COVID-19 vaccine

Hosting a family gathering for Thanksgiving but worried about COVID transmission? Health officials offer these tips for a happy, safe holiday.

Louisianans 18 years and older who completed their Moderna or Pfizer (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine series more than six months ago and those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two months ago are now eligible to receive a booster shot, Louisiana Department of Health officials said Wednesday in an announcement.

There have been 11 severe reactions related to the COVID-19 vaccine in Louisiana and no deaths, state health officials told lawmakers on Monday.

Sleepovers, playground visits and feeling safe at school are just a few of the things young New Orleans children are ready to experience again after getting their first COVID vaccine now that the shot has been approved for 5-11 year olds.

Data acquired from health departments across the Gulf South show that among 12 to 17 year olds, Black teenagers are getting vaccinated at roughly one and a half times the rate of white teenagers.

Children ages 5 to 11 can get the COVID-19 vaccine as early as today, after the Louisiana Department of Health gave providers the greenlight Wednesday morning to begin administering Pfizer doses immediately.

COVID-19 vaccination rates among Black residents in the Gulf States are surpassing that of Black residents in the U.S. Health officials say building trust has been key to reaching this point.

Public health officials are urging many fully vaccinated people in Louisiana to get a booster shot in the wake of new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Thursday.

As plans for a potential return of Mardi Gras 2022 ramp up, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said she is interested in mandating a proof-of-vaccination requirement for passengers arriving in Louis Armstrong International Airport for the last two weeks of Carnival season — an idea that some state tourism officials hope doesn’t materialize.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and top state public health officials rolled up their sleeves to receive the COVID-19 booster shots and the flu vaccine Wednesday to increase vaccination rates ahead of what could be a severe flu season.