Of the 93-thousand vaccine doses allocated for nursing home residents and staff in the state, only 30-percent have been administered. Jeff Palermo has more.
Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Johnson and Johnson’s COVID vaccine has a 66% average efficacy rate worldwide, but it’s 72% in the US and it’s one injection versus two. Taylor Sharp has more.
cut 2 (27) …I’m Taylor Sharp.”
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Vaccinations among nursing home residents and staff against COVID-19 are moving slowly in Louisiana. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says 28-thousand have been administered so far, just over 19-thousand to residents and almost 9,000 to staff. Kanter says we all wish it was going faster but…
Cut 3 (11) “…26-percent.”
The vaccine rollout in nursing homes is being conducted by CVS and Walgreens. Kanter says they have made one of the three visits to facilities. On the second visit, they will administer the second dose for those from the first visit and the first dose for those that missed the first visit, and then the third visit for the second shots from the second visit.
Kanter feels the 26% of staff being vaccinated will go up once the rollout conducts their second visit to facilities.
Cut 4 (07) “…lilttle bit”
Governor Edwards says he’s seen vaccinations among staff almost double on the second visit at Veteran’s Homes and feels that will happen in private nursing homes as well.
Kanter, say 93,600 Moderna vaccine doses have been allocated to a program and so far only 30-percent have been administered.
Cut 5 (12) “…faster.”
By February 8th all nursing homes should have their first visit of three completed.
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The Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, with help from the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, has submitted a bid to host the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Regionals in Bossier City. If awarded, the Brookshire Grocery Arena will host 12 teams who will play 10 games over five days in March. Director of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, Kelly Wells, says they’ve worked with the NCAA before.
Cut 6 (11) “…this time.”
Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President Jay Cicero says New Orleans decided to get involved due to its relationship with the NCAA.
Cut 7 (15) “…twenty-five years.”
New Orleans is set to host it’s sixth men’s Final Four in 2022.
The Shreveport-Bossier area could find out as early as next week whether or not they will host the event. Wells says proximity to schools makes Bossier City a prime location.
Cut 8 (13) “…prefer to drive.”
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Johnson and Johnson announced today that its one-dose COVID vaccine offers strong protection from the virus with an international average efficacy of 66-percent. Assistant Dean for Translational Science at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Doctor Lucio Miele says however in the U-S the efficacy rate is higher.
Cut 9 (11) “… South Africa.”
In addition to being only one injection, Miele says the J&J vaccine does not require cold storage making it ideal for rural areas and for those with access to care issues.
Cut 10 (10) “…readily available.”
Miele says while the vaccine has a 66-percent efficacy rate of preventing moderate to severe illnesses like pneumonia or other breathing difficulties the efficacy of preventing serious illness is 85-percent.
Cut 11 (12) “…moderate.”
Miele says like the Pfizer and Moderna offerings the J & J Vaccine can be updated easily to handle variants of the virus if needed. Johnson and Johnson plans to seek FDA approval next month.
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Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy join 23 other Republican Senators in requesting a meeting with President Biden over concerns involving his recent oil and gas policy.
UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says he expects Biden will take this meeting.
Cut 12 (10) “senate.”
In his first two weeks in office, Biden canceled the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and issued a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters.
Cross says Biden made climate change a priority during his campaign and he does not expect the new President to back off of his positions.
Cut 13 (11)“..energy.”
Cross says because of redistricting and because the states most impacted are deeply red he doubts Biden will pay a price politically for his moves on climate change.
Cut 14 (07) “…support him.”