More than 1.2 million doses of coronavirus vaccines have been given to people in Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. It estimates 11.27% of the population in Region 1, which includes Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, has received at least one dose.In the months since coronavirus vaccines first became available, Dr. Jennifer Avegno, Director of the New Orleans Department of Public Health, says the supply of shots and people’s willingness to get vaccinated have both increased. Eight thousand people who are not in the state’s current vaccine priority group are on the city’s 311 waitlist to receive the vaccine. Avegno says it is time to make more people eligible before variants of the virus take hold.“We are really in a race against the variants,” Avegno said. “Our supply is not going to suddenly skyrocket in the next few weeks, but it is getting a lot better. So, the more people we can vaccinate ahead of these variants taking hold in the U.S. that has got the potential to really stop or at least blunt any fourth surge that might be coming.”LDH reports cases of the U.K. variant have already been confirmed in Metro New Orleans.Fergie Lewis has been calling local pharmacies and hospitals for the past month, trying to find extra doses of the vaccine. She is not in the state’s current priority group to receive the vaccine, but she got the shot Sunday from a Mid City clinic with a vaccine cancellation.“I’m glad that I’m one less person that has to be worried about and then it just feels that there’ a lot more people that are being able to get the waste doses … It doesn’t hurt to ask because you never know when it may work out for you to be able to get one,” Lewis said. Both Lewis and Avegno said the state should allow more people to get vaccinated. In a statement to WDSU News, Shauna Sanford Communications Director for the Office of the governor wrote: “The Governor’s Office and LDH are constantly evaluating the vaccine supply and when to add new groups to the eligibility list. The supply must be able to meet the demand. As more vaccines and supply become available that will help with the expansion, which has already happened. We’re asking those who are not yet eligible to remain patient, their turn is coming. This is an ongoing effort and updates will be announced as soon as possible. LDH estimates approximately 48 percent of the current priority group in Louisiana has received at least one dose of the vaccine.”
More than 1.2 million doses of coronavirus vaccines have been given to people in Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. It estimates 11.27% of the population in Region 1, which includes Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, has received at least one dose.
In the months since coronavirus vaccines first became available, Dr. Jennifer Avegno, Director of the New Orleans Department of Public Health, says the supply of shots and people’s willingness to get vaccinated have both increased. Eight thousand people who are not in the state’s current vaccine priority group are on the city’s 311 waitlist to receive the vaccine. Avegno says it is time to make more people eligible before variants of the virus take hold.
“We are really in a race against the variants,” Avegno said. “Our supply is not going to suddenly skyrocket in the next few weeks, but it is getting a lot better. So, the more people we can vaccinate ahead of these variants taking hold in the U.S. that has got the potential to really stop or at least blunt any fourth surge that might be coming.”
LDH reports cases of the U.K. variant have already been confirmed in Metro New Orleans.
Fergie Lewis has been calling local pharmacies and hospitals for the past month, trying to find extra doses of the vaccine. She is not in the state’s current priority group to receive the vaccine, but she got the shot Sunday from a Mid City clinic with a vaccine cancellation.
“I’m glad that I’m one less person that has to be worried about and then it just feels that there’ a lot more people that are being able to get the waste doses … It doesn’t hurt to ask because you never know when it may work out for you to be able to get one,” Lewis said. Both Lewis and Avegno said the state should allow more people to get vaccinated.
In a statement to WDSU News, Shauna Sanford Communications Director for the Office of the governor wrote: “The Governor’s Office and LDH are constantly evaluating the vaccine supply and when to add new groups to the eligibility list. The supply must be able to meet the demand. As more vaccines and supply become available that will help with the expansion, which has already happened. We’re asking those who are not yet eligible to remain patient, their turn is coming. This is an ongoing effort and updates will be announced as soon as possible. LDH estimates approximately 48 percent of the current priority group in Louisiana has received at least one dose of the vaccine.”