New Louisiana initiative aims to boost maternal vaccination through community-led education

The Louisiana Center for Health Innovation (LCHI) at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in collaboration with the Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (SWLAHEC), has launched the Empowering Communities for Healthy Outcomes (ECHO) Louisiana Community Coalition — a new initiative aimed at improving maternal immunization rates in Louisiana Department of Health Region 5.

Funded through an independent medical grant from Pfizer Global Medical Grants & Partnerships Program, the initiative will expand access to maternal immunization resources and point-of-care tools across the region. The ECHO Louisiana Community Coalition will bring together women who are pregnant or planning to conceive, along with doulas, midwives and health care professionals, to co-develop educational materials that are culturally relevant and easy to understand.

“This project represents the kind of collaborative, community-centered work that drives real change in health outcomes,” said Dr. Gabriela Mustata Wilson, director of LCHI. “We are deeply grateful to Pfizer for their support, and I am confident that, under the leadership of Dr. Angie Sanchez and Sadie Smith, this initiative will make a lasting difference in Region 5 and beyond.”

Maternal vaccination hesitancy remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in communities with limited access to health care. The goal of this project is to enhance vaccine understanding, foster trust between patients and healthcare providers and equip health care teams and community members with practical, relatable health information to help protect both mothers and their babies from vaccine-preventable diseases.

“Health education only works when it reflects the voices and values of the people it’s meant to serve,” said Ashley Orphe, CEO of SWLAHEC. “This partnership empowers our communities to lead the conversation on maternal vaccination—starting with trust, understanding, and shared experience.”

Educational materials will be distributed through local health centers, clinics, and community support groups, offering a model that can be scaled across Louisiana.

Photo caption: From left, Kemiah Owoh, health innovation operations and communications coordinator; Dr. Angie Sanchez, health innovation officer; Dr. Gabriela Wilson, director, Louisiana Center for Health Innovation; Sadie Smith, health innovation research scientist; and Sahithya Sakhamuri; health innovation research associate. (Courtesy photo)