COVID-19 Information for Healthcare Providers
COVID-19 Vaccine Provider ToolkitCOVID-19 Vaccine Storing & Handling
Common COVID-19 Vaccine Questions for Providers
Newsletters & Important Updates
LDH has established a COVID-19 Provider Enrollment Hotline to assist potential COVID-19 vaccination providers with enrolling in the program. If there are questions related to enrollment, please call 225-325-5880. A team member will be available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm (excluding holidays) to help complete the enrollment process. The following help will be provided:
- Assistance with the Provider Enrollment Process and Provider Agreements
- Locating an Immunization Consultant within your Region
- Provider status updates
For technical assistance with LA LINKS, providers should email: LA.LINKS@la.gov
 |
The COVID-19 vaccine ordering process will be changing. Providers will no longer be using the Vaccine Request Form and will instead be ordering through the Louisiana Immunization Information System (LINKS). Vaccine allocations are becoming more consistent throughout the state, allowing providers to directly place orders for COVID-19 vaccine as needed. This will be the ONLY way to order and receive COVID-19 vaccine from the state.
In anticipation of the ordering process changing, the Immunization Program will also be offering three days of training on ordering and reconciling COVID-19 vaccine in LINKS. If you can’t make one, don’t worry. All trainings offer the same information.
There is a limit of 250 participants per session and no continuing education (CE) will be offered. All trainings will be recorded and posted on the Louisiana Department of Health YouTube channel shortly after each training. The training can be found by clicking on the LINKS TRAINING VIDEOS button on lalinks.org.
The Lunch with LINKS: COVID-19 Vaccine Ordering and Reconciliation in LINKS trainings are on the following days:
|
Date |
Time |
Zoom Link |
|
Friday, April 9, 2021 |
12 p.m. (Noon) - 1:00 p.m. |
|
|
Monday, April 12, 2021 |
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
https://zoom.us/j/94930570769?pwd=dWhDTzNDV1BnN3RWZXVSNWVvdGY5UT09 |
|
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 |
12 p.m. (Noon) - 1:00 p.m. |
Please note: The training on Monday, April 12 offers continuing professional education (CPE) for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians through the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association (LIPA). In order to receive CPE, you must register by 2 p.m. on Monday, April 12.
For more information or to view the call-in options for the trainings, visit the LDH Provider Training webpage.
Recipients of LDH Home and Community Based Services ages 16 and up are currently eligible for vaccination. Click here for samples of documents recipients can show when they are present for vaccination.
Louisiana Health Alert Network Messages
Contacts for Technical Assistance
Worksite COVID-19 Vaccination Providers
Using infection-prevention practices with all patients is especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination providers should adhere to the guidance below:
Staff personal infection prevention and control procedures
- Wear a medical facemask at all times.
- Conduct recommended hand hygiene and cleaning of the environment between all patient appointments.
- Use eye protection based on level of community transmission.
- Wear gloves when administering intranasal or oral vaccine. Gloves should be changed with each patient in addition to performing hand hygiene.
- If gloves are worn when administering intramuscular or subcutaneous vaccines, they should be also be changed with each patient in addition to performing hand hygiene.
Other facility-level procedures to minimize exposure among patients
- Screen patients for COVID-19 symptoms and thier contact with COVID-19, before and upon arrival.
- Isolate any symptomatic patients as soon as possible.
- Limit and monitor points of entry to the facility and install barriers to limit contact with patients at triage.
- Implement policies for the use of a cloth face covering in persons over the age of 2 years.
- Promote adherence to respiratory hygiene, cough etiquette, and hand hygiene among everyone in the facility.
- Separate sick patients from well patients by scheduling these visits during different times of the day.
- Ask patients to remain outside until they are called into the facility, if possible.
- Ensure that physical-distancing measures, with separation of at least 6 feet between patients and visitors, are maintained during all aspects of the visit, including check-in, checkout, screening procedures, and post-vaccination monitoring, using strategies such as physical barriers, signs, ropes, and floor markings.
- Utilize electronic communications as much as possible (e.g., filling out needed paperwork online in advance) to minimize time in the office as well as reuse of materials (e.g., clipboards, pens).
Safe Vaccine Administration during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Guidance for vaccination providers on using proper infection-prevention practices with all patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sequence for Putting on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - A step-by-step guide on how to properly put on different types of PPE.
Protect your Health - Learn how to protect yourself and others during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preventing the Transmission of COVID-19 Non-Traditional Vaccination Clinics - How to protect staff, patients, and visitors at satellite, temporary, or off-site locations.
- Single-sterile/BNS Alternative Kitter Affected Lot FAQ
- Urgent Medical Device Recall
- Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for COVID-19
- CDC: Preparing for the Potential Management of Anaphylaxis at COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
- Post-Vaccination Guidance
If you have additional staffing needs, click here for list of agencies.
- LDH Interim Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Viral Testing in Community Settings – Guidance for the use and interpretation of SARS-CoV-2 PCR and antigen tests in community settings
- ALL NURSING FACILITIES: SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing requirements at Nursing Facilities (NF) in Louisiana - 10/16/2020
- Emergency Order: Healthcare Facility Reopening Procedures - 10/04/2020
- SUPPLEMENTAL AMENDED AND UPDATED NOTICE: Medical and Surgical Procedures Dental Visits, Procedures and Surgeries Other Healthcare Services - 06/04/2020
- Clarification of Emergency Order: All Commercial Body Art Facilities - 06/04/2020
- Nursing Home Toolkit
- ACD, ADHC AND PACE Providers Program Closures - 06/02/2020
- Louisiana Health Alert: Considerations for use of serology testing for COVID-19
- Updated Guidance: COVID-19 positive persons with mental illness and/or substance use disorders - 4/23/2020
- Guidance on the Provision of Health Care Services in a Non-Discriminatory Manner During the COVID19 Event
- Emergency Order: COVID-19 Testing by Pharmacists
- Guidance on the Provision of Health Care Services in a Non-Discriminatory Manner
- Memo: Federal Legislation Passed In Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Swab Fact Sheet
- Testing Resources
- Hospital Discharges to Nursing Facilities
- Telemedicine/Telehealth Facilitation of Mental Health Rehabilitation Services
- Requirements of Personal Care Attendant Agencies and Direct Support Professionals during COVID 19 Public Health Emergency
- Authorized Travel for Essential Direct Support Workers
- OCDD - Emergency Preparedness/Staffing Suggestions
- Altered Standards of Care: Background, Tools and Experiences
- Operational Allowances for Coordinated Systems of Care – Revised
- Information for Mental Health Rehabilitation (MHR) providers
- Public Private Partner Hospitals, FQHC and RHC
- Visitor Restriction - Licensed Nursing Facilities/Homes
- All Providers Visitor Restriction Update
- All Providers Visitor Restriction
- Operational Allowances for Coordinated Systems of Care
- Louisiana Medicaid Provider Information
- Memorandum to Opioid Treatment Programs
- Guidance to ICF Providers
- Decision Tree
- School Isolation/Quarantine Recommendations
- Return-to-School Self-Certification for COVID-19
- Child Care Supplemental Guidance (DOE)
- Guidance: Childcare Programs that are Re-Opening
The guidance is based on what is currently known about the transmission and severity of coronavirus disease. Residents in retirement communities and independent living facilities are considered to be at higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes because of older age and because they may have underlying health conditions. These resources be accessed using the links below.
- Guidance for Long Term Care Facilities
- Guidance for Respiratory Disease Management in Long-Term Care Facilities
- Guidance for Retirement Communities and Independent Living
- Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities (Interim Guidance)
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Checklist: Older Persons
- Temporary Suspension of Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR)
If you have questions about the updated guidance or recommendations, please reach out to: eocevent357@cdc.gov.
Also of interest, other updates from CDC
- CDC’s Role with Healthcare Systems and Hospitals during COVID-19
- Disinfecting Your Facility if Someone is Sick Saturday, March 21, 2020
- Resources for Large Community Events & Mass Gatherings Friday, March 20, 2020
- Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations Friday, March 20, 2020
- Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers Friday, March 20, 2020