Latest news with #RalphAbraham
Epoch Times
02-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Louisiana Senate Passes Bill Allowing Over-the-Counter Ivermectin
The Louisiana Legislature this week advanced a bill that would allow for ivermectin to be sold in pharmacies in the state without a prescription. The state Senate According to the The law also would provide 'immunity for pharmacists dispensing ivermectin in accordance with proposed law' and would stipulate that a 'health insurance issuer is not required to provide coverage for the cost of ivermectin dispensed pursuant to proposed law,' according to the bill's text. It means that a pharmacist can dispense the anti-parasite drug to anyone aged 18 and older, and they will not need a prescription beforehand, making it an over-the-counter medication. State Surgeon General Ralph Abraham, who is in charge of the state Department of Health, said that he backs the measure, which was introduced by state Sen. Mike Fesi, a Republican. Related Stories 4/16/2025 4/15/2025 'Making Ivermectin over the counter will ensure access to the human form of the medication in safe dosing from a pharmacy for its varied uses,' he The Republican attorney general said that 'without off-label use, we would not have eye drops after cataract surgery or ibuprofen for migraines,' which 'deserves further protection in law.' 'We support the passage of the bill—not because we believe ivermectin is some sort of miracle pill for all that ails you, but primarily because we believe medical decision-making occurs within the sacred doctor-patient relationship free from third-party interference to the maximum possible degree,' Abraham added. Fesi, the state senator, told the New Orleans Times-Picayune in an article published Friday that he and his entire family took ivermectin after contracting COVID-19, and saw positive results. 'When I caught COVID, I took ivermectin for two days, got better quickly. My whole family took ivermectin,' he said. 'I think it's important for us to get it over-the-counter.' During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to treat the virus increased significantly. Ivermectin use increased dramatically throughout 2020 and 2021, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has Meanwhile, some studies have Tennessee, Idaho, and Arkansas have
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Louisiana sees rise in whooping cough cases
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Louisiana Department of Health is monitoring a rise in pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, cases in the state, Surgeon General Ralph Abraham announced Thursday. As of March 27, the state has reported 110 cases in 2025. Preliminary data shows that more than 12 times as many cases were reported in 2024. The state health department confirmed two babies have died from whooping cough in the last six months. Before this year, the last child whooping cough death in Louisiana was reported in 2018. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause severe coughing fits, making it particularly dangerous for infants younger than one year old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria that causes whooping cough can spread through the air when a person sneezes or coughs. Symptoms, per the CDC, can be similar to common cold symptoms. Early symptoms can include runny or stuffed nose, low-grade fever and mild, occasional cough. Babies, however, may struggle to breathe. In 2024, the U.S. saw a significant rise in whooping cough cases. According to a CDC report, over 35,000 total cases were reported. This is more than six times the number of cases reported during the same period in 2023. Department of Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 workers in a major restructuring plan LDH said the best way to protect newborns from the illness is for pregnant women to get a vaccine during each pregnancy. People who may have close contact with babies are suggested to talk to their doctor about whether they should get the vaccine. 'Anyone who is up-to-date with their pertussis vaccine is well-protected against the virus,' Abraham said. The CDC recommends: Babies receive the DTaP vaccine at two, four, and six months old, with booster shots at 15-18 months and 4-6 years old. Preteens aged 11-12 receive the Tdap booster. Pregnant women get the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of each pregnancy. Baton Rouge police respond to fight at Istrouma High School Free computer training classes available in Baton Rouge this April 2 juveniles sent to hospital after shooting in Gonzales, Ascension Parish sheriff says Las Vegas police make arrest for 'targeted attack' at Tesla center Judge: High heat in Texas prisons unconstitutional Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Louisiana ending promoting mass vaccines to restore 'public trust in health'
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- With a goal of "restoring public trust in health," Louisiana will stop promoting mass vaccines, state officials confirmed in a statement. "Trust is built over years and lost in seconds, and we're still rebuilding from the COVID missteps," the Louisiana Department of Health said in a statement signed by the state's top doctor. The move is in response to vaccines required during the COVID-19 pandemic, what the state calls "the greatest missteps" of the era. "Conversations about specific vaccines, and whether or not a vaccine is right for a specific person, are best had with the individual's healthcare provider, who best understands their individual situation and relevant medical history," Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham said on X. The directive was at the behest of Abraham and Deputy Surgeon General Wyche Coleman. "There are some appropriate examples of government recommendations, such as encouraging routine screenings like colonoscopies or Pap smears and facilitating access, especially for the poor," the statement reads. "But promotion of specific pharmaceutical products rises to a different level, especially when the manufacturer is exempt from liability for harms caused by the drug, as is the case for many vaccines. It is understood that the products pushed will benefit some and cause harm to others, but public health pushes them anyway with a one-size-fits-all, collectivist mentality whose main objective is maximal compliance." Vaccine requirements imposed by levels of government have been a contentious issue since the COVID-19 pandemic. "Perhaps there are some treatments that every human being should take, but they are few and far between, and things that are good generally don't have to be pushed by the government," the Louisiana statement reads. "As a nation, we must recognize that there is no miracle pill for the major population health problems we should admit the limitations of its role in people's lives and pull back its tentacles from the practice of medicine. The path to regaining public trust lies in acknowledging past missteps, refocusing on unbiased data collection, and providing transparent, balanced information for people to make their own health decisions." Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has publicly campaigned against vaccines, earlier this week was confirmed as the Trump administration's Secretary of Health and Human Services. In late January, Kennedy said he would not "go into HHS and impose my preordained opinions on anybody at HHS. I'm going to empower the scientists to do their job."
Associated Press
14-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Louisiana to end mass vaccine promotion, state's top health official says
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Department of Health 'will no longer promote mass vaccination' according to a Thursday memo written by the state's top health official and obtained by The Associated Press. A department spokesperson confirmed Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham had ordered his staff to stop engaging in media campaigns and community health fairs to encourage vaccinations, even as the state has experienced a surge in influenza. Abraham's announcement occurred the same day vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in by the U.S. Senate to serve as President Donald Trump's health secretary. In a separate letter posted on the department's website, Louisiana's surgeon general decried 'blanket government mandates' for vaccines and criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 vaccination push. Individuals should make their own decisions about vaccinations, Abraham said. 'Government should admit the limitations of its role in people's lives and pull back its tentacles from the practice of medicine,' said Abraham, a Republican. The department will still 'stock and provide vaccines,' according to Abraham's memo. Jennifer Herricks, founder of the advocacy group Louisiana Families for Vaccines, said she feared that the new directive would 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. In liberal New Orleans, the city council passed a resolution Thursday vowing to continue supporting vaccination efforts. The city's Health Department Director Jennifer Avegno said state-supported efforts have led thousands of people to receive vaccines in the past. However, she anticipates vaccination rates for preventable diseases will drop due to the state's new policy and misinformation promoted by the surgeon general's letter. She pointed out that vaccines are most effective when they are 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 city 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
05-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Louisiana recalls oysters after 15 people report norovirus-like illness: What to know
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Louisiana Department of Health closed an oyster harvesting area after 15 people reported norovirus-like illnesses. Oysters from Area 3, located east of Lake Borgne and north of Eloi Bay including Chandeleur Islands and nearby marshes, were recalled. The closure includes all oysters harvested from this area since Jan. 10, 2025. This includes shucked, frozen, and breaded oysters. It also covers post-harvest processed oysters and those for the half-shell market. State health officials said 15 people got sick after eating these oysters at New Orleans restaurants. According to LDH, the illnesses were not life-threatening, but two people were hospitalized and have since been discharged. Norovirus symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. 'Sometimes people have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness. The illness is usually brief, with symptoms lasting a day or two,' LDH said. People can get the illness through contaminated food, particularly raw or undercooked shellfish. Cooking oysters kills the virus but outbreaks can happen from eating undercooked oysters from contaminated waters. Recall for broccoli sold at Walmart in Louisiana upgraded to highest risk level: FDA LDH said all oysters from outside Area 3 and all other Louisiana seafood are safe to eat. The closure order signed by Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham and LDH Secretary Michael Harrington starts immediately and will last for at least 21 days. The department is working with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to make sure no oysters are taken from these waters during the closure. LDH has informed local oyster harvesters in the affected area and the Louisiana Oyster Task Force. If you think you got sick from contaminated oysters, report it to LDH. Contact your regional epidemiologist. You can also submit a report online at LDH's website. CC's Coffee House unveils new Mardi Gras-inspired flavors, treats. How to make them at home LSU football coach Brian Kelly to talk about transfer portal signees and new staff members Panini Fan Fest kicks off in New Orleans ahead of The Big Game Baton Rouge police arrest second suspect in shooting that killed state representative's grandson Johnson calls Trump's Gaza takeover idea 'bold' and 'decisive' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
