Due to new federal rules, Louisiana is one of 12 states where a prescription is now required to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Senator Bill Cassidy says there is a go-around – a blanket prescription issued by State Surgeon General Ralph Abraham.
“The Surgeon General can write a prescription, or a physician with the state government. That would allow anyone who desires the vaccine to go to the pharmacy and get the vaccine based upon the prescription written,” Cassidy explained.
Senator Cassidy says such a move is not unprecedented.
“That was done during the worst case of the fentanyl epidemic, where the state medical director or the HHS secretary wrote a prescription that anyone could go get Narcan to reverse somebody, based upon that prescription,” Cassidy said.
Still, Senator Cassidy says the new rules are completely counterproductive.
“We’re inconveniencing patients. We’re driving up the cost for a patient. I’m a doctor. I want to make it as least expensive, as easy for the patient to get what the patient needs,” Cassidy said.
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