A new option for a Covid-19 vaccine is on the way.  The Johnson and Johnson one dose COVID-19 vaccine has gotten emergency use authorization from the FDA and doses have been shipped to providers across the nation.

This is a one shot vaccine and it does not have to be stored in a deep freeze condition. It can simply be stored in regular refrigeration. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine has an overall efficacy rate of 66-percent versus the 90-percent and greater of the other vaccines.

Doctors say you should get whichever vaccine is offered to you first.

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says Louisiana is expecting to get up to 38,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine this week. We are also getting nearly 100,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Vaccines are being administered at several locations around town including many pharmacies. LSU Health is also operation a mass vaccination clinic at the State Fairgrounds. Willis Knighton, Ochsner, Christus Highland, North Caddo, the local health units and several other medical providers are also offering the vaccines. We don't know yet who will be offering the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

Get our free mobile app

The vaccines are currently available to anyone 65 or older. It is also available to the following groups:

  • Dialysis providers and patients
  • Ambulatory and outpatient providers and staff
    • Behavioral health providers and staff
    • Urgent care clinic providers and staff
    • Community care providers and staff
    • Dental providers and staff
    • Non-emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) providers and staff
  • Professional home care providers (including hospice workers) and home care recipients (including older and younger people with disabilities over the age of 16 who receive community or home-based care, as well as clients of home health agencies)
  • American Sign Language (ASL) and foreign language interpreters and Support Service Providers (SSPs) working in community and clinic-based settings, and clients who are both deaf and blind
  • Health-related support personnel (lab staff, mortuary staff who have contact with corpses, pharmacy staff)
  • Schools of allied health students, residents and staff
  • Law enforcement and other first responders
  • Louisiana Unified Command Group
  • State and local essential COVID emergency response personnel
  • Some elections staff ahead of March and April elections
  • Teachers and any other support staff working on site in K-12 or daycare
  • All pregnant persons
  • Individuals ages 55-64 with at least one of the conditions listed by the CDC as placing them at an “increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19." Persons with the following qualifying underlying medical conditions are advised to complete the Louisiana COVID-19 Vaccine Attestation Form, before their appointment, to receive the vaccine:
    • Cancer
    • Chronic kidney disease
    • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
    • Down syndrome
    • Heart conditions including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies
    • Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
    • Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30kg/m2 or higher but less than 40kg/m2)
    • Severe obesity (BMI greater than 40kg/m2)
    • Sickle cell disease
    • Smoking
    • Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Read More: The 10 Most Common Goals Americans Have

 

More From KISS Country 93.7