Many more Louisiana residents have just become eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.
Effective Tuesday, anyone age 18 or older with “high-risk medical conditions” is eligible for the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. People age 16 and older who have high-risk medical conditions are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.
Those who work in congregate facilities like prisons, jails, homeless shelters and drug rehabilitation centers are also now eligible to receive a vaccine.
Edwards said the state is expanding vaccine eligibility because there was a "slack" in appointments. And he said there's a steady supply of vaccines, which he hopes will increase soon.
“It’s not just that the supply of vaccines has become stable and actually increased over time,” Edwards said. “It’s also the fact that — when you look at our … cases, hospitalizations and unfortunately, deaths, they’ve all become stable. So we’re no longer getting better.”
Edwards said the state doesn’t want to see another surge and hopes that opening up vaccine eligibility will protect more people and slow down the spread.
State health officer Joseph Kanter said the Centers for Disease Control has released new guidelines for people who are fully vaccinated. Those who receive their one or two shots are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their inoculation.
Kanter said people who are fully vaccinated are allowed to gather in small groups with other fully vaccinated people, and they do not need to wear masks or socially distance.
Furthermore, Kanter said fully vaccinated people can meet with one family member without wearing masks or distancing, even if that family member is not vaccinated, so long as the family member does not have any symptoms and is not at high risk for a severe case of COVID-19.
Kanter says he’s not sure how much vaccine hesitancy there is.
“I’m not concerned that we are going to be hindered in our ability to get to where we need to go, I do think we need to work hard,” Kanter said. “Part of that is working with our community groups.”
Kanter says anyone who is now eligible for a vaccine should try to get vaccinated as soon as possible. People will need to make appointments for their vaccine and certify that they qualify.
High risk conditions that will be considered are:
- Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
- Cancer
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions (i.e. heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies)
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
- Weakened immune system from:
- Solid organ transplant
- Blood or bone marrow transplant
- Immune deficiencies
- HIV
- Use of corticosteroids
- Use of other immune weakening medicines
- Overweight (body mass index > 25kg/m2, but < 30kg/m2)
- Obesity (body mass index of 30kg/m2 or higher but <40kg/m2)
- Severe obesity (body mass index >40kg/m2)
- Pregnancy
- Severe neurological conditions, such as dementia
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Smoking
- Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Chronic liver disease
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Thalassemia
For a full list of eligible groups, vaccine providers and other vaccination information, you can read our guide to COVID-19 vaccination.
