The supply may be limited, but Acadian Medical Center is joining the effort to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to the public.
Kevin Frank, CEO, said the hospital gained access to the vaccine this month.
Acadian Medical Center is not on the state Department of Health’s list of vaccine sites.
“We are just trying to make sure the community knows that Acadian Medical Center is here. It is part of the Eunice community and we are trying to get the community vaccinated,” he said.
Frank stressed the public should not call the hospital, but should make appointments by email. The email is accessed at the hospital’s website, acadianmedicalcenter.com. The email address is amcoutreach@ahmgt.com.
The state is limiting who can get the vaccine.
The health department states on its website that limited amounts of COVID vaccines are available at select locations only for:
Persons ages 70 years or older in the community;
Health-related support personnel (labs, mortuary, pharmacy);
Outpatient clinic providers and clinic staff;
Urgent care clinic providers and staff;
Community care clinic providers and staff;
Behavioral health providers and staff;
Dialysis providers and recipients;
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);
Dental providers and staff; and
Students, residents, faculty and staff of allied health schools (if not already receiving vaccine or in a plan to receive from their respective schools).
“Patients must contact a participating location and make an appointment at the location. Patients who arrive without an appointment will not be vaccinated,” the website states.
Frank said the problem for hospitals administering the vaccine is the staff requirements. Staffing has become critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the vaccine supply also is limited.
“We requested a number of doses this week. We did that last week and we didn’t find out that we were going to get any until yesterday,” he said in a phone call Tuesday.
The allocation the hospital is receiving is less than requested, he added.
The same short supply is affecting pharmacies, he said.
On Tuesday, it was reported the state will receive about a 16% increase in its vaccine supply next week.
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration said last week they were told to expect “relatively flat” shipments of vaccines each of the next four to five weeks, with potentially a 5% to 10% increase, The Advocate reported.
Edwards spokesperson Christina Stephens said Tuesday they now expect 29,250 Pfizer doses and 38,100 Moderna doses next week, totaling 67,350 doses. That’s up from about 58,000 doses this week.
As of Tuesday, Louisiana ranked 14th among states and the District of Columbia in the number of doses administered per capita. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the state had administered roughly 57% of the doses distributed to the state so far, which ranked 18th in the country.
COVID-19 restrictions
Louisiana’s COVID-19 restrictions include the below:
All Louisianans are encouraged to avoid gatherings of individuals not part of their households.
All businesses, private and public sectors, should have as many employees work from home as they can.
All restaurants are limited to 50% of their indoor capacity. Restaurants should move as much dining outdoors as they can. Social distancing is required.
For bars in parishes above 5% positivity, bars are closed to indoor sales and consumption but open for outdoor consumption at tables only and at 25% capacity, with a maximum of 50 people. Social distancing is required. Take-out and delivery will still be available.
Retail businesses may open at 50% capacity, except for essential businesses, as defined by federal guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Gyms may be open at 50% of their capacity.
Places of worship will remain at a maximum of 75% of their capacity or the number of people who can physically distance with at least six feet between each immediate household, whichever is less.
Barber and beauty shops, and nail salons may open at 50% of their capacity.
Movie theaters may open at 50% of their capacity.
Indoor gatherings at event/receptions centers are limited to 25% capacity or up to 75 individuals.
Outdoor gatherings at event/reception centers are limited to 25% capacity or up to 150 individuals when strict physical distancing is not possible.
All sporting events will be capped at 25% capacity.
Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate is still in place.
Vaccine sites
Vaccine sites listed on the state Department of Health wesite include the following.
St. Landry Parish
Maple Avenue Pharmacy, 1200 W. Maple Ave., Eunice. https://www.mapleavepharmacy.com/ contact 337-457-5216.
Super 1 Pharmacy 637, 1800 W. Laurel St., Eunice. https://www.super1foods.com/stores/eunice-637/6053. 337-457-0878.
Ken’s Thrifty Way Pharmacy, 517 E. Prudhomme St., Opelousas. https://www.kensthriftyway.com/locations/opelousas. 337-942-7551
Lagniappe Pharmacy 61717, S. Union St., Opelousas. 337-948-7703.
Super 1 Pharmacy 636, 2418 S. Union St., Opelousas. https://www.super1foods.com/stores/opelousas-636/6052. 337-942-3674.
The Family Clinic, Opelousas, 3921 I-49 S. Service Road, Opelousas. 337-942-5706.
Thrifty Way at The Cottage,1406 W. Landry St., Opelousas. http://thriftywayatthecottage.com. 337-942-2653.
For more locations, visit: https://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine-locations/