Starting today, Louisiana expands the list of who's eligible for limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccine.
The people classified as "Group 1B" includes more than 600,000 Louisiana residents, but the state is getting fewer than 60,000 shots this week, some from Pfizer, some from Moderna.
State health officer Dr. Joe Kanter says it presents some logistical challenges, as they typically only find out a few days ahead of time when they are receiving a shipment, giving the hospitals and pharmacies that will actually administer the shots even less lead time.
"A hospital or clinic needs to make appointments, and there is a process," said Dr. Kanter. "It does take some time from the time a vaccine dose enters the state, or crosses state line, so to say, until it actually gets administered into someone's arm and then, as the governor said, entered into the system."
Dr. Kanter says it also takes a lot of work to keep track of each dose, which needs a follow-up shot three to four weeks later, and keep them properly stored so they don't spoil.
"The most care has to be given to securing the storage of the doses, off to cold storage."
And patients will need to schedule appointments. Click here for more information on who is eligible, and how to get it.
The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate posted this map of pharmacies and hospitals that will be distributing this round of vaccines:
