Now that the FDA has given full approval to the Pfizer COVID vaccine LSU students will have to be vaccinated or tested for COVID. Brooke Thorington has more.
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The largest percentage of new COVID positive cases in the state are among five- to 17-year-olds, and hospitals are seeing a trend in pediatric patients. Brooke Thorington has more.
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Rural regions lag far behind suburban and urban areas in the overall vaccination rate. Matt Doyle spoke with LSU Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal about the disparity…
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Now that the FDA has given full approval to the Pfizer COVID vaccine, as promised LSU President William Tate says students will be required to be vaccinated or they will undergo regular COVID testing. Students have until September 10th to submit proof of their first vaccination and October 15th for their second vaccination. Tate believes in the vaccines.
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Tate says if a student chooses not to be vaccinated for COVID they will have to undergo regular testing.
Cut 5 (06) “…protocol.”
On Tuesday it was announced that Tiger fans will have to show proof vaccination or a negative PCR COVID test 72 prior to kickoff to ender Tiger Stadium. Tate says he hopes the vaccination requirement for students and fans will cause a run on vaccinations.
Cut 6 (12) “…and Baton Rouge.”
Students who are unvaccinated will be required to get tested periodically throughout the semester and those living on campus could be tested more frequently.
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According to the Louisiana Department of Health ages, five to 17 are reporting the highest percentage of COVID positive cases in the state for the week of August 12th to the 18tt with 22-percent. Ochsner Health Hospital Quality Director Dr. Sandra Kemmerly says they are also seeing more pediatric patients in their hospitals.
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Kemmerly says as of Tuesday Ochsner does not have any children in the hospital on ventilators, but they have in the past.
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As school-age children return to the classroom, hospital administrators are worried that they could see even more pediatric patients. Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart urges parents of young children to get vaccinated in order to protect their children who cannot and…
Cut 9 (09) “…with COVID.”
The next largest age group behind those ages five to seventeen is eighteen- to 29-year-olds with 20-percent of the COVID-positive cases in Louisiana.
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40 percent of the state’s entire population is now fully vaccinated but for rural regions, that number is still hovering in the low 30s, with numbers in the mid-20s in small rural parishes.
LSU Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal grew up in rural Vidrine. She says it can take a long time for mainstream messages to penetrate these smaller communities.
Cut 10 (11) “…working on.”
52 percent of Region 1, the New Orleans region, is fully vaccinated, followed by Region 2, the Baton Rouge region, at 43 percent. Nationwide 51 percent of the total population is fully vaccinated per the CDC.
O’Neal says that small town disconnect from the mainstream can be a beautiful life, but…
Cut 11 (08) “…hesitant.”
A report by the Advocate took a deep dive into vaccine hesitancy in Grant Parish, where the vaccination rate is only 25 percent.
O’Neal hopes the full FDA approval for the Pfizer vaccine will generate more trust in those who live in rural communities but are hesitant.
Cut 12 (07) “…works.”
All numbers are cited from the Louisiana Department of Health COVID dashboard.
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Monroe Republican State Senator Stewart Cathey blasts LSU’s decision to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to enter Tiger Stadium this fall.
Cathey says the policy is inconvenient for fans.
Cut 13 (08) “…stuff for the fans.”
State health leaders like LSU Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal celebrated the news saying it ensures a safe environment for fans and the policy means there is little chance of anyone catching COVID at the game.
Cathey also calls the policy an overreach with no historical precedent.
Cut 14 (09) “…sporting event.”
Cathey says the policy is premature and he believes by kickoff against McNeese on September 11th that the COVID situation in Louisiana will be much better.
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COVID-related hospitalizations are down a bit from last week but saw a slight jump Tuesday after five straight days of declines. The 2,856 people statewide in the hospital with COVID is about 800 people higher than at any point during the previous three waves.
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One team, one heartbeat has been the mantra LSU Coach Ed Orgeron uses to describe the football program since he took over as interim head coach in 2016. But the Tigers lacked that togetherness last season when they went five and five. Senior offensive tackle Austin Deculus says it’s a different feeling this season
cut 16 (26) “…talking about.”
Senior offensive guard Ed Ingram says they are more focused this season and there’s better leadership…
Cut 17 (16) “… says stuff.”
Proof of at least one COVID vaccine is needed to enter Tiger Stadium this season or a negative COVID test 72 hours prior to kick-off. The vaccine policy could hurt attendance, but Ingram says that is something they can not control
Cut 18 (14)”…UCLA right now.”