DePaul Community Health Centers (DCHC) recently surpassed administering more than 40,000 COVID-19 virus vaccinations to people in the greater New Orleans community. This effort included DCHC partnering with various entities such as schools, universities, businesses, and other community organizations.
Despite the COVID-19 virus no longer garnering the lion’s share of the general public’s attention, people are still being hospitalized and dying from the virus. It is estimated that more than 5,000 people in the United States are admitted to the hospital daily. Additionally, more than 400 deaths are occurring daily from COVID-19.
The COVID-19 bivalent vaccine booster, which is readily available at DCHC’s pharmacies, protects against the original COVID-19 strain and Omicron variants. The CDC recommends that those who have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccine series (including those who already received booster doses with monovalent vaccines) receive a single booster dose with one of the bivalent vaccines at least two months after the last vaccine dose.
Stacy Greene, MD, DCHC’s infectious disease lead, said that it is equally important to get tested and ultimately treated with oral antiviral therapies for COVID-19 that are available at DCHC’s pharmacies if people are experiencing symptoms.
"If a person is showing symptoms of COVID-19, testing for the virus is very important to help one know their COVID-19 status. The elderly and those with comorbid conditions are at increased risk for progression to severe COVID-19 disease. Oral antiviral therapy, if given within five days of symptom onset, is very effective for prevention of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19."
For more information, or to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination or test, call (504) 207-3060.