The COVID-19 vaccine rollout is going slower than many expected. The state’s top public health expert says Louisiana will have received more than 210-thousand vaccine doses by Saturday. Over 45,000 doses have been administered. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter admits it’s a complex operation.
“And we don’t have great visibility of what comes week-by-week, we find out three to four days before and at the end of the day, the most care has to be given to securing the storage of the doses,” said Kanter.
Kanter says starting the rollout during the holidays has also been problematic. But he remains encouraged.
“I think the 45,000 number is a undercount of what actually has been administered and top of that I think the pace will pick up substantially in the new year,” said Kanter.
There are currently 249,000 people eligible to receive the vaccine and that group includes health care workers. nursing home residents and first responders. Kanter says starting Monday another 649,000 people will be eligible and that includes a select number of individuals over the age of 70.
“And that will be individuals with end stage renal disease who receive dialysis and individuals who receive home health care services,” said Kanter.
Comments