Louisiana

Louisiana no longer promoting mass vaccinations. How will this affect the community?

Published

10 months ago

March 10, 2025

Louisiana no longer promoting mass vaccinations. How will this affect the community?

The Louisiana Department of Health will no longer promote mass vaccinations, according to the state attorney general, who announced this decision Feb. 13.

According to a memorandum to LDH Team Members by Surgeon General Ralph Abraham, Louisiana and LDH traditionally have advocated for vaccines to prevent illnesses through multiple channels, including parish health units, community health fairs, partnerships and media campaigns. Abraham noted that while they encourage patients to discuss vaccination risks and benefits with their providers, LDH will discontinue promoting mass vaccinations.

This decision raises questions about its potential consequences for the community.

Deborah Gurgel Smith, Ph.D., LSU Health Shreveport School of Allied Health Professions, warned that not promoting vaccines can lead to increased hospitalizations and deaths, especially during outbreaks of contagious diseases like measles, which has been reported in Texas and poses a risk to Louisiana.

“The importance of actually promoting mass vaccination — it can impact people’s lives in general,” Smith said. “If we decline the vaccine promotion that can reverse decades of progress in controlling preventable diseases such as measles and polio that were once eradicated in the United States. I think this is a public health priority − we keep preventing infectious diseases.”

Smith said the Louisiana Department of Health is tasked with promoting and campaigning for vaccinations, and she is unclear as to why this should be stopped, as the department is one of the community’s primary sources for health information, which helps individuals make informed decisions regarding their health.

“If we don’t promote with true facts, like scientific knowledge — our community will know how to make their own decisions based on what,” Smith said. “Those decisions that were once eradicated such as polio, measles — they really can come back which we are seeing measles coming back and that can have not only an impact on hospitalizations and deaths but also with we can see economic burden in our communities.”

Louisiana faces challenges in addressing health disparities among low-income communities and minority Black populations, in which a lack of vaccinations will increase these disparities. Smith pointed out if a parent has a child with measles in the hospital, it can lead to higher medical expenses and force the parent to take time off work, leading to lost income and an increased burden to the family.

“There’s so many things that we need to think about before coming with decisions like stopping mass vaccination campaign promoting vaccines for diseases that can be preventable,” Smith stated. “We’re going to see a rise in the healthcare system. Hospitalizations, as I said in the beginning, that’s going to cause people coming to emergency rooms and talking about people who in rural, urban areas whose access to medical care is limited.”

Smith pointed out that certain individuals may be unable to receive a vaccine due to health issues or allergies to specific vaccine components, and must depend on others for protection through herd immunity. Smith noted that herd immunity requires a specific percentage of the population to be vaccinated.

Smith recommends that individuals consult their healthcare providers and parents consult their children’s pediatrician regarding vaccines and side effects, and suggests referencing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website and the Health Department for additional vaccine information.

“If they [Health department] cannot talk about it, I recommend looking for healthcare providers because healthcare providers — they still promote vaccines and campaign making sure people make the right choice for their own health and their kids’ health. Kids, they cannot make their own health choices, so they depend on parents,” Smith stated. “We [LSUH] have amazing physicians who can provide great feedback about vaccines and how they work. The Louisiana Department of Health maybe now stopping the media campaigns and promoting vaccines. However, we have pharmacies — people there who can answer some questions but I always say, ‘Look for your healthcare provider like pediatricians, primary care physicians, family doctors.’ There are very well equipped to speak to your community to how to protect their loved ones.”

Smith pointed out that vaccines are still accessible, but the Louisiana Department of Health has just ended its promotion of individual vaccinations.

Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinson and on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3vln0w1.

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Louisiana

SWLA Arrest Report – Jan. 3, 2026

Published

8 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Calcasieu Correctional Center booking report for Jan. 3, 2026.

Dalana Nicole Mouton, 26, Lake Charles: Domestic abuse aggravated assault.
Tayshan George Ardoin, 17, Lake Charles: Obstruction of justice; Resisting an officer by flight; Resisting an officer by refusal to ID; Illegal carrying of weapons; Unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.
Aaron Dewaine Wallace, 19, Houston, TX: Domestic abuse battery.
Wyatt Inselmann, 19, Carlock, IL: Operating while intoxicated; third offense; Careless operation; Restrictions as to tire equipment; No seat belt.
Jocelyn Gomez, 29, Houston, TX: Domestic abuse battery; Child endangerment.
Rebecca Renee Perdue, 40, Sulphur: Instate detainer.
Gerronta Demoine Lambert, 18, Lake Charles: Simple robbery.
Traelyn Dquann Campbell, 29, Lake Charles: Turning movements and required signals; Stop signs and yield signs; 2 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; 2 counts of obstruction of justice; Operating vehicle while license is suspended.

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Louisiana

Louisiana Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Jan. 3, 2026

Published

20 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 3, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

18-21-40-53-60, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

0-9-4

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

3-0-6-9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

8-7-5-3-0

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Easy 5 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

12-18-20-29-34

Check Easy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

01-14-18-20-27-41

Check Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.

By mail, follow these instructions:

Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.

Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:

Louisiana Lottery Headquarters

555 Laurel Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:

555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.

When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Louisiana

Louisiana Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Dec. 28, 2025

Published

7 days ago

December 29, 2025

Press Room

The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 28, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing

9-7-6

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing

9-0-5-0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing

3-3-8-8-8

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

By mail, follow these instructions:

Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.

Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:

Louisiana Lottery Headquarters

555 Laurel Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:

555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.

When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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