The Louisiana Department of Health will no longer promote mass vaccination, the state’s surgeon general, Dr. Ralph Abraham, told state health workers Thursday.

NEW ORLEANS -- 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.

Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham sent a directive to state health workers Thursday ending long-standing mass vaccination clinics and banning staff from promoting seasonal vaccines.

Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham, a department spokesperson also confirmed the order, and further ordered his staff to stop engaging in media campaign and community health fairs to encourage vaccination.