As COVID vaccinations are underway for frontline healthcare workers, they are also overwhelmed with the third wave of patients, Brooke Thorington has more.
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The State Superintendent of Education wants school staff to receive priority in the second phase of COVID vaccinations. Brooke Thorington has more.
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The Pfizer COVID vaccination is now being administered to healthcare frontline workers in Louisiana. Ochsner Health in both Shreveport and New Orleans played a part in the clinical trial for the first vaccine to receive FDA authorization. In Shreveport, Ochsner-LSU Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Lewis participated in the trial, where half received the vaccine, the other half a placebo.
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Lewis says Operation Warp Speed provided vaccine developers with unlimited resources to develop a vaccine to counter the pandemic, but standard FDA safety protocol is enforced.
Cut 5 (10) “…manufacturers.”
In addition to soreness at the site injection, joint aches and pains, exhaustion, headache, and low-grade fever have been noted as brief side effects from the vaccine.
Cut 6 (05) “…small risk.”
Lewis anticipates the general public will begin receiving vaccinations next spring.
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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser accused New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell of having Lafayette Christian pop star Lauren Daigle booted from an ABC New Year’s Eve special, but a report by NOLA.com says Daigle was never in contention for the show.
Nungesser told LRN Tuesday that Cantrell opposed including Lafayette Christian pop star Lauren Daigle in the ABC program.
Cut 7 (11) “…controversy.”
But that report, citing ABC and sources close to Daigle, says Daigle was not scheduled to play the event and that Nungesser’s claim that Cantrell pressured ABC into ditching Daigle “categorically false”.
When Nungesser heard of Cantrell’s opposition to Daigle performing in New Orleans he says he pushed to hold her ABC performance in Jefferson Parish.
Cut 8 (08) “…backdrop.”
The report claims Nungesser pushed hard for Daigle, the brand ambassador for the state’s Feed Your Soul tourism campaign. When he discovered she would not be on the broadcast he pulled a state contract helping to finance the event. The City of New Orleans is now planning to pickup sharing the production costs for the program.
The dispute stems from an incident over the summer when Daigle headlined a crowded, illegal concert in the French Quarter. The city had asked concert organizers not to hold the event due to COVID, but organizers pushed ahead, labeling it a protest.
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Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley is lobbying for education frontline workers to be prioritized when more COVID vaccines arrive in Louisiana. Brumley formally requested to LDH and the Governor that an estimated 166-thousand employees in the state’s daycare centers, pre-K programs, and K-12 be vaccinated.
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After frontline healthcare workers are vaccinated those who work and live-in nursing homes, state-run veteran’s homes, and long-term care facilities are next. Who’s next in line is still to be determined, Brumley wants it to be education employees.
Cut 11 (09) “…the state.”
While Governor Edwards has stated he intends to follow the CDC’s guidelines on who receives priority, second phase guidance has not been established.
Brumley says the ability for education workers to safely return to work and have students on campus is essential for a parent’s or caretakers’ ability to return to the workforce.
Cut 12 (07) “…single day.”
Brumley says 65-percent of the state’s K-12 schools, both public and private are providing in-person instruction five days a week. Twenty percent are holding virtual-only and 15-percent offer a hybrid mix of instruction.
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A joint Legislative insurance committee will meet today at 10 AM to discuss hurricane insurance problems and the impact of COVID on health insurance premiums.
Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot says insurers will be present to answer questions about recovery issues related to the recent, historic hurricane season.
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Talbot says health insurers will also be on hand to answer questions about the pandemic’s impacts on the industry.
Cut 14 (06) “…premiums.”
And while a lot of the time will be dedicated to expert testimony, Talbot says they will be having members of the public come up to speak about their issues.
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The early signing period for college football is today and LSU is prepared to sign a top-5 class and is in the running for a lot of the top players in the country, including Terrebonne defensive tackle Maason Smith, the top-ranked player in Louisiana. While LSU has struggled on the field this year, Coach Ed Orgeron says recruits can see the success that players from last year’s team are having in the NFL.
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While LSU already has some of the top players already committed, Orgeron believes the win over Florida could help ensure that they sign with the Tigers.
cut 17 (07) “…before this game.”
Since Covid-19 caused the start of the season to be pushed back, this is the first year teams are still playing regular-season games during the week of the early signing period. Orgeron says it’s a challenge to try and recruit, as well as prepare for the upcoming opponent.
cut 18 (13) “…the same thing.”
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After a tough loss to the Eagles, the Saints now have to get ready to host the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins says they know the Chiefs are one of the best teams in the NFL, but if they focus on themselves
cut 19 (13) “…out there.”
Rankins says no one is panicking after the loss to the Eagles
cut 20 (11) “….playing tough”