LSU Health Shreveport partnered with Film Prize Junior this year to support young filmmakers in the creation of Public Service Announcements to address fears and hesitancies around vaccinations, using their voices and experiences to speak directly to their peers and the greater community about this important issue. Below are the five short films the Film Prize Junior students produced: 

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Join the Club, Get Vaccinated
Directed by Hannah Evans
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Get Informed, Get Vaccinated
Directed by Nick Crosby

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Reunited
Directed by Joshua Valdez

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Hot Girls Get Vaxxed
Directed by Edward Webster

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Precious Memories
Directed by Kingson Willis

LSU Health Shreveport Responds to COVID-19 Crisis   

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

If you would like more information on any story seen here, efforts of LSU Health Shreveport during the COVID-19 pandemic, or are interested in interviewing one of our faculty members, please contact: 

Lisa Babin
Executive Director of Public Affairs, Communications and Development
Email: lisa.babin@lsuhs.edu

Megan Strecker
Research Communications Coordinator
Email: megan.strecker@lsuhs.edu

man speaking, text overlay - covid-19 subvarient spikes

KTAL6 - The medical community advises high-risk people to continue to use precautions such as wearing a mask, keeping their distance, and washing their hands.  Most people who become infected will have a mild case.

Read More about NW Louisiana sees an increase in COVID infections; most have mild symptoms (opens in new window/tab)
three women in a lab

Shreveport Times - "Knowledge is power," said Dr. Krista Queen. "If you get tested and you're positive, you can implement some changes to make sure you reduce the risk to those around you."

Read More about Testing, vaccines, lockdowns and masks: LSU Health doctor explains new COVID variant risks (opens in new window/tab)
The names for COVID variants are a confusing alphabet soup. Here’s why it got so muddled.

Webtimes.UK - Dr. Jeremy Kamil, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at LSUHS shares, "I’d rather have people complaining that we’re not naming enough than that we’re naming too many. It’s like if you sound a fire alarm all the time, people will stop evacuating the building quickly.”

Read More about The names for COVID variants are a confusing alphabet soup. Here’s why it got so muddled. (opens in new window/tab)
three women in a lab

KTAL 6 - Dr. Krista Queen, Director of Viral Genomics and Surveillance for the Center for Emerging Threats at LSUHS, shares there’s increased transmissibility of the new variant, ... but we’re not seeing increased disease severity.

Read More about COVID-19 hospitalizations in Louisiana increasing amid new variant (opens in new window/tab)
woman in car receiving nasal test by medical practitioner wearing PPE

Researchers from academic institutions in Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia have partnered to publish a playbook detailing their model developed for establishing collaborative, community-centered infectious diseases surveillance programs committed to improving equity in genomic sequencing.

Read More about Researchers Publish Playbook for Equitable Viral Genomic Sequencing
PFIZER photo via Associated Press of vials of COVID-19 vaccine during production in Kalamazoo, MI

SB Advocate - LSUHS Associate Director for Clinical Outreach, Dr. John Vanchiere said, "Based on the pattern of COVID activity over the past three years, we do expect to see a winter-time spike in COVID cases, probably beginning in December and peaking in February..."

Read More about Could COVID become like the flu in Louisiana? Here's how the virus is changing. (opens in new window/tab)
three women in a lab

The Center for Emerging Viral Threats at LSUHS recently sequenced the first instances in Louisiana of the XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.9.1 variants. "Detecting these very recently emerging variants demonstrates the robustness of our efforts,” said Krista Queen, PhD, Director of Viral Genomics and Surveillance.

Read More about CEVT Continues to Expand Viral Sequencing Efforts, Sequences Two Omicron Subvariants Becoming More Prevalent in the U.S.
New Data Links Pandemic's Origin to Racoon Dogs at Wuhan Market

NY Times - Genetic samples from the market were recently uploaded to an international database and then removed after scientists asked China about them. LSUHS virologist, Dr. Jeremy Kamil said that fell short of conclusive evidence that an infected animal had set off the pandemic.

Read More about New Data Links Pandemic's Origin to Racoon Dogs at Wuhan Market (opens in new window/tab)
gate with police tape blocking entrance to wuhan market

ABC News - Researchers analyzed genetic data from samples taken at the Wuhan market. "In samples with a hot amount of virus, there was not a trivial amount of DNA and RNA of raccoon dogs," Dr. Jeremy Kamil, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at LSUHS, told ABC News.

Read More about New report suggests COVID pandemic's origins linked to raccoon dogs at Wuhan market (opens in new window/tab)
COVID lab-leak theory gets boost as Energy Department joins FBI in leaning toward it: WSJ

FORTUNE - "The studies don't exclude other hypotheses entirely. But they absolutely are pushing it toward an animal origin,” virologist Jeremy Kamil, at LSU Health Shreveport, told NPR at the time.

Read More about COVID lab-leak theory gets boost as Energy Department joins FBI in leaning toward it: WSJ (opens in new window/tab)
LSUHS Virologist Urges People to get COVID Booster ahead of Mardi Gras

KTBS3 - “It’s important not to trivialize this virus. We’re all back to living as we did before, and I think the best tool we have in our arsenal is to stay current on the vaccine doses,” said Dr. Jeremy Kamil, virologist at LSUHS.

Read More about LSUHS Virologist Urges People to get COVID Booster ahead of Mardi Gras (opens in new window/tab)
Is Northwest Louisiana headed for a COVID surge in 2023? Wastewater may hold the answer

Shreveport Times - The Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats (CEEVT) and its wastewater monitoring laboratory at LSU Health Shreveport have been testing wastewater samples to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in local communities.

Read More about Is Northwest Louisiana headed for a COVID surge in 2023? Wastewater may hold the answer (opens in new window/tab)
COVID making a comeback in Northwest Louisiana

KTAL6 - Dr. Krista Queen with LSUHS says the COVID positivity rate in our area population is six percent. About two months ago, it was just below five percent. She says this is due to social dynamics returning to pre-pandemic norms and people not taking the same precautions.

Read More about COVID making a comeback in Northwest Louisiana (opens in new window/tab)
A stunning 300 new COVID variants are circling the globe. Which ones will break through in the Bay Area?

Mercury News - The (new) variants look a lot like the virus that was the template of our new bivalent booster, so vaccination still works. “It’s not a perfect match … but it’s close,” said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at LSUHS, who studies variant mutations. “In most cases, that’s going to keep the infection in check.”

Read More about A stunning 300 new COVID variants are circling the globe. Which ones will break through in the Bay Area?
What you need to know about the Bivalent Vaccine for protection against COVID-19

318 Forum - Dr. John Vanchiere, professor of medicine and pediatrics, director of community testing and vaccinations and principal investigator for the Pfizer Vaccine Trial in north Louisiana at LSUHS, shares, "The CDC recommends that people ages 12 years and older receive one dose of the updated COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine if it has been at least two months since their last vaccine dose."

Read More about What you need to know about the Bivalent Vaccine for protection against COVID-19 (opens in new window/tab)
Few getting omicron COVID-19 boosters despite Biden administration pleas

Washington Examiner - The Biden administration's fall campaign to get people vaccinated with the omicron booster has been off to a slow start. Dr. John Vanchiere, director for community outreach for Center for Emerging Viral Threats at LSUHS, anticipates that more people will get the updated booster as it gets closer to Thanksgiving in preparation for traveling and visiting family.

Read More about Few getting omicron COVID-19 boosters despite Biden administration pleas (opens in new window/tab)
syringe

Bloomberg - Jeremy Kamil, virologist and professor of microbiology and immunology at LSUHS, shares, "Vaccinated and previously infected people have robust and still-intact lines of defense, such as memory T-cells and B-cells. People previously infected also have additional immune cells that reside in the respiratory tract."

Read More about New Covid Variants Have Arrived. How Worried Should You Be? (opens in new window/tab)
Health officials expect COVID-19 cases to rise as colder weather sets in

KSLA12 - Health officials expect a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases as the colder months set in. That’s due, in part, to the fact that people will be in more confined spaces.But Dr. John Vanchiere, infectious disease specialist at LSUHS, noted also that vaccination rates are lower.

Read More about Health officials expect COVID-19 cases to rise as colder weather sets in (opens in new window/tab)
CENTER FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION: New research, training opportunities

318 Forum - The 155,000-square-foot Center for Medical Education will be home to large classroom spaces, clinical skills labs and simulation suites – each designed to encourage collaboration, active engagement and innovative thinking. 

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New Omicron strains on the horizon could drive future COVID waves

CBC News - A recent spike in cases and hospitalizations in the U.K. have scientists bracing for potential winter waves. Dr. Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at LSUHS shares, "But the possibility that they're going to cause hospitals to be overwhelmed is what I want to dial people back on because we're not seeing any signs of that."

Read More about New Omicron strains on the horizon could drive future COVID waves (opens in new window/tab)
LSU Health Shreveport Offers Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccinations at North Campus Vaccination Site

Bossier Press-Tribune - The FDA-authorized bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, or updated boosters, are now available at LSUHS and include an mRNA component of the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19.

Read More about LSU Health Shreveport Offers Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccinations at North Campus Vaccination Site (opens in new window/tab)
Effect of omicron-specific boosters 'remains to be seen,' vaccine experts say

Washington Examiner - Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at LSUHS, said the months it will have taken to get an updated booster since identifying the omicron variant last November is "unacceptable," resulting in many people getting infected with omicron and needlessly getting sick as previous vaccines proved less effective against the variant.

Read More about Effect of omicron-specific boosters 'remains to be seen,' vaccine experts say (opens in new window/tab)
two scientists in lab

The Louisiana Board of Regents has supported full five-year approval for the Louisiana Addiction Research Center (LARC) and Center for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT), with the CEVT continuing to be a designated Center of Research Excellence. The Board of Regents approval follows unanimous approval of both centers by the LSU Board of Supervisors earlier this year. Both centers were previously granted provisional approval and applied for full center approval earlier this year.

Read More about LSUHS Research Centers Receive Full Authorization from LSU Board of Supervisors and Louisiana Board of Regents
LSU Health Shreveport holds COVID news conference

KSLA 12 - Research experts and medical professionals from LSU Health Shreveport were joined by community leaders to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers informed the community about the latest case numbers and efforts to increase vaccination rates.

Read More about LSU Health Shreveport holds COVID news conference (opens in new window/tab)
Center For Emerging Viral Threats  Reaches Milestone Of Sharing 15,000 Sars-Cov-2 Sequences To Global Database

The Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats’ (CEVT) Viral Genomics and Surveillance Lab has surpassed uploading its’ 15,000th sequence to GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing Influenza Data). The LSU Health Shreveport CEVT team has worked tirelessly since early in the COVID-19 pandemic to sequence and track variants of SAR-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.

Read More about Center For Emerging Viral Threats Reaches Milestone Of Sharing 15,000 Sars-Cov-2 Sequences To Global Database
woman teaching children seated in circle in classroom

KSLA 12 - Dr. John Vanchiere, professor of pediatrics at LSU Health Shreveport said Louisiana ranks 45th and 46th in vaccination for COVID among those ages five to 11 and 11 to 15, respectively. He said he expects the number of cases to grow when students go back to school.

Read More about Health expert, parent share concerns about COVID-19 & sending kids back-to-school
I'm a Virologist and I'm Setting the Record Straight on Variants and Reinfection

NY Times - Opinion - Dr. Jeremy Kamil, ... , shares "As a virologist, it’s important to me that people understand Covid-19 remains a great concern. But this does not excuse or license a misdiagnosis of the current situation."

Read More about I'm a Virologist and I'm Setting the Record Straight on Variants and Reinfection (opens in new window/tab)
Omicron variants keep getting better at dodging our immune systems

Popular Science - The BA.5 wave may not overwhelm hospitals to the degree seen last winter, although emergency rooms and ICUs are already stretched thin. “But there’s definitely going to be an increase to some degree,” says Dr. Jeremy Kamil, a virologist who has led sequencing at LSUHS.

Read More about Omicron variants keep getting better at dodging our immune systems (opens in new window/tab)
New coronavirus variant becomes dominant strain in NWLA

KTAL6 -  Local health experts say the BA.2 omicron variant of the coronavirus has been on the rise across the country and is now the dominant strain in NW Louisiana. “As mysteriously as the virus came on, it’s kind of evolved and become a little less problematic when people get it,” said Dr. Michael Sewell, Section Chief for Division of Internal Medicine / Hospitalist Program.

Read More about New coronavirus variant becomes dominant strain in NWLA (opens in new window/tab)
LSUHS to no longer offer COVID testing at North Campus site

KSLA12 - Beginning Tuesday, April 19, the Center for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT) at LSUHS will no longer offer COVID-19 testing at its North Campus site. This change is due to the low number of COVID-19 cases reported in recent weeks. A look at the Louisiana Department of Health’s COVID case map shows the cases are low across the state.

Read More about LSUHS to no longer offer COVID testing at North Campus site (opens in new window/tab)
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise in Mass.

Boston25 - “We are seeing the prevalence of BA.2 increasing as the overall Omicron wave has crashed,” said Jeremy Kamil, PhD, associate professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. “It is spreading. It can infect people who were previously vaccinated, particularly if they didn’t have a case of BA1.”

Read More about COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise in Mass. (opens in new window/tab)
LSUHS COVID Team Coordinator discusses low rates in recent data

KTBS3 - Shelly Raley, the Program Coordinator for the LSUHS COVID Strike Team, says that circumstances make this current slowdown more calming than previous ones. "Currently there is no big delta or omicron that we see headed our way in the immediate future."

Read More about LSUHS COVID Team Coordinator discusses low rates in recent data (opens in new window/tab)
Bill Cassidy photo

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy was instrumental in the receipt of this funding for LSUHS, which will enhance the impact of the Center for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT) as it is able to expand significantly in the new Center for Medical Education building. Additional medical education and research opportunities will yield enhanced economic impact to the region and the state.

Read More about Senator Bill Cassidy Secures $7M Federal Appropriation for LSU Health Shreveport Center for Medical Education and Emerging Viral Threats
What is the hybrid 'deltacron' variant of the coronavirus?

NBC News - Scientists have detected a handful of cases of the delta-omicron hybrid but say it's unlikely to cause a new surge. Dr. Jeremy Kamil, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at LSUHS says, "Delta basically grabbed omicron's spike protein. This is essentially delta trying to hang on by plagiarizing from omicron."

Read More about What is the hybrid 'deltacron' variant of the coronavirus? (opens in new window/tab)
In the U.S., Identifying Your Variant Isn’t So Easy

Bloomberg - “No tests can tell you for sure what variant you have without full viral genome sequencing,” says Jeremy Kamil, a microbiologist and immunologist at LSU Health Shreveport. In the U.S., current federal guidance prevents labs from informing patients or their physicians about the specific genome-sequencing results.

Read More about In the U.S., Identifying Your Variant Isn’t So Easy (opens in new window/tab)
Is an omicron infection as good as a booster? What the science says about ‘hybrid’ immunity

The Philadelphia Inquirer - In addition to becoming more abundant with each exposure, the antibody response becomes more “mature,” saidDr. Jeremy Kamil, associate professor at LSUHS.

Read More about Is an omicron infection as good as a booster? What the science says about ‘hybrid’ immunity (opens in new window/tab)
Omicron Offers Hope Pandemic Could Stabilize, W.H.O. Official Says.

New York Times - “Expect the next variant to come out of left field,” said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at LSU Health Shreveport. He added, “It’d be a hugely foolish thing for anyone to speak with excessive certainty about what’s coming in the next two years.”

Read More about Omicron Offers Hope Pandemic Could Stabilize, W.H.O. Official Says. (opens in new window/tab)
Omicron Surge - Severity, Testing and Treatments

NPR/Red River Radio - Health Matters: As the Omicron variant is surging in our region and across the country, Dr. Sanford Katz hosts this episode of Health Matters with guests Dr. John Vanchiere, Director of LSU Health Shreveport COVID-19 Community Testing and Vaccinations.

Read More about Omicron Surge - Severity, Testing and Treatments (opens in new window/tab)
LSUHS working with Mercer University to track COVID-19 variants

41NBC - Mercer University School of Medicine, in partnership with the Department of Biomedical Sciences and LSU Health Shreveport, was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. The money will help to guide Covid-19 research about possible variants of the virus.

Read More about LSUHS working with Mercer University to track COVID-19 variants (opens in new window/tab)
Muhammad Sabir Mazhar/Anadolu Agency/Getty

iNews.co.uk - Jeremy Kamil, virologist and associate professor at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, told i: “SARS-Cov-2 is not going to become a ‘common cold’ / ordinary ‘seasonal’ coronavirus within the span of the next few months or even years.”

Read More about ‘Endemic’ Covid? The pandemic will only be over when the world is jabbed (opens in new window/tab)
WHO image of Omicron Cells

Today UK News - Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at LSUHS, agreed the world is now “well equipped” for the fight but viruses are always coming up with “countermeasures”. He suggests Covid could become more stealthy, like tuberculosis or HIV, with a longer “silent” phase of infection. (image: WHO)

Read More about Covid may become stealthier like HIV in ‘silent’ infection phase, experts warn (opens in new window/tab)
Health Matters: Omicron Surge - Severity, Testing and Treatments

NPR / Red River Radio - As the Omicron variant is surging in our region and across the country, Dr. John Vanchiere, Director of LSUHS COVID-19 Community Testing and Vaccinations, talks about how people are faring with this variant, testing and treatments, new isolation recommendations, and more.

Read More about Health Matters: Omicron Surge - Severity, Testing and Treatments (opens in new window/tab)
LSUHS team conducts record number of COVID tests

KTBS3 - The LSUHS COVID-19 Strike team and Emerging Viral Threats lab hit a record high with over 14,000 COVID-19 tests conducted last week. This is quite a feat, considering many areas across the country have had to scale back testing to symptomatic people only because staff members and labs were overrun.

Read More about LSUHS team conducts record number of COVID tests (opens in new window/tab)
These Omicron Symptoms are Ones to Watch For

Eat This, Not That! - For many people, respiratory symptoms are the first sign of Omicron. "It's mostly that runny nose, sore throat and nasal congestion," Dr. John Vanchiere, the associate director of the Center for Emerging Viral Threats at LSU Health Shreveport, told NPR.

Read More about These Omicron Symptoms are Ones to Watch For (opens in new window/tab)
What we know about the symptoms — and the severity — of the omicron variant

NPR - "It's mostly that runny nose, sore throat and nasal congestion," says Dr. John Vanchiere, the associate director of the Center for Emerging Viral Threats at LSU Health Shreveport. "The cough is milder [than previous variants], if there's any cough at all, and fever seems to be a little less common."

Read More about What we know about the symptoms — and the severity — of the omicron variant (opens in new window/tab)
LSUHS Moves Community Testing and Vaccination Activities  Back to Louisiana State Fairgrounds

Effective Wednesday, January 5, LSUHS will move its community COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts back to the Louisiana State Fairgrounds located at 3701 Hudson Ave. to reduce wait times and accommodate more individuals each day. 

Read More about LSUHS Moves Community Testing and Vaccination Activities Back to Louisiana State Fairgrounds
‘All the telltale signs are there’: Louisiana on cusp of another COVID-19 surge, doctors say

Dr. John Vanchiere, an infectious disease specialist at LSU Health Shreveport, agrees. “We are seeing significant increases in our positivity rates in our community testing and, unfortunately, also in our nursing home testing.

Read More about ‘All the telltale signs are there’: Louisiana on cusp of another COVID-19 surge, doctors say (opens in new window/tab)
Can faster testing for the omicron COVID variant help slow the spread in Northwest Louisiana?

Shreveport Times - Despite the increased attention of omicron, delta continues to be the main variant in Louisiana, however, Dr. John Vanchiere, an infectious disease expert and Associate Director of the Center for Emerging Viral Threats at LSUHS, believes that could change much faster than some might think.

Read More about Can faster testing for the omicron COVID variant help slow the spread in Northwest Louisiana? (opens in new window/tab)
Do we need a new vaccine for omicron? Fauci says not yet, other experts disagree

TheBulletin.org - Associate professor of microbiology and immunology at LSUHS Jeremy Kamil said he is “not at all convinced” that the current vaccines will continue to be protective “indefinitely.” "We just need to update our shot to show our body a repertoire that encompasses the variability at the key sites for neutralization"

Read More about Do we need a new vaccine for omicron? Fauci says not yet, other experts disagree (opens in new window/tab)
LSUHS experts use genomic sequencing to identify Omicron variant in Louisiana

KSLA12 - Sequencing is a multi-step process that includes using robotic technology to help make the process faster, more efficient and to reduce human error. "While this new variant has more mutations than others, her team is much more equipped this time around," says Dr. Krista Queen, Director of Viral Genomics and Surveillance for LSUHS.

Read More about LSUHS experts use genomic sequencing to identify Omicron variant in Louisiana (opens in new window/tab)
Getty Images: Omicron Variant

Shreveport Times - "The definitive 'are we protected' is not known yet, and won't be for a couple of weeks. Based on the sequencing and what we know about the protection of the vaccine, we expect there will be some protection," shared Dr. John Vanchiere, Infectious Disease Specialist at LSUHS. CDC updates on Omicron Variant

Read More about Probable COVID omicron variant cases are in Northwest Louisiana; more found statewide (opens in new window/tab)
Adrian Almodovar and Dr. Krista Queen, lab photo, Shreveport Times

Shreveport Times - Research Notebook: Since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic scientists around the world have been working together on critical genomic sequencing efforts to better understand how the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads and evolves and help guide and evaluate public health response. 

Read More about LSUHS contributes to COVID sequencing milestone for global database (opens in new window/tab)
image of proposed Center for Wellness building

Roy O. Martin III and Kathy Martin have donated $500,000 to the Center for Medical Education as part of a larger LSU system-wide gift supporting top capital priorities for the Fierce for the Future Campaign. The Martin’s gift will be directed to the Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT) to be housed on the top floor of the Center for Medical Education.

Read More about Thanks for the Martin's Gift to support the Center for Medical Education
Pfizer booster study promising vs omicron, but time will ultimely tell

KTAL/KMSS - Local infectious disease expert and LSU Health Shreveport Director of Testing and Vaccines says the findings of a small study showing Pfizer’s booster offers strong protection against the fast-spreading omicron variant are promising, but it will be a few more weeks before we know just how effective it is.

Read More about Pfizer booster study promising vs omicron, but time will ultimely tell (opens in new window/tab)
Doctors encourage people to roll up their sleeve for National Flu Vaccination Week

“It is very important for folks to get vaccinated against flu and COVID so that we can, prevent illness and death in the community and keep folks out of the hospital. And reduce the transmission of these to other people who may not be able to be vaccinated,” said Dr. John Vanchiere, infectious disease specialist at LSUHS.

Read More about Doctors encourage people to roll up their sleeve for National Flu Vaccination Week (opens in new window/tab)
The race to decipher Omicron: will it take days, weeks or months?

Financial Times - Labs are scrambling to answer 3 fundamental questions: is it more transmissible, can it evade the vaccination, and does it cause more severe disease? Jeremy Kamil, a virologist studying Sars-Cov-2 evolution at LSUHS, describes his shock when this genome was released. “It was like coming home from vacation and seeing that someone hasn’t just planted a few flowers in your garden. They’ve remodeled the whole landscape.”

Read More about The race to decipher Omicron: will it take days, weeks or months? (opens in new window/tab)
Omicron variant much different than past variants, with more mutations

KTBS3 - Jeremy Kamil, PhD., a virologist at LSU Health Shreveport, says the Omicron variant was first found on Nov. 11. What the South African scientists discovered was that this new variant is a lot different than the ones that have been seen so far. "This one is very extensively mutated.”

Read More about Omicron variant much different than past variants, with more mutations (opens in new window/tab)
Omicron Undetected in U.S. So Far, Testing Biden Sequencing Plan

Bloomberg - While the U.S. is sequencing a much higher percentage of Covid samples than earlier, the bigger issue may be that not enough virus testing is done in the first place, said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport.

Read the Full Article in PDF

Read More about Omicron Undetected in U.S. So Far, Testing Biden Sequencing Plan (opens in new window/tab)
La. Tech, Grambling, LSU Health Shreveport are partnering to learn how COVID-19 is spreading

News Star - Louisiana Tech University, Grambling State University, LSU Health Shreveport and several health clinics across the region are working together to sequence the COVID-19 virus to learn how it's spreading and if any new variants arise. Research from the three universities is made available for the public online at nla-health.com.

Read More about La. Tech, Grambling, LSU Health Shreveport are partnering to learn how COVID-19 is spreading (opens in new window/tab)
LSUHS partners with Film Prize Junior for COVID-19 Vaccine Public Service Announcements

An official release of five PSAs created by five student filmmakers from the Northwest Louisiana area was held on November 22nd at LSUHS as part of a collaboration between the Film Prize Junior program and LSUHS, followed by Q&A sessions about this project.

Read More about LSUHS partners with Film Prize Junior for COVID-19 Vaccine Public Service Announcements
Dr. John Vanchiere, Professor of Pediatrics, LSU Health Shreveport (photo)

KTBS3 - “It's not an emergency, it's not a ‘got to do this before the winter’ kind of thing,” said Dr. John Vanchiere, director of COVID-19 community testing and vaccinations at LSUHS. “We’d rather have more young adults get vaccinated, than use boosters in that age group at this point. That would be much more effective."

Read More about COVID boosters not an emergency for healthy adults (opens in new window/tab)
LSU Health Shreveport administers 100,000th vaccine  and Announces Availability of Pfizer Vaccine for those ages 5 – 11

The LSU Health Shreveport COVID-19 Strike Teams reached a major milestone today having administered just over 100,000 VACCINATIONS. Over 175 individuals have been a part of the LSUHS vaccine teams comprised of physicians, nurses, nursing, medical and allied health students, and the Louisiana National Guard.

Read More about LSU Health Shreveport administers 100,000th vaccine and Announces Availability of Pfizer Vaccine for those ages 5 – 11
LSUHS infectious disease expert weighs in on lifting of mask mandate

KTBS3 -  As mask mandates are lifted across the state, the medical community is waiting to see what effects may come from the decision. Dr. John Vanchiere, an infectious disease expert at LSU-Health Shreveport, said overall, he thinks that it was the right decision. 

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Doctors: Don’t underestimate COVID-19 as Louisiana’s indoor mask mandate expires

KTAL/KMSS -  Shreveport doctors are urging the public to not underestimate COVID-19 as Governor Edwards has lifted the state’s mask mandate for at least the next four weeks. Dr. Andrew Yurochko with LSUHS says the virus spread has followed a pattern and therefore, one must continue to protect him or herself.

Read More about Doctors: Don’t underestimate COVID-19 as Louisiana’s indoor mask mandate expires (opens in new window/tab)
New COVID variant found in Louisiana by LSU Health Shreveport scientists

A new variant of COVID-19 has been identified in Louisiana by scientists at the LSU Health Shreveport Emerging Viral Threats Center. LSUHS announced this month that the B.1.630 variant had been sequenced and reported by the center, though health officials believe this variant's predominance is very low and much less transmissable than the deadly delta variant.

Read More about New COVID variant found in Louisiana by LSU Health Shreveport scientists (opens in new window/tab)
African American Celebration Committee hosts COVID-19 vaccination clinic with LSUHS

KSLA12 - “We can do it. We know there is no reason why we can’t do it. Most of the people who have been hospitalized or have severe disease now have not been vaccinated. We know that getting vaccinated reduces the likelihood that you end up in the hospital, at least 25-fold,” said Former State Representative Barbara Norton.

Read More about African American Celebration Committee hosts COVID-19 vaccination clinic with LSUHS (opens in new window/tab)
LDH reports alarming increase in Severe Pregnancy Outcomes due to COVID-19

KSLA12 - “What we tended to see with the Delta variant is it has impacted our pregnant populations very very hard, especially at the height of the Delta variant we had transfers from all over the state of pregnant woman who were in respiratory distress and significantly decompensating,” said Dr. Caitlin Busada, associate program director of residency of Obstetrics & Gynecology at LSUHS.

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LSU Health Shreveport first to detect New COVID-19 Variant in Louisiana

The EVT Viral Genomics and Sequencing Lab at LSU Health Shreveport is first in the state to sequence and report that a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been detected in Louisiana. The new variant, B.1.630, was sequenced last week from two samples collected in Baton Rouge.

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FDA review of Pfizer data for child vaccinations could take weeks

KTBS3 - Dr. John Vanchiere, the lead investigator in the Pfizer vaccine study at LSUHS said, “We expect that to take at least four to six weeks of time. And Pfizer and Moderna are both starting additional enrollment in the pediatric studies in that 5- to 11-year-old age range, so that they can get more data under the research protocol to submit to the FDA when it’s appropriate.”

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Immunobridging data used in Pfizer vaccine study for kids

KTBS3 - Dr. John Vanchiere, an infectious disease and pediatrics specialist and the lead investigator on the Pfizer vaccine study at LSU Health Shreveport, shares "Demonstrating effectiveness that is preventing hospitalization and death or severe disease is very challenging in the pediatric population, because kids don't get generally very sick."

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Delta’s highly infectious nature positions it to outcompete new variants, scientists say

Wall Street Journal - Some virologists believe the Delta variant evolved to maximize transmissibility and that its ability to spread rapidly will eventually reach a ceiling as more of the global population gets vaccinated. “It looks like this virus is already driving a Lamborghini right now in terms of transmissibility, so I’m not sure it can get much faster,” said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at LSU Health Shreveport who is studying coronavirus genetics. Read the full article.

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LSUHS Infectious Disease Professor sees signs Delta may be slowing in NWLA

KTAL/KMSS - “It seems that we’re past our peak of this delta variant surge,” said LSUHS Professor Dr. John Vanchiere. “Most of the rest of the nation is still in the climbing phase of this delta surge, so we’re a few weeks ahead of many places in terms of, our numbers seem to be slowing down on hospitalization side.”

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Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport addresses President Biden’s vaccine mandate for employers with 100 or more workers

KTAL/KMSS - “By November 1st, if people are not vaccinated then they would not be able to work inside of the various Ochsner facilities,” says Dr. Charles Fox, the chief medical officer at Ochsner LSU Health. 

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Lambda, B.1.621 variants: How many cases of new COVID-19 variants have been found in Utah

ABC4 - “We do not know whether this is going to be better or worse than Delta, there’s not enough information,” Dr. Andrew Yurochko with LSU Health Shreveport tells NewsNation. “Forty-four states have reported Lambda cases and WHO has labeled it “a variant of interest.”

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“Worst surge we’ve seen”: Some hospitals in delta hot spots close to breaking point

AAMC.org - Despite more than 70% of adults in the country having received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 81% of people 65 and older being vaccinated, a dramatic spike in infections among unvaccinated younger people, coupled with staffing shortages, is testing the surge plans hospital systems developed for previous waves.

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LSU Health Shreveport physician that help oversee Pfizer COVID vaccine trial says FDA full approval is a milestone

LA Radio Network - “Those who have been hesitant to take this as a very important milestone that should allow them just to breathe a sigh of relief and go get their vaccine,” said LSUHS Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. John Vanchiere.

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Viral evolution 101: Why the coronavirus has changed as it has, and what it means going forward

StatNews - By cutting how much the virus replicates — both through preventing infections and by shortening the infections that do occur — vaccines limit the likelihood of additional, more dangerous variants. Says Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at LSUHS, “The virus has to replicate in order to mutate, but each virus doesn’t get many lottery tickets in a vaccinated person who’s infected.”

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Children caught in Covid culture wars as US politicians defy health advice

The Guardian - Dr. John Vanchiere, a professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases at LSUHS, shared that caring for seriously ill children is always distressing, but more so when “we know the vast majority of these infections are preventable." 

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Masks required for runners at Falmouth Road Race

Cape Cod Times - “I would say (the road race) is probably minimal risk” for the spread of the novel respiratory virus,” said Jeremy Kamil, PhD, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at LSUHS, where he leads COVID-19 genomic sequencing. “It’s a lot of people running, breathing hard, but they’re breathing outside. The ventilation factor is enormous.”

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LSUHS to administer third dose of COVID vaccine for immunocompromised

KSLA - Emerging data have demonstrated that immunocompromised people who have low or no protection following two doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may have an improved response after an additional dose of the same vaccine. No appointments are necessary to get the additional shot, but LSUHS suggests you come based on a schedule shown here.

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Pfizer vaccine study for kids younger than 12 continues

KTBS - With children headed back to school during yet another COVID-19 surge, many parents of young children are wondering when those under age 12 will be able to get vaccinated. Dr. John Vanchiere, lead investigator on Pfizer vaccine trials at LSUHS, said the hospital is seeing an increase in vaccinations for the 12-18 age group. As for kids ages 5-11, the trials are ongoing and expanding.

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COVID ‘Doomsday Variant’ Report Criticized for ‘Fear Mongering’

Heavy.com -  Dr. Jeremy Kamil, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at LSUHS leads COVID-19 sequencing at the institution shared that he believes a doomsday variant is extremely unlikely and that people should be talking instead about the importance of getting vaccinated because variants can develop when large numbers of people do not.

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Clinical Leaders address COVID-19 at LA-CEAL Town Hall

Dr. John Vanchiere, Professor of Pediatrics and Infectious Disease at LSUHS served as was one of eight clinical leaders in Louisiana invited to participate in The Louisiana Community Engagement Alliance Against Covid-19 Disparities (LA-CEAL) Town Hall meeting which was designed to provided updated information on COVID-19.

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Parents encouraged to observe their child’s mental health as they return to school

KNOE - Dr. Shawn McNeil, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at LSUHS says mental health is as important and in some cases more important than a person’s physical health. He says some children are going through a lot of stressful events right now. including their sleep schedule changing, more expectations in a new grade level, or the pandemic, including mask mandates.

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Indoor mask mandate ordered across Louisiana

KSLA12 - Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has implemented a statewide indoor mask mandate to combat the spread of COVID-19 and the delta variant of the virus. Gov. Edwards made the declaration during a news conference Monday, Aug. 2. The new mask mandate is set to expire on Sept. 1, 2021, but could be extended if needed, the governor said.

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LSUHS awarded contract for K-12 COVID testing in 32 parishes

KTAL/KMSS - LSUHS was awarded one of three contracts in Louisiana to deliver FREE COVID-19 testing in kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) for the 2021-2022 school year. The agreement is in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) and the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) with funding provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

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Protocol for the fully-vaccinated as Delta Variant is spreading fast

KTAL - Dr. Yurochko, a Professor and Vice-chair of Microbiology and Immunology at LSU Health Shreveport, said by now one ought to know that “masks absolutely work” — and his stance on it is abundantly clear, citing Delta variant is more infectious and anyone who is more vulnerable or who has underlying health issues should mask up.

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In Louisiana, Vaccine Misinformation Has Public Health Workers Feeling ‘Stuck’

New York Times - Facing deep mistrust stoked by rampant conspiracy theories, local health officials are fighting for influence when the only sure strategy for beating back the virus is getting more people vaccinated. “It’s a lot of small battles in different places,” Dr. John Vanchiere said, “and every battle is going to be different.”

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In Louisiana, vaccine misinformation and Delta variant grow

Boston Globe - Dr. Jeremy Kamil, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at LSUHS, oversees a team of scientists reading the genomes of positive virus samples each week. A run of samples this week found the number of cases involving the delta variant had exploded. Dr. John Vanchiere, a professor of infectious disease at LSUHS said a growing public awareness of local delta cases was one reason his team was now vaccinating twice as many people as a month ago — as many as 100 a day.

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Local clergy and Vaccination providers are joining forces to administer free vaccinations to all citizens at TEEN FEST

Local clergy and Vaccination providers, including LSU Health Shreveport, are joining forces to administer free Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccinations to all citizens with particular emphasis on teenagers.  Also, other health screening services will be offered including blood pressure checks, COVID-19 Rapid Test, glucose/blood sugar check and physical fitness activities for the whole family.

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More Variants Are Coming, and the U.S. Isn’t Ready to Track Them

Bloomberg News - Given the patchy start to COVID surveillance last year, some experts have expressed concern over whether the CDC can create a system that will help bring the pandemic to a true end. Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at LSUHS, points out that the agency takes weeks to provide data from sequencing including diseases such as influenza, too.

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LSUHS Pediatrician on masks in schools debate

KSLA 12 - On Monday, July 19, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggested all kids age 2 or older should wear a face mask. “The ages 12 and under, they are a vulnerable population and the argument from the AAP that wearing mask in schools will help lessen the risk of transmission and infectivity for those, I think is a very strong argument,” said Thomas.

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Hospitals responding to latest surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations

KSLA 12 - Dr. Jonathan Eaton, a critical care doctor with LSUHS shares his main concern during this latest surge in COVID-19 cases is the new age group being impacted. “The best thing we have is being vaccinated. Don’t think because your 30 to 40 years old you’re invincible to this.”

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Facts Not Fear: Top Shreveport Doctor Has Delta Variant Answers

KEEL Radio - LSUHS Dr. John Vanchiere talks about the medical community's growing concern over the new COVID Delta variant. "We've gone from a hundred cases a day to over twelve hundred cases a day," he says, addressing the increase across the state, "We're seeing a lot more infections now, locally as well as statewide. It's a big surge in infections."

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As Delta variant rises, so do second-dose skippers

Boston 25 News - Dr. Jeremy Kamil, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at LSU Health in Shreveport, Louisiana, calls the two-dose data very clear and very strong. “You can control your behavior and go back and get that second shot and do your part to protect our community and to protect our country from the pandemic having another big wave here."

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COVID-19 boosters likely not needed for first year

KTBS 3 - Dr. John Vanchiere, an infectious disease specialist and the principal investigator in the Pfizer vaccine study at LSU Health Shreveport, said they are now in the 10th month of the initial clinical trials and no booster is needed so far. “So our current look is that for the vast majority of people, boosters are not on the horizon, at least for the first year after injection.”

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Getting the vaccine gets easier, multiple agencies collaborate to bring it to communities

KTBS 3 - A mobile vaccination effort continued at the Renaissance of Allendale Apartments. This was a collaborative effort of multiple agencies: City of Shreveport, HUD, Department of HHS, LSU Health Shreveport and Shreveport Housing Authority. "The way that we combat that virus, the way that we get back to normalcy is through being vaccinated and I do not want us to let our guard down," said Shreveport Mayor Perkins. 

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Delta plus India: Scientists say too early to tell risk of Covid-19 variant

BBC World - Even with 166 examples of Delta plus shared on GISAID, "we don't have much reason to believe this is any more dangerous than the original Delta," according to Dr Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at LSU Health Shreveport. "Delta plus might have a slight advantage at infecting and spreading between people previously infected earlier or who have weak or incomplete vaccine immunity."

Nurse with COVID syringe

NOLA.com - “This virus can get past the defenses that our bodies made against earlier pandemic viruses,” said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist who has been sequencing variants at LSU Health Shreveport. Being infected last summer will not necessarily protect someone from being infected by the delta variant.

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CDC: Higher number of Myocarditis cases reported after second dose of mRNA Covid vaccines

Louisiana Radio Network - LSU Health Shreveport infectious disease professor Dr. John Vanchiere said cases have been the highest amongst men under the age of 18. “The cases that have been reported in-depth on, about 400 cases, they have said that all of those who’ve been effected have recovered.” (image from Amelia Heart & Vascular Center)

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Delta coronavirus variant: scientists brace for impact

Nature - The rapid rise of the highly transmissible strain in the United Kingdom has put countries in Europe, North America and Africa on watch. Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at LSU Health Shreveport, expects Delta to eventually become dominant in the United States, “but to be somewhat blunted by vaccination”.

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COVID vaccination efforts continue into summer months

KSLA 12 - Across Louisiana, more than 3 million doses of the vaccine have been placed in arms, while 1.4 million Louisianans are fully vaccinated — about 32% of the state. “The faster we can vaccinate ... the more difficult it is for these variants to emerge across the world, and we are seeing it,” LSUHS Dr. John Vanchiere said.

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LSU Health Shreveport receives grant for global response to pandemic threats

Louisiana Radio Network - The objective of the grant is to strengthen global capabilities to detect and respond to pandemic threats in the future. Director for Emerging Viral Threats at LSUHS Dr. Andrew Yurochko said the award is indicative of LSU Health Shreveport’s strides in detecting variants and assisting with vaccine rollout.

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LSU Health Shreveport Receives $730,000 in NIH Funding for Sequencing of COVID-19

Red River Radio - Work by Drs. Jeremy Kamil and Rona Scott along with COBRE principal investigators Drs. Andrew Yurochko and Chris Kevil has produced and shared 2,839 full coverage SARS-CoV-2 genomes, which amounts to over 60% of the SARSCoV-2 genome surveillance from Louisiana, and 1.2 % of the total US data submitted to GISAID which is the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data.

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Rockefeller Foundation announces grant funding to LSUHS to build coalition to detect and respond to pandemic threats

The Rockefeller Foundation - LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) is receiving funding ($340,000) from the Rockefeller Foundation. This follows the announcement yesterday of LSUHS being awarded $730,000 to further its work in genomic sequencing of COVID-19 through a NIH supplemental grant.  LSUHS joins Harvard and the Broad Institute at MIT among others in the US Regional Accelerators for Genomic Surveillance.

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As Vaccines Turn Pandemic’s Tide, U.S. and Europe Diverge on Path Forward

New York Times - The split is particularly stark in Britain, which is facing the spread of a new variant, while America has essentially lifted all rules for people who are vaccinated. “Globally, it’s a nightmare, because most of the world is still not vaccinated,” said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport. “It raises the stakes.”

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LSU Health Shreveport detects first reported B.1.617.2 (Indian) COVID-19 variant in Louisiana

LSU Health Shreveport has identified two cases of the novel COVID-19 variant of concern, B.1.617.2, which was first identified in India and is rapidly spreading around the world. LSU Health Shreveport sequencing also reveals that B.1.1.7, sometimes called “the U.K. variant,” remains dominant in North Louisiana, as is the case in the rest of the United States, as well. 

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Fully vaccinated can mostly forgo masks; shots still recommended

Daily Iberian - "What we know is that people who were vaccinated, if they do get sick, if they catch COVID, their symptoms are generally mild, and the amount of virus in their nose is generally less,” said Dr. John Vanchiere, infectious disease and pediatrics specialist at LSU Health Shreveport.

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Why second shot is critical for COVID-19 protection

ArkLaTex Homepage - “Why the second shot is so important, is the first one gives you a good response, the second one is better, and the third one gets even better and better and better. And so it just primes your immune response,” Dr. Andrew Yurochko, professor of microbiology and immunology at LSUHS said.

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brain cell image

Los Angeles Times - Scientists have found that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is capable of infecting two types of brain cells — neurons and astrocytes. Scientists have been trying to understand why and how it causes these issues in the brain, said study leader Diana Cruz-Topete, a molecular endocrinologist at LSU Health Shreveport.

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A COVID-19 patient receives treatment at a hospital in Bangalore, India

China Daily - "Despite a few mutations here and there, the virus is still SARS-CoV-2 and the disease is still COVID-19. Risk will be highest to the elderly, and to those in high-risk groups, such as people who are diabetic, overweight, (have) high blood pressure, or who have inborn errors of immunity," warned Dr. Jeremy Kamil, LSUHS associate professor.

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Jose Guzman-Wug, 16, received a COVID-19 vaccination on April 15 in Los Angeles, California, while his mother looked on. (All

The74Million - “Until you get upwards of 80 percent of children vaccinated, you’re going to have a hard time going back to pre-pandemic practices without some risk of illness and death,” Jeremy Kamil, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, told The 74.

Read More about Vaccines For Youth 12 & Up Expected This Summer, But Schools Unlikely To Require Shots (opens in new window/tab)
syringe

KTBS - Dr. John Vanchiere, lead investigator on the Pfizer vaccine study at LSUHS said, “The vaccine is effective at several things. Number one, reducing people from getting sick from COVID and spreading it to other people. Big time important is that vaccination reduces hospitalization and death.”

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Community Testing and COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts

LSU Health Shreveport continues COVID-19 testing, while simultaneously offering large scale vaccine clinics and leading Louisiana in sequencing the virus from positive test samples. Testing and vaccine sites are located throughout Northwest Louisiana—including Minden, Monroe, Ruston and rural outlying cities like Tallulah. A concerted effort has been made to deliver testing and vaccines regardless of the ability to register or travel far outside of one’s home as “access for all” has been a guiding principle for the delivery these services.

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Nurses prepare vaccine shots

KPVI 6 News - "A bit of low-grade fever, or muscle aches, fatigue for a couple of days, even headaches after getting your vaccine are not uncommon,” states Dr. John Vanchiere, the lead investigator on the Pfizer vaccine study at LSU Health Shreveport. “That’s an indicator that your immune response is kicking in."

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People in line for COVID19 testing in Jammu, Kashmir by EPA

BBC News - A coronavirus variant identified in India is being investigated by scientists across the world. However, it is not yet known how far it has spread or whether it is driving the deadly second wave of Covid in India itself. Dr Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at LSUHS, says, "I doubt whether the Indian variant is more infectious than the UK variant - and we must not panic."

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MiGS image

Pitt News - “A variant is like a unique constellation of mutations while a mutation will be like one star in that constellation,” stated Jeremy Kamil, virologist at LSU Health Shreveport. “Alternatively, if a variant was a fingerprint, then a mutation will be one line that’s part of the fingerprint.”

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Center for Medical Education building draft image

KEEL 101.7FM - The local medical community has stepped up on several fronts to battle COVID-19 on the front lines and in the lab. The Commission has approved the donation of as much as $1 million dollars for the Center for Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT). This money will be used for a new building to expand the local medical school and for continued research.

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woman receiving covid19 vaccine

KTBS 3 - "Those who are hesitant, and I would say that's the vast majority ... those who are hesitant, than refusing ... will see very quickly that their colleagues have gotten the vaccine and no adverse side effects or long term complications or other issues," said Dr. John Vanchiere of LSU Health Shreveport.

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Image of nurse with vaccine vial from BBC News Russia

BBC.com/Russia - Scientists from the United States and Argentina came to this conclusion after analyzing the neutralizing ability of the sera of those vaccinated with the Russian vaccine. But Sputnik still protects against a severe form of the disease, the authors emphasize.

Read More about Sputnik may be less effective against South African strain of coronavirus
Health officials focus on helping the homeless receive a COVID-19 vaccine

KTBS 3 - It's been difficult for much of the homeless to get to sites like the Louisiana State Fairgrounds. That's why Dr. John Vanchiere, an infectious disease specialist with LSU Health Shreveport, looked at all options, even transportation to get the homeless population there.

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vaccine vials in distribution machine

KSLA12 - LSUHS Dr. John Vanchiere said as a country we have a long history of producing vaccines and it’s normal for manufacturing issues to occur. The fact that it’s recognized and there’s a transparency to the reporting should give us even more trust.

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