Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- decry / dɪˈkraɪ / (v.) – to say that something is bad or wrong in a strong way
Example:Environmental groups decried the company’s decision to cut down more trees to build its factory.
- mandate / ˈmæn deɪt / (n.) – an official order or instruction to do something
Example:Several companies followed the health mandates that required employees to wear masks in the office.
- preventable / prɪˈven t̬ə bəl / (adj.) – can be stopped from happening
Example:Doctors say heart disease is preventable with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
- liberal / ˈlɪb ər əl / (adj.) – willing to accept different ideas and changes
Example:The city is known for its liberal policies that allow people to express their ideas freely and support social change.
- cornerstone / ˈkɔr nərˌstoʊn / (n.) – an important part of something that helps it succeed or stay strong
Example:Education is the cornerstone of success. It provides people with the knowledge and skills needed for a better future.
Article
Read the text below.
The Louisiana Department of Health “will no longer promote mass vaccination” according to a 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.
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 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. “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.”
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham believes that citizens should make their own decisions about vaccinations and shouldn’t be mandated by the government. Do you agree with him? Why or why not? In what situations do you think the government should step back and let individuals decide for themselves (ex. public health emergencies, career decisions)? Discuss.
- In your opinion, should health decisions be influenced by political leaders, or should they be made only by medical experts? Why? How do you think communities can encourage people to take care of their health without forcing them? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Do you believe mass vaccination programs are more effective than voluntary vaccinations? Why do you say so? If you lived in Louisiana, would you still voluntarily get a vaccine despite the surgeon general’s memo? Why or why not? Discuss.
- Why do you think some people are skeptical about vaccines? Do you think their concerns are reasonable? Why or why not? What do you think would help build people’s trust in vaccines (ex. clear evidence of effectiveness, promotion by the government)? Discuss.
