COVID-19 Vaccine

Two COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) are currently available at Ochsner LSU Health. COVID-19 vaccines are available now to anyone 5 years old or older.

• The Centers for Disease Control says all fully vaccinated adults age 18 and over should receive the booster shot if it's been at least five months since you completed the Pfizer vaccine series, five months since completion of the Moderna vaccine series, or at least two months since you received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
• At this time, only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for children aged 5-17.

Ochsner LSU Health will only recommend and administer vaccines that the Food and Drug Administration has certified as safe and effective for all patients and employees, including our most vulnerable populations. The benefits of vaccination greatly outweigh the risks of forgoing immunization. All three vaccines have been thoroughly tested and found to be safe and effective in preventing serious disease. Consent by a parent or guardian is required for anyone under 18. Consent can be provided through MyChart, during ePreCheck, or in person at a vaccination location.

Appointments are encouraged.

MyChart users can check availability and schedule their vaccinations via MyChart. If you have never been to an Ochsner LSU Health location before and do not have a MyChart account, you can sign up at my.ochsner.org/lsu orcall 1-844-888-2772.

COVID-19 booster shots are now available for all individuals 5 years of age and older who have completed their Pfizer vaccine series at least five months ago. At this time, only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for children aged 5-17.

COVID-19 booster shots are available for adults 18 and over who have received the Moderna vaccine series at least five months ago.

Additionally, a second Pfizer-BioNTech booster will be available for immunocompromised children 12 and up and a second Moderna booster will be available for immunocompromised adults 18 and up.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUA) for the Moderna vaccine authorizing use of a single booster dose for all individuals 16 years of age and older after completion of their vaccine series.

Ochsner LSU Health is now administering Pfizer and Moderna booster shots to individuals at our vaccination locations across the region.

Get the facts on COVID-19 booster shots, here.

On June 22, 2022, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) are recommending the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 4 years following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s authorization for expanded use. Ochsner Health and Ochsner Hospital for Children highly encourage vaccination of all eligible children as well as adolescents and adults.

Children ages 6 months and older are eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna is available for children ages 6 months to 5 years. Pfizer is available to children ages 6 months to 17 years.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) are recommending the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s authorization for expanded use. Ochsner Health and Ochsner Hospital for Children highly encourage vaccination of all eligible children as well as adolescents and adults.

Children given the Pfizer vaccine receive a two-dose regimen of 10 micrograms each, which is a third of the dose for those ages 12 and above. A trial of 5-to-11-year-olds who received the Pfizer vaccine showed it was safe and 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 infections in this age group.

You do not need to be an existing or past patient of Ochsner to receive the vaccine at this event or any of our vaccination sites. Children will automatically be scheduled to receive their second vaccine dose in three weeks.

• Following full approval from the FDA ,no one is excluded from receiving the vaccine as there are no medical contraindications except for a severe allergic reaction to this vaccine or any of its components.
• Most importantly, all three vaccines have been thoroughly tested and found to be safe and effective in preventing serious disease. All three vaccine have continuous and intense safety monitoring and more than over 346 million doses of COVID-19 have been given in the U.S.

• Since this is a novel virus, we are still unsure how long the vaccine antibodies will last. However, recent data indicate that the mRNA vaccines continue to have a strong response for at least 6 months post-vaccination

• Like the flu shot, the vaccine is administered into a large muscle in the upper arm. As is the case with any vaccine, allergic reactions may occur. Some may experience mild fever, soreness, muscle aches, headaches, chills, fatigue/tiredness, muscle or joint pain, redness and/or swelling at the site of administration. These are signs of an immune response to the vaccine and expected in some patients.
• Based on data reported from the FDA emergency use authorization (EUA), possible side effects have been more prominent after the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna.
• If you have pain or discomfort, you can take your normal pain reliever or talk to your pharmacist about taking an over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• To reduce pain and discomfort where you got the shot, you can apply a clean, cool compress over the area. To reduce discomfort from fever, drink plenty of fluids.

• We recommend that people continue their routine medications as prescribed by their physician which may include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), also known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Patients who have one of the CDC-listed underlying medical conditions and are prescribed NSAID by their physicians, are not excluded and are encouraged to receive the vaccine.

• While extreme serious reactions to the vaccine are rare, you should seek medical care if:
  • you experience a severe allergic reaction call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room
  • the redness or tenderness where you got the shot increases after 24 hours
  • your side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days
• Ochsner On Call can answer questions at 800-231-5257 or 504-842-3155
• If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.
• Report side effects to FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Reporting instructions are included in Fact Sheet you received when you got your vaccine.

• The vaccine cannot cause you to test positive via nasal swab or saliva test. This is not a live vaccine and will not cause you to shed virus.
• It takes four to six weeks to become fully vaccinated. You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second dose of either Moderna or Pfizer or the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• Some patients may still become infected or develop symptoms following vaccination against COVID-19. No vaccine is 100% effective.
• Those that do get infected after vaccination, so called breakthrough cases of COVID-19, are more likely to have mild or no symptoms. Even with the more contagious Delta variant, COVID-19 vaccines have shown up to 90% effectiveness in preventing severe infections that require hospitalization.

• That is the intent. Instead of traditional vaccines, which may use the virus itself, the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine will use a protein on the outside of the virus. This means the vaccine can’t cause COVID-19 in a person, because it’s not using the virus that causes the disease.

• This stimulates your body’s immune system to mount a response as if it were a true infection, minimizing your risk of infection or disease burden should you encounter the same virus later. The current vaccine candidates have been demonstrated to be over 90% effective in preventing you from developing symptomatic infection from COVID-19.
• However, in order to stop this pandemic, we need to use every tool available which includes the immunization, social distancing, handwashing and wearing masks.

• No, there are no restrictions after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, but you should continue to wear your mask, social distance and practice good hand hygiene.

• No deferral is necessary for whole blood or platelet donors who received non-replicating, inactivated or RNA-based vaccines or the mRNA Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

• No. The FDA does not feel that it would be acceptable for these individuals to donate CCP. This is because it is not known yet if the CCP would be efficacious from a vaccinated person.

• Yes. There is not enough information currently available to say how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again. In order to stop this pandemic, we need to use every tool available which includes the immunization, social distancing, handwashing and wearing masks.

• It is generally recommended to avoid scheduling “routine” immunizations 14 days before or after your scheduled COVID-19 vaccination. If other vaccines are administered, there is no need to alter the COVID-19 immunization schedule or repeat any of the immunizations.

Third Dose

A third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine is approved for people with medical conditions or people receiving treatments that are associated with moderate to severe immune compromise.

Criteria are as follows:

• Receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are currently taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are currently 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 (> 20 mg prednisone or equivalent per day) or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
• Other conditions which cause moderate or severe immunosuppression similar to the above conditions.

If you qualify as an immunocompromised individual, please schedule your third vaccine appointment today on MyChart where you will be able to see the locations most convenient to you.

Learn More About Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Learn More About Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine

State of Louisiana COVID-19 Vaccination Third Dose Medical Risk Factor Self-Attestation Form

Booster

A booster of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is available to to adults at increased risk.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) approved Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for adults at increased risk, following guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If you are 6 months out from your two-dose Pfizer series, you are now eligible to receive a booster shot if you are:

• Age 65 or older
• Age 18 or older and have one of many underlying medical conditions
• Age 18 or older and live or work in a setting that places you at risk of being exposed to COVID

Get the facts on COVID-19 booster shots, here.

Sometimes immunocompromised people do not build enough protection against a vaccination, and a third, or additional, dose can help them build more immunity against the disease.

A booster dose is an additional dose for those who have built enough protection after their vaccination but then that protection decreases over time. Booster doses are needed to add protection after time has passed and the initial protection has decreased

• COVID-19 vaccination may not be for everyone. If you are unsure if you should receive the COVID-19 vaccine, please call your healthcare provider to discuss the possible benefits and risks.

• Following guidelines from the FDA, no one is excluded from receiving the vaccine, even patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The only medical contraindications to receiving this vaccine are severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine or severe allergic reaction to components of this vaccine.

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and The Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine both strongly recommend vaccination for those that are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding.

• In fact, pregnant and recently pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 when compared with non-pregnant people. Severe illness includes illness that requires hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator or special equipment to breathe, or illness that results in death.

• Additionally, pregnant women with COVID-19 are at increased risk of preterm birth and might be at increased risk of other adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with pregnant women without COVID-19.

• Yes, children ages 12 and older with high risk of complications from COVID-19 and who weigh at least 40 kgs or 88 lbs. are eligible for some of the adult infusion treatments.

• We are scheduling new first dose appointments at select locations on a first come, first serve basis for those who meet the eligibility criteria.
• MyChart users can schedule their vaccinations via MyChart or by calling 318-626-0050 for Shreveport or 318-330-7599 for Monroe. You can also see which Ochsner regions across the state have vaccine appointments at Ochsner.org/appointment-availability.
• Patients receiving Pfizer or Moderna vaccines will schedule their first dose via MyChart or by calling. Your second dose is guaranteed. Ochsner LSU Health will notify you of the exact date and time of your second dose appointment via text and email within 24 hours of when your first dose is administered.
• If you have never been to an Ochsner LSU Health location before and do not have a MyChart account, we encourage you to enroll at my.ochsner.org/lsu. This is a secure portal that allows patients to view test results, message their providers and schedule appointments at the click of a button.
• Once available vaccine slots are filled on MyChart, you will no longer be able to see the option to book.
• Those who are eligible will be required to attest that they meet the criteria and may be asked to provide proof. A full list of the criteria can be found at covidvaccine.la.gov.
• More times and dates will become available as we receive more vaccine each week. We encourage you to continue to check MyChart and Ochsner.org/appointment-availability as more appointments become available and appreciate your patience during this process.
• As eager as we are to vaccinate as many patients as possible, you must have a scheduled appointment to receive the vaccine.
• We appreciate your willingness to be part of the solution to end this pandemic.

• If you are receiving a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, your second dose appointment will automatically be scheduled once you have received your first dose. It will be scheduled at the correct interval of time from your first dose: 19 – 23 days for Pfizer, or 26 - 30 days for Moderna, from your first dose.
• Ochsner LSU Health will notify you of the exact date and time of your second dose appointment via text and email within 24 hours of when your first dose is administered.
• All second dose appointments will be administered at the same location as first dose appointments.

• As with any appointment type, you can call our contact center at 1-844-888-2772 to verify the date and time of your second dose appointment.

• • We ask that patients keep their second dose appointments as they are scheduled, but we understand that sometimes appointment times no longer work. If you must change your second dose appointment, please call 1-844-888-2772.

• No, as with any vaccination, it is required that a child under the age of 18 must have parental or guardian consent.

• Consent by a parent or guardian is required for anyone under 18. Consent can be provided through MyChart, during ePreCheck, through a witnessed legal consent form, or in person at the vaccination location.
• Please note, if your child does not already have a MyChart account, you must fill out a request form which has a turnaround time of 1 to 3 days.
  • If the custodial parent has a MyChart account, they can request access online using the form under the Main Menu >> Sharing >> Request Access.
  • If the custodial parent does NOT have a MyChart account, they can click here to sign up and put in a request. They will receive a notification and an email with this information as well.

• Ochsner LSU Health is dedicated to delivering vaccines safely and equitably. As the dose of Pfizer Children’s is one third of the dose of the Pfizer Teen and Adult dose, Ochsner LSU Health has built in checks and balances into our vaccine administration process to ensure the right dose is delivered to the right individual every time.
  • The Pfizer Children’s vaccine will be stored separately from the Pfizer Teen and Adult vaccines.
  • Systemwide, Ochsner will use color coding and clear labeling to ensure that the correct dosage is given.
• Vaccine locations, mobile units and events may limit the types of vaccine offered to make storage, administration and communication as clear as possible.
• You can find a list of which vaccines are available at different locations on our website at ochsner.org/vaccine.

• Ochsner LSU Health offers vaccinations at our hospitals in Shreveport as well as Monroe.
• You can schedule your child’s vaccination appointment via MyChart or by calling 1-844-888-2772. You can also check out open vaccine appointments at Ochsner.org/appointment-availability.
• Please note, if your child does not already have a MyChart account, you must fill out a request form which has a turnaround time of 1 to 3 days.
  • If the custodial parent has a MyChart account, they can request access online using the form under the Main Menu >> Sharing >> Request Access.
  • If the custodial parent does NOT have a MyChart account, they can still click here to sign up and put in a request. They will receive a notification and an email with this information as well.

• Although children and teenagers are at less risk of severe complications from COVID-19, the virus has still seriously impacted millions of children and teens across the globe.
• Children and teenagers who have COVID-19 may have no symptoms but are still able to transmit the virus to their parents, grandparents, teachers, friends and loved ones.
• Vaccinating children and teens for COVID-19 should be treated just like any other routine vaccination. In the same way that children are vaccinated for the measles, mumps and chicken pox, they should also be vaccinated for COVID-19.

• Pfizer received FDA approval under Emergency Authorization Use (EUA) to expand age eligibility for teens (ages 12 – 15) and children (ages 5 -11) based on clinical trial data for each specific age range. Data specific to the 12 – 15-year-old group shows 100% efficacy, robust antibody responses and was well tolerated. Data specific to the 5 – 11-year-old group show a nearly 91% efficacy for this younger age range.

• Just like the three vaccines currently being administered under EUA, the FDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have assured the public that no safety or efficacy evaluation steps have been skipped in approving the vaccine.
• Ochsner Health and Ochsner Hospital for Children remain committed to educating our patients about the COVID-19 vaccines so they can make informed decisions for themselves and their family.

• Teens (ages 12 – 17): The FDA amended the EUA originally issued on December 11, 2020 to include adolescents 12 – 15 years of age on May 10, 2021.
• Children (ages 5 – 11): The FDA granted EUA for the Pfizer Children’s vaccine for ages 5 – 11 on October 29, 2021.
• The Pfizer Children’s vaccine (ages 5 – 11) and the Pfizer teen and adult vaccine (ages 12+) is now available. You can schedule your vaccination appointment via MyOchsner or by calling 1-844-888-2772. You can also see which Ochsner regions across the state have vaccine availability.

• EUA approval is granted based on clinical trial results for each age grouping. There are ongoing trials for younger age groups, starting as young as six months old.
• Teens (ages 12 – 17): Pfizer completed its adolescent trial for children ages 12-17 earlier this year. Results from the trial for children ages 16-17 showed the vaccine is safe and effective and granted EUA approval on December 11, 2020. The results of Pfizer’s 12–15-year-old age group shows 100% efficacy, robust antibody responses and was well tolerated. Based on both sets of successful results, Pfizer again applied for EUA status which was granted on May 10, 2021.
• Children (ages 5 – 11): The FDA granted EUA for the Pfizer Children’s vaccine for ages 5 – 11 on INSERT DATE . Data specific to the 5 – 11-year-old group show a nearly 91% efficacy for this younger age range.

• There are no differences between the two Pfizer vaccines other than dosage.
• Teens (Ages 12 – 15) are eligible for Pfizer Teen + Adult. This is the same two-dose regimen currently being administered to those who are ages 16 and older. Data specific to the 12-15-year-old group shows 100% efficacy, robust antibody responses and was well tolerated.

• Children (Ages 5 – 11) are eligible for Pfizer Children’s. This is a two-dose regimen of 10-microgram doses – a third of the dose for individuals 12 and above.

• Your child will need to receive two doses, scheduled 21 days apart, to be fully effective and provide the most protection.
• Pfizer Boosters have recently been approved under EUA for individuals who completed their vaccine series within a certain time period and those at high risk and those with certain medical conditions. To learn more about booster recommendations visit the CDC website.
• A third dose for children under 18 is not currently recommended, although this guidance may change based on ongoing studies.

• The vaccine was studied in adults first before expanding to include younger age groups.

• A child’s immune system is different than an adult’s and must be specifically studied when given a vaccine. This includes looking at dosage amounts.

• Ochsner Health and Ochsner Hospital for Children participated in the adolescent Pfizer vaccine trial for both the 5 – 11-year-old cohort and the 12 –17-year-old cohort, which means our patients contributed to the safety data submitted to FDA. Data specific to the 12 – 15-year-old group shows 100% efficacy, robust antibody responses and was well tolerated. Data specific to the 5 – 11-year-old group show a nearly 91% efficacy for this younger age range.
• There are ongoing trials for Moderna, J&J and Pfizer for younger age groups, starting as young as six months old. Pending data results, each pharmaceutical company applies for EUA approval for specific age ranges on an individual basis.

• Ochsner Health and Ochsner Hospital for Children will only recommend and administer vaccines that the Food and Drug Administration has certified as safe and effective for all patients and employees, including our most vulnerable populations.

• Ochsner Health and Ochsner Hospital for Children participated in the adolescent Pfizer vaccine trial for both the 5 – 11-year-old cohort and the 12 –17-year-old cohort, which means our patients contributed to the safety data submitted to FDA. Data specific to the 12 – 15-year-old group shows 100% efficacy, robust antibody responses and was well tolerated. Data specific to the 5 – 11-year-old group show a nearly 91% efficacy for this younger age range.

• Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis is inflammation of the outer lining of the heart. In both cases, the body’s immune system causes inflammation in response to an infection or some other trigger.

• Since April 2021, increased cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported in the United States after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna), particularly in adolescents and young adults. There has not been a similar reporting pattern observed after receipt of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).
• In most cases, patients who presented for medical care have responded well to medications and rest and had prompt improvement of symptoms. Reported cases have occurred predominantly in male adolescents and young adults 16 years of age and older. CDC and its partners are investigating these reports of myocarditis and pericarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
• · CDC continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible individuals, given the risk of COVID-19 illness and related, possibly severe complications, such as long-term health problems, hospitalization, and even death.

• Nearly 6.3 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) continues to recommend that adolescents get vaccinated. The serious risks of COVID-19 — even for young healthy people — outweigh the risks of any possible side effects from the vaccine.
• Given the risk of COVID-19 illness and related, possibly severe complications, CDC continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 12 years of age and older. Getting vaccinated is the best way to help protect yourself and your family from COVID-19.

• Following guidelines from the FDA EUA, no one is excluded from receiving the vaccine. The only medical contraindications to receiving this vaccine are severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine or severe allergic reaction to components of this vaccine.
• It is important to have this discussion with your pediatrician to determine if this is the best decision for your child.

• Yes. There is not enough information currently available to say how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again. To stop this pandemic, we need to use every tool available which includes immunization, social distancing, handwashing and wearing masks.
• Studies show that those who are fully vaccinated and have antibodies from a previous COVID-19 infection are very protected from being reinfected.

• The CDC now recommends that other vaccines can be given with the COVID-19 vaccine.
• This includes the flu vaccine. Individuals ages 6 months and up are recommended by the CDC to receive an annual flu vaccination.
• It is important that children who may have missed doses of routine vaccines during the pandemic complete or catch up with these routine immunizations.

• Please see the FDA’s Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers.

• Pfizer reports the side effects found in children during its trial were generally consistent with those found in adults immediately following vaccination.
• As is the case with any vaccine, allergic reactions may occur. Some may experience mild fever, soreness, muscle aches, headaches, chills, tiredness and redness or swelling at the site of administration. These are signs of an immune response to the vaccine and are expected in some patients.
• It is common for children to experience fever after any vaccination; this is an anticipated side effect.

• While extreme serious reactions to the vaccine are rare, you should seek medical care if:
  • Your child experiences a severe allergic reaction (call 911 or go to the nearest ER)
  • The side effects do not seem to be going away or are getting worse after a few days.

• We do not recommend pre-treating your child with pain or fever reducers because it may weaken your child’s immune response to vaccines.
• After the vaccine, you may give your child a pain or fever reducers if needed.

• While every individual is unique, there are no indications that reactions run in families.

• There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine affects child development, puberty or fertility.