Thread by @BlakePater

Last day of 2020 but the first coronavirus gov press conference for Sam Jr. — follow along for updates from Gov. Edwards on the vaccine rollout in Louisiana

The question on everyone’s mind: who’s next for the vaccine after hospital workers and nursing homes? The feds put out recs last week but the categories are fairly expansive. Waiting on a more detailed plan from state officials. theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/ne…

Gov. Edwards on the death of Luke Letlow "He was bright and articulate and motivated by public service. He loved the state and its people. It's just a devastating loss for the people of Louisiana."

Today, we can confirm that we receive Moderna vaccine next week for additional priority groups. The number of vaccine doses next week is very limited, but its enough to get started, to work out the kinks, and over time the doses will increase dramatically, Edwards says.

"ASswe move forward we won't turn off priority group 1A (frontline healthcare workers and nursing homes) and turn on 1B....they'll be working simultaneously," Edwards says.

As early as Monday, Phase 1B (Tier 1) will start to receive vaccine. 70 years or older (485K people) as well as ambulatory outpatient healthcare workers.

100 local pharmacies will begin receiving very first, limited doses of Moderna vaccine for these priority groups.

On deck - Phase 1B, Tier 2: teachers, grocery store workers and other frontline workers. Edwards says he doesn't know when they'll be able to get the vaccine, "It's not possible to know right now."

CDC rec was 75 and older -- but Gov says they chose 70 and older here in Louisiana because the clear demarkation in age for negative outcomes in the state was 70 not 75

They're also including folks with certain underlying conditions earlier than the CDC recommended. "As best we can early on we want to preserve hospital capacity and save lives."

Edwards says be patient, this is a limited release to start, but said that "no one should show up at a pharamcy without an appt because that individual will not receive a vaccine."

Edwards doesn't have a list of the pharmacies that will have the vaccine yet for this next priority group yet, but said they will be posted on Monday with addresses and phone numbers

Edwards emphasizes that you NEED to have an appointment with a pharmacy to get the vaccine.

Gov says next vaccine distribution: 28,275 of Pfizer vaccine, 27,400 Moderna vaccine (18,600 of those will go to residents and staff in long-term care facilities)

Now entering the third week of vaccinations, Gov says 45,289 confirmed have started the vaccination process, bu they still need to receive the second dose of the vaccine to reach full immunity

"This is just, logistically speaking, a very very complex operation, and certainly, we, like every state, are going to learn lessons and get better over time," Edwards said. "They never happen as fast as you want."

Gov says to date we haven't had a single adverse reaction to the vaccine in Louisiana

"The most effective tool that we have today to save lives, preserve hospital capacity, is this mask and the reason is the vaccine in't available to everyone today but this mask is and this mask works," Gov says

"We're not in a good place in Louisiana," Gov says. Yesterday, highest number of new cases. "That's a really big number. There's no way to sugar coat it."

When you have leading indicators (test positivity rate) and lagging indicators (hospitalizations) both showing you're going in the wrong direction...we're going in the wrong direction, Gov says

There is a period of time, I think its a matter of months, where we need to buckle down. The things we're asking people to do just aren't that onerous in light of how serious covid is, gov says.

Total Deaths To-Date: 7,448
Hospitalizations Rising at "alarming rate" Gov says: 1,117 in Hospital (210 vents) // net increase 186 since Christmas day

Gov says we don't yet know about the new covid variant's spread in Louisiana (more easily transmissible, not deadlier, from the UK)

On considering different restrictions, Gov says if it becomes necessary to impose more restrictions in order to maintain hospital capacity then it will be done

Gov says that with the current trajectory its not hard to see that, "It's certainly on the table, whether we have to do it or not is up to the people of Louisiana collectively"

At conclusion of this week, total of 210,350 doses allocated to LA, of those 56,200 are earmarked for long-term care (through CVS / Walgreens), Dr. Kanter says

We have never, at any point in history, asked more of our hospitals in LA than we are right now, Dr. Kanter said.

The underlying health conditions for Phase 1B (Tier 1) - will include end stage renal disease on dialysis and folks with home health care services

The 100 pharmacies that will receive this vaccine had to register and enroll with the state, a process that takes time and many others are still in the pipeline.

The vaccines will be distributed to each parish based on population and the pharmacies selected in the parish are randomized. Officials go back after the fact to make sure there's an appropriate geographic spread

Gov says he plans to get the vaccine as soon as he's in a priority group - that'll likely come with other state level officials who manage emergencies

Gov says at some point, National Guard strike teams will be deployed to help vaccinate hard to reach areas

I can assure you that we're going to make mistakes, but I can also assure you that we're going to learn from those mistakes, correct them and make them better, Gov says