State subtracts five from Avoyelles' COVID total
Avoyelles "lost ground" in Thursday's COVID update, but in this case that's a good thing. As happens from time to time, the state health department subtracted a few cases from the parish's pandemic total.
The Thursday report included results of 103 tests -- 92 lab tests and 11 rapid result tests. The parish had a net loss of five cases, all in lab tests. That should help the parish's official weekly positive rate when the state looks at this week's numbers.
As of Thursday, Avoyelles' 14-month pandemic totals were 4,222 cases -- 3.679 in lab tests and 543 rapid results -- and 123 deaths (115 / 8). The state totals were 464,412 cases and 10,469 deaths.
The big news in the War on COVID for Thursday was making the Pfizer vaccine available to children as young as 12.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decided Wednesday that the Pfizer vaccine is safe for the 12-15 age group. Previously the vaccine was only available to those 16 and older. The Louisiana Department of Health notified vaccine providers this morning (May 13) that they can begin vaccinating the 12-15-year-olds.
“We have the utmost confidence in the FDA and CDC’s rigorous safety and efficacy review and, after looking at the data ourselves, are excited to now expand eligibility for more young people in Louisiana,” State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter said. “Today is a good day, and it means more families have the ability to protect their children and their families and enjoy summer with confidence.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards encourages all Louisianians now eligible to be vaccinated to be immunized as soon as possible.
“As a parent, I know that decisions regarding the health of our children are among the most important ones we make," Edwards said. "I hope all parents of adolescents will consider protecting their children with the COVID-19 vaccine and, if they have questions, that they ask their child’s pediatrician or another trusted medical professional.
“Today we enter a new phase in our fight to slow the spread of COVID-19, with the expansion of the Pfizer vaccine to 12-15-year-olds," the governor continued. "This vaccine is proven to be safe and effective and already we’ve seen a major decrease in the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths in older people who are fully vaccinated.”
For information or schedule an appointment, call the COVID Vaccine Hotline at 855-453-0774 from 8 a..m.- 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday, or the local "Sleeves Up" Task Force from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday or 6-8 p.m. Thursday at 318-717-8871, 318-717-8075, 318-500-3096, 318-500-3710 or 318-717-8877, or the Avoyelles Health Unit weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 318-253-4528.
Parents/caregiver must give consent for a person younger than 18 to be vaccinated. A consent form is available online at covidvaccine.la.gov . Clinical trial of the Pfizer vaccine have demonstrated 100 percent effectiveness on children between 12 and 16 with minimal side effects, the LDH noted. The FDA and CDC concluded that younger recipients will not have side effects that are different older recipients. Possible side effects include moderate pain or swelling at the site of the shot, fever, chills, tiredness and/or headaches.
"These are normal side effects that usually go away within a couple of days," the LDH said.