On Wednesday, March 24, Governor John Bel Edwards announced an increase in the number of residents eligible for vaccination against the Coronavirus.
Edwards says Louisiana will see increasing doses of vaccine starting next week.
Louisiana will now receive more than 148,000 first doses next week, in addition to vaccine doses provided to partner pharmacies in a federal pharmacy program and the Federally Qualified Health Care Center program. More than a million Louisians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
With those new allocations, the governor says that starting Monday, March 29, the vaccine will be eligible for everyone 16 and older in the state, regardless of health concerns.
“Based on the doses we will have available in the coming week, now is definitely the time to expand vaccine suitability as widely as possible, and that’s for everyone 16 or older in Louisiana. This is an exciting development, but the hard work to ensure that our family members, friends, colleagues and neighbors all have access to the vaccine will continue for months, ”said Edwards administration. “Our goal was to get vaccine doses that we get into someone’s arm within seven days of receiving the doses, because a shot at the shelf is not going to help us end this pandemic. All three vaccines available are safe and effective for every community and represent our best hope for bringing Louisiana back. “
Beginning Monday, March 29, ALL Louisians 16 and older are eligible for a COVID vaccine. Visit https://t.co/nPaxdKaOXy for more information.
Don’t miss your chance, Louisiana. #lagov pic.twitter.com/XmWwupFc8K
– John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) March 24, 2021
Appointments are still required and providers may need time to update their scheduling systems, meaning people may have to wait a few days to schedule their appointments for next week.
There are three authorized COVID-19 vaccines in use in the United States: two dose vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna and one dose injection from Johnson & Johnson. People 16 and 17 years old are only eligible for the Pfizer vaccine and they should consult their doctor or vaccine supplier to ensure that the correct vaccine is being administered.
“I am deeply grateful to Louisiana’s health professionals and vaccine providers who have worked tirelessly not only to treat sick patients, but now also to vaccinate our people. This has been an absolutely unprecedented effort, and Louisiana nurses, doctors, and other health professionals are up to the occasion every time they have been called up. I hope people will be patient in the coming days as healthcare providers start accepting appointments. Please know there will be enough doses for anyone who wants an injection to eventually get one, ”said Gov. Edwards.
Edwards spoke of his concerns about Region 5 in Louisiana. In that region, the positivity rate has continued to rise over the past 5 weeks, said Dr. Kanter from LDH. That area includes Lake Charles
Kanter asked those residents to be vigilant, to mask themselves and to remain socially distant. He also urged the residents of that area to get the vaccine.
“Variants keep growing in Louisiana,”
164 confirmed British variant in the state. 96 of those cases are in region 5.
No African or Brazilian coronavirus variants have been reported in Louisiana. As the B.1.1.7., Or British variant, continues to increase in Louisiana and neighboring states, Edwards and Kanter say it is essential to get Louisiana vaccinated as quickly and fairly as possible.
Next week, the first nine pilot sites for the state’s Bring Back Louisiana campaign begin. The effort will cover urban and agricultural areas of the state. Through recruitment and phone calls, people will come into contact with the vaccines who need it the most.
Last week, the Louisiana Department of Health launched the campaign. Click here to sign up to volunteer for this effort.
The ZIP code 70582 in St. Martin Parish has been announced as a target location.
Dr. Kanter provided an update on what people who are fully vaccinated can expect. He says those who are fully vaccinated can visit other vaccinated people in the area without masks and distance themselves.
Those fully vaccinated people can also opt out of quarantine if exposed to COVID-19.
In public places, masking and social distance are still needed as the transmission of the virus continues to take place.
On Monday, Kanter says you should get vaccinated. If you have already done that, your work is not finished yet. “Be an ambassador for friends and family, that’s how we’re going to achieve herd immunity.”
Edwards said Louisians have a part to play
“I imagine there will be many steps on the way back to normal,” Edwards said.
For information on where to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Louisiana and for more information, visit COVIDVaccine.la.gov. [gov.louisiana.gov]
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