen prepared for her first date, we wanted to give her ‒ and others in the dating pool ‒ some inspiration, so we asked readers to share stories of their first date with their partner. From high school sweethearts to casual dating app meet-ups, here are a few of our favorite stories: These submissions have been edited for style, length and clarity. His brother's perfect match In 1966, our high school, Herricks, in New York, sponsored a Computer Dance. We filled out questionnaires, and the answers were fed into a room-sized computer. (Those over 50 will remember the cards with penciled-in responses.) The computer spit out matches, and we were all given three numbers of our ideal match. At the dance, we wore our number and looked for the perfect mate! However, I had my eyes on a young lady who, ironically, matched with my younger brother. I convinced him to swap numbers. He wound up with a very attractive cheerleader, and I pursued my dream date. It was a great night for me, and I even took my date out for ice cream at the local Howard Johnson. So now I'm debating with myself how to handle this situation. Do I tell her she really didn't match, or should I just let fate decide our future? At the door of her house, we said our goodbyes, and I made the decision to speak truth and spill the beans. I wasn't sure how she would feel about my switch with my brother. Fortunately, she was charmed that I went to these lengths to pursue her. And the rest is history. We dated through college and married in 1971, had three amazing kids, have seven wonderful grandchildren, and we are so lucky to have have a nuclear family that cares for one another and truly brings happiness to all of us when we are together. By the way, I still have her badge from the dance in my scrapbook. Little did I know what it would mean all these years. Submitted by: Howard Zlotoff, Pennsylvania Years together: 53 Midnight somewhere New Year's Eve, 1966, I attended a party hosted by a co-worker (whom I knew) and his cousin (whom he knew). I walked in the door, and almost immediately a tall, handsome man in a three-piece suit approached me while I was putting on my party hat. He had a military-style haircut because he had just gotten out of the Army, but I thought, "Hair will grow." (Don't forget this was in the era of the Beatles, and long hair was in style.) He said to me, "That hat is you," and stayed by me the rest of the night. Every hour before midnight, he tried to kiss me and said, "It's midnight somewhere," but I resisted and made him wait until midnight for my last, first kiss. We left the party to get some fresh air, and he showed me his white 1965 Mustang with red interior. He said, "That's my horse," and I broke out laughing. We agreed to meet at the Mummer's Day Parade in Philadelphia. I bought us coffee and went to our arranged meeting place. I was afraid I would forget what he looked like. I didn't. We spent the next five hours watching the parade, and then he took me to see the Ice Capades. We married in 1968, and then he started bringing me coffee! Submitted by: Kathryn Becek, Virginia Years together: 56 Not-so-casual after all In the gay community, sometimes first dates are scheduling a hookup … and canceling when you find someone hotter. I usually fell into that trap as a gay 20-something who identifies as a "hopeless romantic but not looking for anything too serious." I was an avid user of any and all dating apps: Tinder, Grindr, Hinge. I was scrolling late one night and realized there was a particularly cute suitor that I forgot to answer for more than two weeks. To dig myself out of this, I had to swing big. I messaged, "Let's make out" to said boy, who responded, "Sure, when?' After somehow resuscitating this almost flat-lined connection, we planned to meet at his place on a Sunday night. However, I canceled again, given my rule of no first dates on a weekend. So then, on a humid Monday in June, we had our first date. It consisted of late night talks, nothing too deep or superficial, with light roasting of his empty apartment. He was intriguing, insightful and captivating with his curly mullet, charming light brown eyes, and playful tattoos that danced on his toned, olive-glowed arms as he talked. This casual hookup turned into four hours of genuine, riveting conversation. It was a magnetic night without agenda or manipulation that I typically engaged in. Submitted by: Jack Guerci, Pennsylvania Years together: 2 ½ Party helped them strike love It was 1987. We met at a party neither of us really wanted to attend, especially him! He saw my silhouette from across the large, dimly lit banquet hall as I made my way to the ladies' room upon arrival. He quickly connected with a mutual friend to ask who I was. Our friend, Ronnie, was happy to introduce us. John seemed nice and proved to be a gentleman as he walked me to my car after the party. The next day, he planned our date: bowling. "Huh, excuse me, did you say bowling?" "Yup, give it a try." "OK." When we arrived at the alley, I saw all kinds of people bowling ... it blew my mind! I loved it, and I have been bowling ever since. I even joined a league and hit 299, just one point shy of a perfect game. That was exciting. And, fast forward to 2025, we have been together ever since. We got married in January 1990, and have two beautiful adult children, one who blessed us with a beautiful granddaughter. I now bowl better than hubby, and I love it! Submitted by: Michelle Fountain, Virginia Years together: 37 Sweetshop date lead to lifelong sweetheart When I was a sophomore at Purdue University, a friend of mine advised me that Nancy Dillon, a freshman, wanted to meet me. After three tries, I contacted her and arranged a Coke date on a Sunday afternoon in the sweetshop of the student union on campus. I bought two cokes, and we sat down get to know each other. I learned that she lived in Indianapolis with her mother and sister, having lost her father when she was 13. She graduated from the largest high school in the state. She learned that I grew up on a farm and attended one of the smallest schools in the state. I also learned that I liked her very much and asked her for another date. She agreed. We never dated anyone else for the rest of our lives. She passed away in 2023. She is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, where I will join her one day. Submitted by: Lynn Webster, Delaware Years together: 63 'Call me if you find what I'm looking for' I was managing a bicycle shop in Charleston, South Carolina, and Cindy came in to buy a bike. She didn't find one she liked, but she left me her phone number and said, "Call me if you find what I'm looking for." For our first date, we went to a comedy club to see Pat Paulsen, who was a popular comedian at the time. It was love at first date for me! Submitted by: Terry Dockery, Georgia Years together: 40 Prince Charming missed his dinner reservation We met on a Christian dating site. Both having given up on finding love (we are both older), we made a date after calling each other. I didn't think this would work, as we were two hours apart. We met on a Friday evening in my hometown. He kept calling to say he was going to be late. We missed our reservation, but he finally showed up! When I saw him, I was instantly mesmerized ‒ very handsome, a dapper, sophisticated gentleman. We spent the evening talking for hours, and it felt like it was "meant to be." He asked me to meet him for lunch, offering to stay in town just so he could see me the next day. We met on Saturday, and being with him at lunch was even better than dinner the night before. We have been together for more than two years. We still can't believe how lucky and blessed we are to have found each other! We both had been heartbroken before, and our deep faith in God has made us that much closer to each other. I have found the person with whom I want to spend the rest of my forever with. He has shown me that not all men are bad, and that love does conquer all. It is like a fairy tale for me, he is my Prince Charming. Submitted by: Linda Cook, North Carolina Years together: Two Meet me halfway My partner Avery and I started out dating long distance. He's from North Jersey, and I'm from Philadelphia. We met at Penn State University a month before graduation. Our first date was a meet-in-the-middle with a hike and lunch at a brewery in Princeton. We love the outdoors and have taken hundreds of hikes since ‒ and drank our fair share of beers since then too! Submitted by: Cailyn McCutcheon, New York Years together: Five Chili cheeseburger and a drive We were 16 years old. Rose was mature for her age; I was not. I couldn't believe she agreed to go on a date with me. She was beautiful, and again, I was not. I took her to Rip Griffin's truck stop for a chili cheeseburger and fries. I sat next to her, instead of across the table. She was so attentive to me. She heard me talk about myself like I was somebody important, and I knew I was because I was sitting next to her. We drove around for a while, and then I took her home and walked her to her door. Chastely, I kissed the sweetest lips I had ever touched. My heart was beating frantically in my chest when I asked if she would go out with me again. She smiled and said yes. We eloped our senior year and had three of the most beautiful daughters a man could ask for. And they gave us seven wonderful grandchildren. The secret? Romance her. Romance her. Romance her, for the rest of your life. Never stop. Submitted by: Ken Bailey, Oklahoma Years together: 22
