St. Tammany Health System on Monday (Jan. 11) announced the expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to include members of the community who are 70 years or older, as well as local community physicians, their employees and other health professionals.
Eligible patients must make an appointment to receive the vaccine, which is delivered in two doses, each administered three weeks apart. Both appointments must be scheduled before the first dose will be administered.
Appointments should be made via the MyChart app. (Find step-by-step instructions on how to do so at the bottom of this post.) Those experiencing trouble with the MyChart app, or those who don’t have access to a computer or smart phone, can schedule via the health system’s call center by dialing 985-898-4001 and pressing 1.
All public vaccine distribution will take place at STHS’s Express Care clinic at 71338 Hwy. 21, a mile south of the health system’s Covington hospital.
Since December, and in adherence with state guidelines, STHS’s vaccine distribution to this point has focused on front-line healthcare givers.
St. Tammany Health System President and CEO Joan Coffman characterized the expansion of vaccine availability as a watershed moment in the local fight against COVID-19.
“Every individual is part of the solution to eradicating this disease,” Coffman said. “Together, we can achieve 70% immunization of our population, which will mean herd immunity from COVID-19.”