New Orleans Secular Humanist Association - Jennifer Herricks, Louisiana Families for Vaccines

Jennifer Herricks, PhD, founder of the Louisiana Families for Vaccines, will give a talk titled “Are State Leaders Throwing Away Our Shot at a Healthy Louisiana?” at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 17, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event is free of charge and open to the public. It occurs as part of the regularly scheduled meeting of the New Orleans Secular Humanist Society.

This talk will review recent immunization data and state policy proposals that could impact immunization rates. Dr. Herricks will review where Louisiana stands in comparison to other states and talk about what individuals can do to support evidence-based vaccine policy and promote strong immunization rates in their communities.

In 2022, Dr. Herricks founded Louisiana Families for Vaccines where she works to build a grassroots network of local advocates who work closely with community partners to combat vaccine misinformation, educate about the value of policy based in science, and support legislation that champions public health. 

In 2024, Dr. Herricks joined the Families for Vaccines parent organization, SAFE Communities Coalition, as advocacy director and works with grassroots advocates across the country to develop and implement effective strategies that elevate the voices of the pro-vaccine majority and push back against anti-vaccine policies that threaten public health. 

During her postdoctoral work, Dr. Herricks said she saw how well-organized, well-funded anti-vaccine activists work to shift public policies that directly impact vaccination rates. Since then, she has been passionate about protecting public health through vaccine advocacy, and empowering families and policymakers to make informed decisions with accurate information. 

Jennifer Herricks earned an undergraduate degree in biology with a minor in anthropology from Louisiana State University, and a doctoral degree in microbiology and molecular genetics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 

For more information regarding this presentation, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.