Ochsner, Terrebonne General gear up for third COVID shots

The Louisiana Office of Public Health reported 45 new COVID cases in St. Mary for the 24 hours ending at midday Tuesday. Another COVID-related death was also reported.
Meanwhile, Ochsner Health System and Terrebonne General are prepared to provide third vaccine doses under new Centers for Disease Control guidance.
St. Mary's COVID death toll is now at 165, which is up from 147 Aug. 1. Coroner Eric Melancon said Monday that 20 COVID victims have died this month, so two deaths have yet to appear in the OPH statistics.
The parish’s pandemic case count is now at 7,282.
Statewide, 3,691 new cases and 122 deaths were reported Tuesday.
The number of COVID patients in Louisiana hospitals rose by 56 in the previous 24 hours and is now at 3,012.
In Louisiana Health Department’s Region 3, which covers the area from St. Mary to St. John the Baptist Parish, 87 of 93 intensive care beds were in use Tuesday. The region’s hospitals have 629 total beds, 518 of which were occupied.
Third shots
Ochsner Health System and Terrebonne General both said they’re ready to administer third doses under new CDC guidance.
Fully vaccinated immunocompromised people have accounted for a large proportion of hospitalized “breakthrough cases,” and that suggests immunocompromised people are more likely to transmit the virus to household contacts, Ochsner said.
People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised make up about 3% of the adult population and are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are more at risk of serious, prolonged illness. This includes people who have:
—Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood.
—Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
—Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
—Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
—Advanced or untreated HIV infection;
—Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
People with one of the listed conditions who wish to receive an additional dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine may self-attest to their condition by completing and signing a risk factor attestation form. The form can be downloaded from a link on this story at StMaryNow.com
Eligible individuals can schedule appointments through MyOchsner or by calling 844-888-2772.

Click here to go to the attestation form.

The Terrebonne General Drive-Thru Center is now offering the third-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. It is located at 8200 Main St. at the corner of Main and Liberty Streets adjacent to the Terrebonne General campus in Houma.
In addition, first- and second-dose vaccines are available. Getting vaccinated is a valuable prevention tool that can keep you out of the hospital and avoid possible death from COVID-19, the hospital said. The Delta variant is affecting all age groups in our population. The vaccine is free, easy and convenient.
Appointments are preferred, but drive-up spots are available. Please call 985-873-HOUMA (4686) to schedule.