Metairie-based MedPharmics is conducting clinical trials for the Moderna vaccine on children. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association and Governor Edwards are asking President Biden not to extend the 60-day oil and gas lease sale moratorium put into place in January. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Louisiana is taking part in clinical trials for children and the Moderna COVID vaccine. President of MedPharmics Dr. Robert Jeanfreau, which is conducting the trial in the Bayou State, says it doesn’t matter what the medication is for, from heart disease to pneumonia, it must be researched for approval.
Jeanfreau says based on the trials on adults the vaccine appears safe and effective for children.
Metairie-based MedPharmics is one of eight sites across the country participating and it includes children 12 and under and infants as young as 6 months.
Jeanfreau says the trial is broken into two groups and it’s the same vaccine adults receive, what they are testing is the most effective dose.
MedPharmics is still looking for participants and Jeanfreau says the doses should be arriving soon and they can get started. Jeanfreau believes in the vaccine and says MedPharmics has been part of the research since the beginning of the pandemic.
To participate in the trial call MedPharmics at 504-304-7197
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A Gulf oil lease sale set to be held today in New Orleans won’t happen due to the 60-day lease sale moratorium issued in January by President Biden.
Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla says the industry is in real, long-term danger along with the jobs of 50,000 Louisiana oil and gas workers.
The Administration says lowering US and international oil production is necessary to stave off catastrophic levels of global temperature increases in the future.
Moncla disputes Biden’s claim the moratorium is good environmental policy. He says oil and gas taxes have generated 280 million dollars over the past few years to support coastal restoration projects.
Climate activists say without a drastic reduction in worldwide carbon output sea level rise will outpace any ability to mitigate it through coastal projects or levee construction.
Moncla says long term these restrictive policies will kill oil and gas jobs, but in the short term, it’s surprisingly resulted in more industry jobs, not fewer.
The moratorium did not ban drilling on already existing leases.
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Irish bars in New Orleans agreed to close today on St. Patrick’s Day out of concern for patron’s safety.
Owner of Finn McCool’s Sean Kennedy says he made the decision for his pub after witnessing a group on Saturday flagrantly violating COVID guidelines. He says that made the risks for today clear…
Kennedy says when those patrons who were violating COVID rules were asked to correct their behavior they not only refused but argued with staff.
Kennedy says staying closed on one of the biggest days of the year for Irish bars is tough but it’s the right thing to do.
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A 30-year old Church Point man is charged with negligent homicide after St. Landy Parish sheriff’s deputies say an infant drowned in his bathtub. Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux says Nicholas Lee Ducote placed his 9 month and two-year-old children in the tub, left the room to do chores, and then…
The two-year-old was found unharmed sitting next to the tub.
Thibodeaux says an autopsy was performed on the infant on March 8th and ruled an accidental drowning.
Thibodeaux says even though accidental it’s a heartbreaking case and could have been avoided.
Bond for Ducote was set at $25,000.