Coronavirus Information and Resources

Your Questions Answered

 

Campus Health at 504-412-1995 can advise you.

Our public turnaround time is within 3 business days.

Campus Health receives the forms.

It is working, but you can access it only from inside our network. The COVID-19 Vaccination Documentation/Exemption Form button on the Coronavirus website landing will take you to a login page and then to the form.

COVID-19 itself increases the risk of heart inflammation, so called myocarditis, by 15.7 times. In this study of patients who sought any medical care, myocarditis was seen in 146 patients per 100,000 COVID-19 cases. Those without COVID-19 had only 9 cases per 100,000 patients who sought medical care. The CDC has more information here.

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (not J&J vaccine) may associated with a small increase in myocarditis particularly in male adolescents and young adults. That risk was measured to be 39-47 cases per 1 million vaccinated persons age 12-29. In those same 1 million vaccinated persons, it is estimated that 11,000 COVID-19 cases, 560 hospitalizations, 138 ICU admissions, and six deaths were prevented. See CDC information here.

The indoor mask mandate is still in force on our campuses whether vaccinated or not. The rationale is to reduce transmission in high risk settings such as indoor public spaces especially in close quarters. An additional reason for universal masking indoors is to reduce confusion as to when masking is essential. During the short time in the spring when the masking mandate was relaxed for vaccinated people, many unvaccinated people also were without masks. This, in part, led to the Delta variant spreading rapidly throughout our region. Even though the current surge is winding down, there is great concern that a new highly contagious variant could spread through our community if masking compliance declines. While you are alone in your office, unmasking would be much more acceptable since you are vaccinated and are less likely to acquire and transmit the virus. However, while in public, we all should be masking to reduce transmission and to serve as an example for all those who are not vaccinated. In that vein, as we have found with this latest surge, there are very vulnerable populations who cannot get vaccinated or have suboptimal vaccine responses. Continuing these mitigation procedures in public spaces help prevent COVID-19 infection and deaths in these individuals. I would wonder if we can come up with a different kind of mask that would be less problematic. Surgical masks with ties certainly would fit that.

Yes. Eligible members of the public can receive COVID booster shots at the LSU Health New Orleans Vaccination Clinic by appointment. Appointments can be made from the page at this link.

Yes, depending on the school.

Visit the COVID Vaccination Clinic, and the staff will help you.

Employees can still get special leave under Section 11.35 of the State Civil Service Rules through September 30. They can have up to 14 calendar days of special leave but only if they have not already used it. People can also get up to four hours of special leave for purposes of receiving the vaccine. HR can answer any questions.

All individuals who have had moderate-to-high-risk exposure to known or suspected COVID-19 patients must follow the procedures available here. People who have had moderate- to-high-risk exposures are a major factor in continued spread in the population. With the rapid increase of cases due to the Delta variant, even fully vaccinated individuals need to quarantine after an exposure.

Employees can still get special leave under Section 11.35 of the State Civil Service Rules through September 30. They can have up to 14 calendar days of special leave but only if they have not already used it. People can also get up to four hours of special leave for purposes of receiving the vaccine. HR can answer any questions.

If you are well enough, you could work from home if possible, and if not possible, you would need to take sick leave.

We have no information yet concerning boosters. CDC and FDA are carefully looking at the clinical trial population for length of protection. Breakthrough infection of vaccinated individuals is more likely a factor of the Delta variant characteristics rather than failure of the vaccine per se.

There are some studies looking at the mixed approach to vaccination. They are in process now. There is no real data yet to recommend for or against. The J and J vaccine seems to be quite effective against the Delta variant though.

If you have an LSUHSC email account, send a message to Molly Reed. Otherwise, visit the Vaccination Clinic, and you can reschedule your appointment.

The LSU Health New Orleans COVID Vaccination Clinic is administering the Pfizer vaccine.

If you are a member of the faculty, staff or student body, email Molly Reed. If you are external, you can schedule the second-dose appointment at the Vaccination Clinic.

Though we have stopped doing widespread antibody testing due to lack of interest, if you need one, you can request it by emailing lmiele@lsuhsc.edu or jcrabt@lsuhsc.edu.

Yes. You should follow the quarantine guidelines for non-vaccinated persons. You are not considered fully vaccinated until 2 weeks after the second shot, and after that point you do not have to quarantine after an exposure.

LSU Health New Orleans personnel should complete and submit the COVID-19 Vaccination Self-Reporting Form regardless of where they were vaccinated. https://911.lsuhsc.edu/coronavirus/selfreporting.aspx.

The latest information is available on the Comal County Public Health website https://www.co.comal.tx.us/health.htm.

LSU Health New Orleans is not currently scheduling first dose vaccination appointments.

LSU Health New Orleans follows the Louisiana Department of Health vaccination priority guidelines.

If you are in the LSU Health New Orleans Closed Healthcare POD, visit the link on the Coronavirus homepage. If you are a member of the community, visit this link at the Louisiana Department of Health for more information. The City of New Orleans has launched the Citywide Vaccination Waitlist for eligible people. To get on the list, call 311 (504-658-2299) or go to ready.nola.gov/getvaccine to register.

Yes, you qualify. The vaccine might not work as well, but it is worth getting.

Yes.

The Last Call email was about nearing the end of the first round of vaccinations, meaning the first dose. We are only scheduling people in our LSU Health New Orleans Closed Heathcare POD for whom LDH has assured we will have both doses of vaccine. Please go ahead and schedule. You will make your appointment for your second dose at the time of your first vaccination.

LSU Health New Orleans does not have such a list at this time. You could inquire at individual vaccine providers. The Louisiana Department of Health maintains a list, available here.

LSU Health New Orleans is a Closed Healthcare POD. An 81-year-old is eligible to be vaccinated in Louisiana at this time. The Louisiana Department of Health maintains a vaccine provider list, available here, with contact information for each location.

LSU Health Shreveport is a separate university. It is best to check with LSU Health Shreveport for the latest information on their vaccination program.

LSU Health is following the LDH Vaccination Tiers. Campus Health can answer questions about COVID vaccinations.

You can get the vaccine after you recover from the infection or within 90 days since the beginning of symptoms. Data suggests that re-infection is rare within the 90 days after infection.

Presumptive positive is the detection of RNA that is similar among the family of coronaviruses that includes SARS coV 2. At the same time, the test did not detect specific SARS coV 2 RNA sequences. In that case, you should isolate until you are retested in a few days.

 

Anyone age 70 or older interested in getting the vaccine should pre-register at https://redcap.link/LSU-PUBLIC-VACCINE-SURVEY or at www.lsuhs.edu. Preregistration is required and essential to minimizing wait time. Everyone seeking to get the vaccine should:

·         Bring their ID and insurance information even though they are preregistered

·         Wear a mask

·         Wear clothing with easy access to upper arm where vaccine will be administered

Individuals will remain in car to receive vaccine allowing for safest interaction between those receiving and giving vaccine.

If you preregistered and you are under the age of 70, please note you are NOT eligible to receive the vaccine for COVID-19 at this time. Please do not come to the Fairgrounds until your age has been announced as being eligible to receive the vaccine per CDC and LDH guidelines.

Where: Fairground Field located at 3701 Hudson. Go to the parking area of the Fairground that runs alongside I-20.

When: Tuesday-Friday the week of January 12-15 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Please plan to arrive no later than 3:30 p.m.

Positive test without symptoms or mild symptoms 10 days.

Positive test with symptoms requiring admission 20 days.

We are not currently requiring students to make up missed clinical days.  They work with their clerkship directors on virtual activities.

This depends on your history. 

If you had COVID-19 more than 90 days prior to vaccination, you should get the vaccine as it will boost the level of antibodies in most cases. If you had disease more recently, wait for at least 90 days after.

If you tested positive for antibodies but had no diagnosis of COVID-19, you should get the vaccine as soon as you are able to get it.

All patients getting current vaccine need to be monitored for a short time after vaccination. Vaccination details for these situations can be found at 
http://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine/

Yes. There is no known issue with G^PD deficiency and the current vaccines

Though we have stopped doing widespread antibody testing due to lack of interest, if you need one, you can request it by emailing lmiele@lsuhsc.edu or jcrabt@lsuhsc.edu.

The length of self-isolation depends on how severe the disease is and what the immune status is. 

Someone who tests positive for COVID-19 needs to self-isolate for 10 days if asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic.

If that person is admitted to the hospital or has underlying immune compromise, the individual should self-isolate for 20 days. 

Your chance of getting the virus from that individual goes up the longer that you are around that person and the closer you are to that person. The CDC  categorizes individuals who have been within 6 feet of each other for more than 15 minutes in 24 hour period as being high risk. Poorly ventilated areas also increase the risk.

Therefore, to minimize your risk, both individuals should wear masks and maximize their distance. In addition, you should minimizing time with any potentially infected individual and maximize the ventilation. Outdoors is always better.

Just remember, “don’t share your air!”

Led by LSU Health’s Dr. Scott Schultz, Children’s Hospital has a post-COVID out-patient rehabilitation unit for children.

Our Lady of the Lake has a COVID Recovery Resources Program for patients with lingering conditions after recovering from COVID-19.

It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination.

According to Pfizer, the efficacy of their vaccine after the first dose is about 52%, and after the second dose, about 95 percent. Two doses of vaccine provide maximum protection.

According to Dr. Anthony Fauci Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, it's still unclear exactly how often we will need to get a booster. It might not be every year, but he would be surprised if it gave lifelong immunity.

The goal for the vaccines is to teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity.

On the arm where you got the shot, pain and swelling are possible. Throughout the rest of your body, you may experience fever, chills, tiredness or headache.

In most cases, discomfort from fever or pain is normal. Contact your doctor or healthcare provider if the redness or tenderness where you got the shot increases after 24 hours or if your side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days.

Though we have stopped doing widespread antibody testing due to lack of interest, if you need one, you can request it by emailing lmiele@lsuhsc.edu or jcrabt@lsuhsc.edu.

Information about testing for LSUHSC faculty, staff and students is available at the How Do I Get Tested page on the Coronavirus website.

Information about testing for the general public is available at NOLA Ready here.

It would depend upon where in Mexico and what you are doing.

Serology doesn’t really help.

The question is whether or not they are going to live together and either have a potential for exposure to a Covid positive individual. They could both get tested in one of our drive-through testing sites if they are interested.

Some patients are being seen now using some modified protocols. We plan to resume screening for new patients in the coming weeks.

The answer to this question involves three separate parts.

First, from the standpoint of self isolation, CDC recommends that one should do this for 14 days after last exposure.

Second, the likelihood of exposure living with a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 depends on how the living situation is set up. If the infected individual is observing strict isolation with minimal contact with other members of the house, that would be the lowest risk. Wearing masks and hand hygiene further reduce the risk. 

Third, the degree to which COVID-19 patients are infectious depends on the patient’s phase of infection. The detection of the virus in infected individuals begins several days after the patient gets the virus. It peaks several days after onset of symptoms and can persist for weeks afterwards. Culturable virus has been demonstrated up to 10 days after symptom onset in older populations. According to CDC, once the COVID-19 patient has tested negative twice, the individual no longer has to isolate.

Therefore, assuming substantial contact with the COVID-19 infected patient, the exposed individual should self isolate for 14 days from the time of last contact or the time that the index patient was demonstrated to be negative.