How and Where to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine Shot in Louisiana
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine right now can be a little confusing. What list can you try to get on? What are the eligibility requirements to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot? Where can you even go to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot? Hopefully this will answer some, if not all of the questions you may have.
Am I Eligible For a COVID-19 Shot?
On Tuesday, March 9, Louisiana expanded eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccines to include "people who have health conditions that may result in a higher risk of disease", as well as widened the age range for Louisianans with certain health conditions to 18 and 64 (or 16+ if receiving the Pfizer vaccine).
Currently, Louisianans 65 and older, dialysis providers and patients, and pregnant women meet requirements to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Are COVID-19 Vaccines Free?
Yes. The CDC says that "vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost.” There is actually a fee for administering the vaccine which is charged to your insurance, if you have health insurance.
Do I Need Health Insurance to Get a COVID-19 vaccine shot?
No. Many people signing up to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot are confused when asked to provide health insurance information. As outlined above, you're being asked to provide health insurance information if you have it. If you do, your health insurance will be billed for the fee of administering the vaccine.
What Medical Conditions Do I Need to Have to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
As of yesterday's announcement from Gov. Edwards, "people 18-64 (or 16+ for Pfizer vaccine only) with at least one of the conditions listed below by the CDC" according to LDH.gov.
From LDH.LA.gov -
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Down syndrome
- Heart conditions including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
- Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30kg/m2 or higher
- Sickle cell disease
- Current or former smoker
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
- Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
- Chronic liver disease
- Overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2, but < 30 kg/m2)
- Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
- Severe neurologic conditions such as dementia
- Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
What Jobs Are Considered Essential to Get COVID-19 Vaccine?
Outside of Louisiana's recent expanded eligibility requirements, essential workers and employees can get the COVID-19 vaccine shot. The Louisiana Department of Health lists the following jobs and professions as Essential Workers -
- Ambulatory and outpatient providers and staff
- Dialysis providers
- Behavioral health providers and staff
- Urgent care clinic providers and staff
- Community care providers and staff
- Dental providers and staff
- Non-emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) providers and staff
- Professional home care providers (including hospice workers) and home care recipients (including older and younger people with disabilities over the age of 16 who receive community or home-based care, as well as clients of home health agencies)
- American Sign Language (ASL) and foreign language interpreters and Support Service Providers (SSPs) working in community and clinic-based settings, and clients who are both deaf and blind
- Health-related support personnel (lab staff, mortuary staff who have contact with corpses, pharmacy staff)
- Schools of allied health students, residents and staff
- Law enforcement and other first responders
- Louisiana Unified Command Group
- State Legislators
- State and local essential COVID emergency response personnel
- Some elections staff ahead of March and April elections
- Teachers and any other support staff working on site in K-12 or daycare
Where Can I Get COVID-19 Vaccine in Louisiana?
Currently, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are the three vaccines being administered in Louisiana.
If you are eligible to receive to COVID-19 vaccine, you first need to contact a participating vaccination location and make an appointment. You are strongly urged to not show up at a vaccination location without an appointment. In almost all cases, walk-ins are not allowed.
Below are the locations around Louisiana and Acadiana, Parish by Parish, where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine shot. You easily sort by Parish using the option in the upper right hand corner.