"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.

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.

Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s new recommendation, the Louisiana Department of Health is making third doses available for people whose immune systems are compromised moderately to severely and are fully vaccinated with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana Department of Health announced Shot For 100, a new vaccine incentive program that will give $100 to the first 75,000 college students who get their COVID-19 vaccine at participating institutions of higher education.

The $1,000,000 grand prize winner is Janet Mann who is 63 and a retired schoolteacher from Bossier City.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is gathering information to review options to support the shortage of clinical staff in Louisiana hospitals. Through this RFI, LDH is seeking information from hospitals regarding their ability to provide inpatient hospital services, emergency room/department services, and hospital outpatient MAB infusion treatment if additional clinical staff were to be provided to the hospitals by LDH.

Congratulations to Coty Hemperley and Nevada Charity for getting vaccinated and being this week's winners.

Healthcare and business leaders from across Louisiana have spoken out in support of Gov. John Bel Edwards" mask mandate, which will help limit suffering and death as the state experiences its worst surge yet. Healthcare and business leaders from across Louisiana have spoken out in support of Gov. John Bel Edwards' mask mandate, which will help limit suffering and death as the state experiences its worst surge yet.

Gov. John Bel Edwards has temporarily reinstated Louisiana's statewide mask mandate indoors for all people age five and older as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across Louisiana, threatening the ability of Louisiana's hospitals to deliver care during this fourth surge of COVID. Louisiana is currently in the worst surge of the COVID-19 pandemic so far in terms of case growth rate, percent positivity and hospitalizations.