All La. residents above age 16 are vaccine eligible

On Wednesday, March 24, Governor John Bel Edwards announced an expansion of Coronavirus vaccination eligibility to more residents. Starting Monday, March 29, all of the eligibility guidelines will be dropped for all Louisiana residents, and those aged 16 and older may receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Louisiana is slated to get more than 148,000 first doses directly this week, in addition to vaccine doses provided to partner pharmacies in a federal pharmacy program as well as the Federally Qualified Health Care Center program. So far, more than one million Louisianan residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. According to Gov. Edwards, the B.1.1.7., or U.K. variant, is continuing to increase in the state as well as neighboring states, so it is essential to get Louisiana vaccinated as quickly and equitably as possible.
“Based on the doses that we will have available in the coming week, now is absolutely the time to expand vaccine eligibility as broadly as we possibly can, which is to everyone age 16 or older in Louisiana. This is an exciting development, but the hard work of making sure our family members, friends, coworkers and neighbors all have access to the vaccine will continue for months,” said Edwards. “Our goal has been to get vaccine doses we receive into someone’s arm within seven days of the doses arriving, because a shot sitting on a shelf doesn’t help us end this pandemic. All three available vaccines are safe and effective for every community and they represent our best hope of being able to Bring Louisiana Back.”
Those interested in getting the vaccine must still call and make an appointment. There are three authorized COVID-19 vaccines used in the United States: two-dose vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, and a one-dose shot from Johnson & Johnson. People ages 16 and 17 are only eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, and they should consult their primary care doctor or vaccine provider to ensure the proper vaccine is administered.
“I am deeply grateful for Louisiana’s health care workers and vaccine providers who have worked tirelessly not only to treat sick patients, but now to vaccinate our people,” said Edwards. “This has been an absolutely unprecedented effort and Louisiana’s nurses, doctors and other health care workers have risen to the occasion each and every time they’ve been called upon.” He also asked for people to be patient over the next few days as providers begin accepting appointments. “Please know that there will be enough doses for everyone who wants a shot to get one eventually.”
The Louisiana Department of Health launched the Bring Back Louisiana grassroots campaign last week, which will bring COVID-19 vaccines to communities of concern by way of community events and targeted outreach. For information on where to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Louisiana, visit COVIDVaccine.la.gov.