Gov. John Bel Edwards announced today that people between the ages of 16 and older with underlying health conditions will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine effective immediately.
Eligibility will also be expanded to include those who work in congregant facilities, such as jails, shelters, and group home staff.
“Louisiana residents 16 years old and older with certain pre-existing health conditions will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” Edwards said.
“It’s the right thing to do and the time to do it,” he added.
Edwards said that those 16 or 17 years old will only have access to the Pfizer vaccine because it is the only COVID-19 vaccine currently authorized for younger people.
The updated COVID-19 vaccine eligibility means thousands of residents can now get the vaccine starting immediately.Â
Those conditions are:
Asthma
Cancer
Cerebrovascular disease
Chronic kidney disease
COPD
Cystic Fibrosis
Down Syndrome
Heart conditions
High blood pressure
Immunocompromised
immunocompromised state from solid organ transplant
liver disease
neurological conditions
overweight
Obesity
pulmonary fibrosis
severe obesity
Sickel cell disease
smoking
Thalassemia
Type 1 Diabetes mellitus
Type 2 Diabetes mellitus
Those seeking to get to the vaccine should go to covidvaccine.la.gov for more information on eligibility and where to get it. Appointments are required, and those receiving the vaccine must complete a form at the location certifying one or more of the health conditions.
“It is extremely important that people be honest,” said Edwards. “Otherwise, there will be depriving of someone who is at greater risk of having severe complications.”
Today’s announcement comes exactly one year since the COVID-19 pandemic started in Louisiana.
Since then, more than 1 million people have been vaccinated.
