Dozens of anti-vaccine bills have died in the Louisiana Legislature since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but ultra-conservative lawmakers are preparing for a new fight. It’s progressing.
In the process, truth became a major casualty.
During two days of hearings last week on the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the House Homeland Security Select Committee said that doctors with fringe views on the coronavirus We heard hours of testimony from That included the state’s top doctor, Surgeon General Ralph Abraham, who himself spread misinformation. Abraham is a general practitioner who is also a veterinarian.
“It is my observation that nearly every intervention attempted by the government has been ineffective, counterproductive and contrary to the core principles of a free society,” Abraham said last Thursday, citing masks as an example of ineffective measures. He cited the use of and vaccines.
Dr. Wych Coleman III, Abraham’s associate surgeon general and ophthalmologist, went a step further and touted the debunked theory that childhood vaccinations cause autism.
“We could fill Tiger Stadium with mothers whose children were normal one day, got a vaccine, and now have autism,” Coleman told lawmakers.
Experts agree that state officials’ amplification and rationalization of misinformation about COVID-19 could have a negative impact on public health.
When asked if negative stories about vaccines might deter people from getting vaccinated, committee chairman Rep. Jay Galle (R-Covington) said, “What do we do if that happens?” .
Fact check: Anti-vaccine supporters dominate Congressional hearings on coronavirus response
Louisiana has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the nation, with fewer eligible residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Centers for Disease Control data cited by The New York Times. Only 55% of people do. A poll from LSU’s Riley Center for Media and Public Affairs also found that most Louisiana residents oppose mandating coronavirus vaccines.
These two statistics show that the public is distrustful of coronavirus vaccines.
Jennifer Herricks is a public health communicator with a Ph.D. majoring in microbiology and working with the Louisiana Vaccine Family Association to fight misinformation.
“Using taxpayer dollars to justify this harmful rhetoric when vaccination rates are already dangerously low is irresponsible and not in the best interests of Louisian residents,” Herricks said. said. “I was very disappointed to see the false reports regarding the vaccine promoted by the LDH leadership.”
Get your morning headlines.
Subscribe
During the hearing, several lawmakers expressed their intention to “revive” coronavirus-related and vaccine-related bills that have been rejected in the past few years.
Ultra-conservative lawmakers have introduced dozens of bills related to the pandemic and vaccines over the past four regular sessions. Some sought to expand already broad vaccine exemptions for Louisiana schools, while others aimed to create civil liability for students who require vaccinations.
But only a few bills, the most moderate ones, have passed Congress, where Republicans, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, have the final say.
Even in this year’s regular session, when Republicans enjoyed the support of COVID-19 skeptic and fellow conservative Gov. Jeff Landry, among the 10 bills related to vaccines and alternative treatments for COVID-19. Only one proposal was approved.
Conservatives scored other health victories in recent legislative sessions, including a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth in Louisiana and the first law to classify pregnancy care drugs as controlled dangerous substances. But surrounding proposals related to the pandemic and vaccinations lacked broad support among Republicans.
Despite successive defeats, coronavirus and vaccine proposals have generated hours of congressional hearings, giving those with minority views an opportunity to put misinformation on the record.
One thing most on both sides of this issue can agree on is that public health officials and governments share responsibility for mixed messages in the early stages of the pandemic and poor communication in updating mitigation recommendations. is. At last Friday’s hearing, several commenters cited the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s initial recommendation against wearing masks, which was later rescinded.
From there, things went into a vicious cycle. America’s unique distrust of government has provided fertile ground for misinformation to take root.
Rumors about garden varieties shared by friends and family on social media spread quickly and gradually became falsely accepted as truth. The lack of facts left many in fear and questioning all health advice. Then, according to public health experts, came disinformation actors, or bad actors, who deliberately spread falsehoods to further their agenda or seek some material gain.
In recent years, misinformation at statehouses has been due to a combination of simple misinformation and intentional disinformation.
Pediatricians scale back coronavirus vaccinations as families lose interest
Most notable among the disinformation sources were anti-vaccine activists who came to Baton Rouge to lobby against mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for K-12 students in 2021. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
It would be impossible and irresponsible to list all instances of misinformation from past and present legislative hearings in this analysis.
Most of last week’s disgraceful claims were easily proven to be false. It went largely unchecked in the hearing room, leaving public health experts and vaccine advocates to clean up the mess on social media.
You make our work possible.
support
