It's crawfish vs. COVID Saturday at Ochsner St. Mary

The St. Mary Parish Hospital Service District No. 2’s first mass vaccination effort, in partnership with Ochsner St. Mary, will be held Saturday at the Morgan City hospital.
Plans for that event dominated a short hospital service district meeting Wednesday.
“We’ve had a huge outpouring of support from us, from Ochsner, from the city,” board Chairman Dr. William Cefalu Jr. said.
In addition to crawfish and the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, health screenings will be available in which cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure and BMI or height, weight and waist size will be checked.
“People will be given crawfish based on their participation,” Cefalu said.
The health screenings and vaccines will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Medical Office Building behind the hospital.
“It should be something really exciting,” board member Gary Stansbury said.
All participants must be 18 or older. To schedule a vaccine, call 844-888-2772 or visit Myochsner.org. Those undergoing the health screening are encouraged but not required to fast. Masks will be required. While appointments are not required, they are suggested. To schedule one, visit ochsner.vitalogyinc.com and use code 866E49.
As for the vaccine used, Cefalu acknowledged that the vaccine was halted earlier this year due to safety concerns, and it was examined before being allowed to be used again.
“Make no mistake,” Cefalu said, “the J&J vaccine is safe. It is very safe.”
Cefalu said the blood clotting associated with the vaccine is extremely rare. He noted that even with the flu shot, there are rare occurrences of severe side effects like a neurological disorder.
“When you look at the benefit, the protection you get with these vaccinations — even the Johnson & Johnson — the risks are greatly outweighed by the benefits,” he said.
Cefalu said moving forward, he thinks the hospital service district should focus its efforts on events like Saturday’s mass vaccination/health and wellness event.
Board attorney Bill Bourgeois said he is in discussion with Ochsner on a cooperative endeavor on community outreach. The move will allow the hospital service district to utilize Ochsner’s resources and will enable them to work in line with Ochsner on community efforts.
While vaccinations had a significant tapering after early momentum, Cefalu said it has “recently stabilized a little bit” due to Ochsner going into the community to businesses and giving vaccines. More than 100 vaccines were distributed at Conrad Shipyard.
“They also plan to go to Swiftships and several other large employers in the area, so that seems to be an avenue that’s working well as far as the vaccine distribution,” the chairman said.
He said he is seeing more people say they will get the vaccine, too.
“There’s been some time and really just convenience of having it as far as not having to quarantine after exposures and travel, etc., so all of those things are enticing people to go ahead and get it,” Cefalu said.
Another tactic to entice people to get vaccinated recently released is the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco’s and the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s campaign for “Shot for a Shot.” In that program, those who receive a vaccine in the previous seven days can receive a free alcoholic or nonalcoholic drink at a participating restaurant.
Also during Wednesday’s board meeting, the hospital service district approved The Daily Review as its official journal. The measure passed on a 4-0 vote by board members Nick Morris, Kendra Thomas, Gary Stansbury and Donald Stephens. Cefalu had not arrived at the meeting yet by the time the vote was taken and board member Jeremy Chesteen was absent.