All Louisiana residents 16 or older eligible for COVID-19 vaccines starting Monday
(The Center Square) – All Louisiana residents who are at least 16 years old will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination starting Monday, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Wednesday.
Vaccinations previously were limited to certain job categories, people with health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the illness and residents who are at least 65 years old. Providers who have doses from that week’s allocation are announced each Monday, and officials said appointments are required.
Louisiana officials expect to receive more than 148,000 first doses from the federal government next week, easily the biggest allocation so far. That total doesn’t count direct shipments to the federal government’s pharmacy partners or more than 32,000 doses that had been reserved for long-term care facilities that now will be available to the general public, officials said.
Three types of approved vaccines are available. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to get the full benefit, while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires a single dose.
President Joe Biden has set a goal for all states to make all adult residents eligible by May 1. Edwards had expected Louisiana to reach that goal well before that date but said he was surprised to find out this week the state would be getting enough vaccines to reach that point so soon.
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