LRN PM Newscall January 4

Individuals over the age of 70 and dialysis patients can now receive the COVID vaccine, but the number of doses is extremely limited. Brooke Thorington has more.

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The Saints enter the N-F-C playoffs as a two seed and will host the Chicago Bears this Sunday at the Superdome. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The state’s senior U.S. Senator, Republican Bill Cassidy, was sworn in for a second six-year term Sunday.

Cassidy cruised to reelection with 59 percent of the vote in November. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says his reelection efforts will get easier from here…

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Cassidy’s next closest competitor was Shreveport Mayor and Democrat Adrian Perkins, who only snagged 19 percent.

The Baton Rouge native is not joining an effort by dozens of Congressional Republicans, including fellow Louisiana Senator John Kennedy, in opposing the Presidential Election certification. Cross says that’s because Cassidy’s M.O. has never been hyper-partisanship…

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The former Earl K. Long Medical Center Doctor began his political career getting elected to the State Senate in 2006 as a Republican after spending most of his life previously as a Democrat. In 2008 he was elected to the US House before unseating incumbent US Senator Mary Landrieu in 2014.

Cassidy’s most recent legislative achievement came as part of a bipartisan coalition that crafted the recent COVID relief bill. Cross says the Senator is positioned to be quite influential…

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People over the age of 70 and those on dialysis are now eligible to be vaccinated. The website of CovidVaccine.LA.gov offers a list of 107 pharmacies in 51 parishes that have the vaccine. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says unfortunately for this first week the number of doses is extremely limited.

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Kanter says patients without an appointment will not be vaccinated and currently, each of the 107 pharmacies only received 100 doses of the vaccine, but more doses should be available in the coming weeks.

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Kanter says vaccines are being given in a tier system to those most likely to be exposed and those more likely to die or have severe complications from the virus and by doing so they hope to reduce hospital capacity.

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Hospitalizations increased by 58 patients today for a total of 1,891.

Kanter says we should see the full effect of holiday gatherings in the next two weeks.

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The Saints finished off a 12-4 regular season with a 33-7 win over the Carolina Panthers yesterday. New Orleans is the two seed in the NFC playoffs and will host Chicago this Sunday. Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins has won two Super Bowls and knows how to approach postseason football

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Since the Saints will host Chicago on Sunday, it increases the chances that running back Alvin Kamara can play after testing positive for COVID-19 on New Year’s Day. Jenkins says the team understands the importance of avoiding a COVID outbreak now that the postseason has arrived

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This could be Quarterback Drew Brees’ last chance at a second Super Bowl ring. Brees says his focus is on beating the Bears

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Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine will be available at 107 pharmacies across the state this week. Each pharmacy will only receive 100 doses for those over the age of 70, dialysis patients and additional health care workers. Springhill Family Pharmacy Pharmacist Suzanne Smith in Webster Parish says interest is extremely high…

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Smith says they’ve already reserved the 100 doses for patients who called in this morning. When they receive the vaccine tomorrow, they will begin setting up appointments for the week.

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Smith says despite being overwhelmed with calls today asking for the vaccine and with Monday being typically a busy day for pharmacies they are happy with the reception to the vaccine.

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For a list of pharmacies go to CovidVaccine.la.gov