Nearly half a million additional Louisianans are eligible for the COVID vaccine starting today and that includes over 50,000 K-through- 12 teachers. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says even with vaccinating teachers’ education won’t return to normal until the pandemic ends, but this does help facilitate more in-person teaching.
Pregnant women are also eligible to be vaccinated for COVID in Louisiana today. West Jefferson Medical Center OB/GYN Dr. Jennifer Bigelow says being pregnant puts you in a higher risk group if you contract COVID.
Bigelow is recommending pregnant women be vaccinated along with the CDC and ACOG.
Louisiana suffered the nation’s largest spike in drug overdose deaths in the period between July 2019 and July 2020. That’s according to data from the C-D-C. Jefferson Parish Coroner Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich (Sah-tan-oh-vitch) says it was a 53 percent increase in overdose deaths, 1,720 in total. Cvitanovich says it was largely driven by increased use of opiates like Fentanil.
One lawmaker is hoping to change the state motto in the next legislative session. St. Tammany Parish Representative Richard Nelson wants “We Live and Die for Those We Love,” to be the new state proverb.
Nelson says the current state motto of “Union, Justice and Confidence” is not very well known even though it appears on the state flag.