Covid-19 Vaccination News

Effective immediately, booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are available to adults at increased risk, following new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Louisiana Department of Health is now operating 13 community-based monoclonal antibody therapy (mAb) treatment sites, including one in Baton Rouge, and is on track to open one additional site on Saturday.

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins and Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter announced a friendly competition to see which city's residents could achieve the highest increase in first dose vaccinations of a COVID-19 vaccine by Sunday, October 31, 2021.

Monoclonal antibodies are man-made antibodies produced in a laboratory that can mimic the human immune system response to infection. mAbs are designed to block viral attachment and entry into human cells, thus neutralizing the virus that causes COVID-19.

Community-based testing and vaccine sites operated by the Office of Public Health and the Louisiana Army National Guard will close early today in preparation for impacts from Tropical Storm Ida.

Today, the Louisiana Department of Health confirms the death of a child under the age of 1 - the first of the fourth surge of COVID-19 in the state, which is largely driven by the stronger, more contagious Delta variant and the state's lower vaccination rates.

Residents requiring assistance can call the Bring Back Louisiana COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 1-855-453-0774 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

LDH has published the list of participating providers, along with their locations and contact information, on its website at covidvaccine.la.gov. In addition to these providers, community vaccination events are taking place across the state and are also listed on LDH's website.

"Today's FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, now marketed as Comirnaty, is yet another historic moment in our journey out of this COVID-19 pandemic. This full FDA approval of the first COVID vaccine follows months of clinical trials and millions upon millions of real-world doses safely administered across the globe. This vaccine is well researched, very safe and highly effective at preventing serious COVID illness, hospitalization and death," Gov. Edwards said.

All Louisiana residents ages 12 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. A signed parental consent form is required for those younger than 18 to be vaccinated.