As of March 2022, the information on this site is no longer being updated. Please visit Vaccines.gov to find a vaccine near you. Visit Covid.gov for information on masks, treatments, testing, and community risk levels. For assistance call 211 or the LA State COVID Vaccine Hotline at 1-855-453-0774.
Many people in Acadiana want to know how serious COVID is and how the variant surges are affecting healthcare locally.
We are collecting interviews, videos, and comments from doctors and nurses in Acadiana and around the state of Louisiana who are sharing their experiences treating COVID patients in the hospitals here. View a list of popular topics here.
Recent Posts
- Omicron
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAOmicron.
There’s more uncertainty than certainty right now.
Anticipate some back and forth as the necessary time passes to gain reliable data. Here’s what we know and what we can control: - Antibody Tests
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAAntibody tests.
I wish they could tell you what you want to know.
But wishes don’t make truths.
We will learn more but here is the current truth regarding antibody tests. - Natural Immunity
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAThe problem with relying on “natural immunity”.
- Vaccine Approved for Ages 5-11
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAMy children rely on me even more than my patients do.
I know the science.
I know the balance.
I know I’m doing right by my boys.
Our appointments are made - Boosters Are A Go
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAFinally, a lot of official recommendations on boosters and mixing Vaccines.
- Post Surge: What Is Our Normal Now?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAFeels good to not be in a surge.
But our new baseline still isn’t normal. It still affects people’s health.
We can do better and we can prevent worse.
If we vaccinate more. - Suspicion and Science
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAThat feeling of suspicion you get when faced with new science, or new medicines.
That’s normal.
This is why. - Freedom
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAFreedom.
Are there limits?
What would freedom look like without limits?
How do vaccines and mandates fit into freedom?. - COVID Test Accuracy
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LASimple question: How many Covid tests do I need to do to be sure of my result?
No simple answer. Sorry.
Let me explain why the answer to this question is different for different people, different results and different times of the year.
I’ll try to simplify pretest and posttest probabilities and likelihood ratios. - How COVID Turns Your Body Against You
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAOnce you understand what’s happening in your body as COVID invades…
The vaccine looks a whole lot more clever, simple and appealing.
3 minutes on how Covid takes over and uses your body against you. - What if You Feel Sick?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAWhat if you feel sick, or maybe it’s just allergies… or a cold or ‘sinuses’.
It’s different now.
I had the sniffles a while back. This is how I navigated a runny nose in this new world.
With caution, multiple swabs, care and transparency.
And an n95/double mask combo just in case. - Vaccine Dose in Children
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAAs we prepare for the vaccine EUA for ages 5-11: Let’s address a common question on weight vs dosing.
- Vaccine Fear
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAQuick tip: How to view vaccine fear
.
- Antibody Dependent Enhancement
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LABuilding a fear tactic Step 1:
complicated medical concept
Example:
Antibody dependent enhancement
Let’s talk through this claim and how it matches the pattern of fear over fact, perfectly.
- Recognizing a Fear Tactic
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAHow to recognize claims based in fear, not fact. There’s a pattern. Once you recognize the pattern, it’s easy to ignore the noise, avoid the anxiety and eliminate the fear regarding the vaccines.
- COVID Testing Tips
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAHopefully you won’t need this information for a while:
What are the available COVID tests, what are their limitations and how does good clinical medicine approach all clinical testing.
As with all things in medicine, it is more complicated than it seems and that often can feed suspicion.
So let’s remove the confusion..
- Beating the Fourth Surge
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAPassing our 4th peak.
And that relief is so nice.
But what we do next will determine if we get to keep this feeling into Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I want this feeling then too. Don’t you? - Pfizer Booster Recommendations
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LANew Pfizer booster recommendations.
- Medical Decision Making
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAQuick Tok
- When Someone’s Truth is not THE Truth
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAHow rumors can be misleading. In a Big way.
- Nanoparticles
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAHigh tech, high science terms can easily invoke suspicion.
Let’s talk about nanoparticles, specifically the lipid kind. - Kids, Risk & Vaccines
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAMy kids and the Covid vaccine. …
- Myocarditis
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAMyocarditis, the vaccines and Covid. …
- Clotting and Vaccines
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LALet’s go through the rare potential risks of the vaccines. …
- Boosters ‘VRBPAC’ Advisory Committee Update
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LABoosters.
What’s the news?
And why?
Please note this recommendation has a chance for one more round of revisions before it becomes official.
Because Science is so careful. - Being Wise About Risk
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LARisk is everywhere. …
- Kissing Strangers
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAQuick Tok …
- Death Certificates & COVID
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LADr. Britni Hebert discusses COVID death certificates in her latest TikTok video.
- When Do We Go Back To Normal Again?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAWhen do we get back to ‘normal’?
- Vitamins & Health
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAVitamins.
What is their role in Health and Covid? - Vaccines & Mutations
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAVaccines and variants.
What is the relationship?
Not theories, or conjecture.
What do the numbers show?
& Since this idea of man-made resistance stems from antibiotics, let’s talk about how vaccines are so different from antibiotics. - Fear Mongering?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAMade this video a couple weeks ago, after having heartbreaking talks with some families. Not about bad news. Just about the lack of news or change or sign of hope. For them, it is again and again. Week after week.
Some of them are still praying by bedsides.
They are the tortured lucky ones. The ones who haven’t lost yet.
My heart goes fully to those who have lost, and who have suffered the long, gradual wringing grasp of covid before they did. - But I’m Healthy
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAHealth
If it has to protect you, you risk losing it.
If you want to keep it, you should protect your health.
Not the other way around. - The Test of COVID
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAWhat is it like for some who face Covid unprepared?
It’s hard to explain that look of realization.
That it’s true
That it’s big
That it’s too late to do it different - Why Vaccine Makers Are Not Liable
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAWhy are vaccine makers exempt from liability?
It may be surprising to hear but it’s for your own protection, health and future. - Who Can’t Vaccinate?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAWho should not vaccinate?
Let’s go through the (very short) list.
This video does not address short term delays for active febrile illness, etc. - When Your Doctor Says Not to Vaccinate
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAWhen your doctor says not to vaccinate.
Caveat: Some of these claims are hearsay (like the sample comment likely is). The vast majority of doctors are vaccinated and recommend vaccinating.
What about the small opposing doctor voice? Why is there a small number of doctors lagging behind?
(This is excluding those with history of anaphylaxis/immediate allergies to the vaccine or it’s ingredients.) - Boosters
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAHad a request to talk about boosters.
Who needs a 3rd shot now?
When and how do we decide for everyone else?
What data do we have? - What About Israel, part 2
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAIsrael part 2
Their vaccine numbers are high. Why are they surging? Why are there more vaccinated than unvaccinated in their hospitals??
Answers depend on:
1. How many vaccines are enough to stop spread?
2. If everyone is vaccinated, all COVID hospitalizations will be breakthrough vaccinated BUT there will be much much fewer bad outcomes overall.
As you approach this goal, your vaccinated will begin to outnumber unvaccinated at all levels.
That’s wonderful progress.
Let’s discuss. - What About Israel?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAWhat about Israel?
I see this question a lot, referencing different studies or new reports on Covid.
So here comes a ‘What about Israel?’ Series.
First up: post-infection vs post-vaccine natural antibodies
Side note: all of them are made by your body and natural. ‘Unnatural’ or synthetics would be the monoclonals.
Other Side note: population pool was 2.5 million. Studied around 700,000. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.24.21262415v1.full - How to Save a Life
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAWhen you think the hospital or ICU is a good fallback. That we will save you…Here’s the truth.
This is where lives, future, function and health are best saved: - Vaccine Risks
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAWhat are the risks?
Let’s talk numbers. What are you taking on, what are you getting rid of when you vaccinate.
Chart from the Mayo Clinic update: https://youtu.be/RzyGv81Ffz0 - What If I’m Wrong?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LABeing wrong.
It happens to all of us. So what do we do about it?
We can’t avoid it.
If we think we’re above it, if we ignore that it will happen, we won’t see it in time to prevent harm.
And that’s the important mistake to avoid. - Being Human
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LABeing human means having limitations.
Being human means being vulnerable.
We don’t often think of how human we are, and sometimes it can surprise us.
Covid surprises people more often than you think. It pushes many people into dangerous health territory seemingly out of no where and without warning. Covid can make you suddenly face some scary limitations. - Everyday Risks Compared to Vaccine Risks
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LABuried the lead on a previous video:
How safe is ‘worst case scenario’ with the vaccines?
Let’s play devils advocate: what if science is wrong and undercounting deaths from the vaccine. Let’s see how dangerous that really is.Link to VAERS video mentioned in this video: https://acadianavaccinefinder.com/2021/08/05/vaers-and-reported-deaths/
- What Is a Vaccine?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAAre the new mRNA shots even a vaccine at all?
Let’s talk about what vaccines are and why we vaccinate at all, for any disease.
It’s all about paying a lower price for a better product. - Scared of the Vaccine? That’s ok.
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAStill scared of the vaccine?
That’s ok.
It still might be the right choice and worth facing.
Two calm minutes to compare the choice between scary and more scary. - What Are Variants?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAWhat are variants? Why do we have them? What speeds them up and what slows them down?
Wasn’t COVID supposed to get less deadly? What happened? - What Does It Mean to be a COVID Long Hauler?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LASometimes COVID doesn’t let go.
What does it mean to be a Covid long hauler? How common is it? What do we know and what can we do? - The Masks and Vaccines are Tools to Protect Our Children
Dr. Kimberly Mukerjee, pediatrician
Children’s Hospital
New Orleans, LAAs parents, we use every tool at our disposal to protect our children. Masks and vaccines are two of those tools. We need to protect our children from COVID-19. Listen to pediatrician Dr. Kimberly Mukerjee’s words. Wear a mask, get vaccinated, protect your children.
- An ICU Nurse Shares Her Experience
Journalist David Begnaud speaks with Veteran (COVID) ICU nurse Jennifer Mouton at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, LA.
“If people could come and spend the day with me and see what I do every day I can assure you they’d be running to get vaccinated.”
Jennifer Mouton, ICU Nurse
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center
Lafayette, LA“We help each other up here. We’re all very stressed out, but I realize that I can’t go home and internalize people’s decisions, people’s outcomes. That has nothing to do with me. I can just care for them, just like, I take care of these people like they’re my own family. They are my family. They’re from Lafayette.”
Jennifer Mouton, ICU Nurse
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center
Lafayette, LA - The COVID Toll on an ICU Nurse
Journalist David Begnaud interviews Shannen Ivey, a Covid ICU nurse at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, LA.
“I wish we were making it up … I wish I wasn’t holding the hands of somebody as they’re about to be intubated while they look up at me and say ‘Am I going to die?’ I wish I wasn’t seeing parents tell their kids goodbye and kids telling their parents goodbye. It’s just…it’s a nightmare. It really is.”
Shannen Ivey, ICU Nurse
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center
Lafayette, LA - Pregnancy and COVID Vaccines
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAPregnant? Congratulations!…
- Pfizer FULLY FDA Approved
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAPfizer is now fully FDA approved.
No safety steps were skipped. Only red tape and needless delays were eliminated.
Let’s look at all the ways they ensured this vaccine is safe and effective for all. - Testing for the Delta Variant
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LALagniappe video.
How do we know someone has Delta when we aren’t even testing for Delta??
I’ve been answering this question way too much, so a video was quick, easy and needed. - Why Are We So Pushy About the Vaccine?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAWhy do I care if you vaccinate?
Lots of reasons, but the biggest one may surprise you.
The referenced person is at Lourdes right now. Her heart stopped today. They were able to restart it. Her family is sharing this to help others. - Know Your Source
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAQuick & vital tip: always know and vet your source.
1. If they disagree with the experts, should they or can they possibly know more.
2. Could they have a motive other than truth. Keep in mind motives can be purposeful or subconscious based in fear and other types of poor coping.
Since I’m putting myself out there as a source, here is my background and motives.
(Being exact: professor title was ‘Assistant Professor’) - Dr. Akoghlanian Discusses Ivermectin
Dr. Garabet “Garo” Akoghlanian, Infectious Disease Specialist
Lafayette, LAPSA:
Ivermectin is a drug used for parasites like Strongyloides and scabies…etc. it had some theoretical promise in our fight against covid, however it failed to show benefit unfortunately.
It is recommended against by the Infectious Disease Society of America in the management of COVID-19.
It just doesn’t work (as good as placebo) in covid.
If your doctor (or vet) prescribes it for you for covid, they probably mean good, but unfortunately they would be noncompliant with guidelines and providing false hope and an unproven treatment. The data that they rely on is flawed and really at this point of very poor quality.
If you want your infections treated by an infectious disease specialist, you are welcome anytime 🙂 .
Otherwise u might as well get brain surgery by a urologist, or a heart catheter by a Dermatologist. - Is the Vaccine Safe?
Dr. Seth Rosenzweig, Orthopedic Surgeon
Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists
New Iberia, LADr. Seth Rosenzweig, Orthopedic Surgeon: Passionate about Covid-19 awareness and the importance of getting vaccinated.
- R-Value: Contagiousness of the Delta Variant
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic
Lafayette, LAI had a few requests to redo my contagiousness video to include what delta would look like.
So here it is pared down to 2:30.
And it shocked even me.
This beast will take max vaccinations and masking to control. - Myocarditis in Teens After the COVID Vaccine
Dr. Catherine O’Neal, Chief Medical Officer and Infectious Disease Specialist
Our Lady of the Lake
Baton Rouge, LADr. Catherine O’Neal, chief medical officer and infectious disease specialist at Our Lady of the Lake, explains myocarditis in teens when it comes to COVID-19 and the vaccine.
- How Can COVID Kill Some and Do Nothing to Others?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette, LAHow does COVID kill or damage some, and others skate by so easily?
We’re still learning.
Here’s where we are. - Woman’s Hospital Vaccine Q&A
Dr. Neil Chappell, Reproductive Endocrinologist, OB/GYN, Fertility Specialist
Fertility Answers
Lafayette, LAReproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Neil Chappell explains everything you need to know about the vaccine and fertility. You can view the entire Q&A session on the Woman’s Hospital Facebook page.
- Monoclonal Antibodies: What Are They?
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette, LAWhat are these infusions made of? What are monoclonal antibodies? Are they better than the vaccine?
The answer might surprise you. - No Hospitals Left? Let’s Talk About Field Hospitals
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Lafayette, LAI see people thinking that there is some back up plan. There’s more hospital somewhere. We just need to make more hospital.
We can not make more hospital. Please listen to why.
For the record I don’t like this video. I don’t like talking about it. I don’t like remembering it. But everyone needs to understand what a ‘back up plan’ truly looks like:
Failure. - Dr. Catherine O’Neal Discusses Vaccine Safety for Pregnant Women
Dr. Catherine O’Neal, Chief Medical Officer and Infectious Disease Specialist
Our Lady of the Lake
Baton Rouge, LAThe COVID-19 vaccines are a safe choice for pregnant women, who can pass along that protection to their babies. This is good news in the face of the more contagious Delta Variant, as Dr. Catherine O’Neal, chief medical officer and infectious disease specialist at Our Lady of the Lake, explains.
Stay tuned as Dr. O’Neal will be addressing more common questions and concerns regarding the Delta Variant and COVID-19 vaccine. - Acadiana Advocate: Lafayette Pediatricians Urge Vaccination
Lafayette area pediatricians are urging parents to vaccinate their children 12 and older against COVID-19 to make in person school a possibility for the fall. Almost 6,000 students 12 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Read more at The Acadiana Advocate.
“What I tell parents all the time, all the time, all the time, when it comes to vaccinations is that people need to be afraid of the disease and not the shot. And that goes for anything we vaccinate for.”
Dr. Derek Baumbouree, Pediatrician
Lafayette, LA“What do I lose sleep about? What do I worry about? I worry about the long term implications of the illness COVID to these kids. There’s little blips and stories of how there’s possibly some long term cardiac sequelae in kids who had minor infections; they didn’t even have cardiac complaints when they had COVID. I’m worried about — are some of these athletes going to have trouble a year down the road or longer? I don’t have those concerns with the vaccine, but with the illness I absolutely have those concerns.”
Dr. Adrienne Musumeche, Pediatrician
Lafayette, LA - Why Don’t We Have an HIV, Cold, Cancer Vaccine?
How is it possible to get a COVID vaccine in one year when we still don’t have vaccines for HIV, cancer, or the cold… Let’s discuss.
- How Do We Know Vaccines Work?
After my video on randomized controlled trials, I got the same question over and over:
“If RCT’s tell us the ‘truth’ about a treatment effect, Why don’t they do a randomized controlled trial on the vaccines?
Well guess what? They did! Let’s look at the truth on vaccine effect. - Acadiana Advocate: Inside Lafayette’s biggest hospital ahead of federal assistance
Ochsner Lafayette General administrators allowed an Acadiana Advocate reporter and a photographer inside the main hospital to document what health care workers are facing during the fourth and worst wave of the pandemic. Read more at The Acadiana Advocate.
“This wave is definitely hitting the predominantly younger, non-vaccinated population. Our average age for admissions of COVID patients has gone from the 70s and 80s to the average age of 53. It’s not uncommon for us to have 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds admitted with COVID which, in the first wave or two, that was almost unheard of unless there were significant, significant health issues.”
Dr. Foster Kordisch, Emergency Department Medical Director, Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center
Lafayette, LA“Right now, we cannot move forward to the next phase of the plan because of staffing. We have the infrastructure for it. We have created more negative-pressure rooms for full COVID units, but we don’t have the people to staff the beds.”
Patricia Thompson, director of communications, Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center
Lafayette, LA“Everything is moving faster. Patients are coding and dying faster. What we’re doing now just isn’t working. … They’re getting admitted quicker and sent to the morgue faster. In ICU, you see death all the time, but you never feel this helpless. Death is natural but not at this high of a rate.”
Lauren Broussard, RN
Lafayette, LA - What Happens If You Get Coronavirus
Excellent Visual, know your enemy!
I think our generation has been too pampered by our science advances. We have antimicrobials, antivirals, and vaccines that prevent a lot of the previously common severe respiratory infections. Maybe people forgot what severe respiratory Infections do to the body.
Check it out - Acadiana Advocate: See Photos Inside the Fight Against COVID at OLG Medical Center
See inside Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center as staff work to treat COVID patients during the fourth and worst wave of the pandemic. https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/multimedia/photos/collection_21c6fb86-fd5f-11eb-9b4b-075127c7a715.html
- Ivermectin Answers
“The best study we have on ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 had about 500 participants, was randomized, and showed that the patients who received ivermectin required invasive mechanical ventilation earlier in their treatment. So most studies show no difference and there’s even potential for harm.”
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine & Geriatrics
Lafayette, LALet’s talk ivermectin.
Bottom line, ivermectin will not help you. And it may harm you.
Prevention is better than treatment even when we have treatments that work.
So it’s *definitely* better than treatments that don’t.
Ps. You are welcome to slow down the scrolling on the article search portion to see proof of what I’m saying in the video. - Already Had COVID?
But I already had COVID.
Why should I have to vaccinate?
Isn’t natural immunity better?
Not even close. Let’s discuss in 3 minutes. - Dr. Charles Chappuis Reads a Letter to his Co-workers
Charles Chappuis, MD is a husband, father, son, surgeon, veteran and vaccine advocate. After thought and discernment, Dr. Chappuis sent his co-workers an email with one personal ask: consider getting vaccinated. Ochsner Lafayette General sat with him to learn more about his desire to write these words and asked him to read them aloud. Watch the video on Facebook.
- mRNA, Viruses, and DNA
Scared of harming your DNA?
Be scared of viruses. Not mRNA.
40 seconds to know why. - Delta Variant Questions
Dr. Britni Hebert discusses the Delta variant in this lagniappe TikTok video
- COVID Pneumonia – What Is Happening
What exactly are we trying to prevent when we vaccinate?
Let’s look at the lungs and talk about what Covid does to them in the unsuspecting and the unvaccinated. - Fertility Answers Podcast
Dr. Neil Chappell, Fertility Specialist
Fertility Answers
Lafayette, LAThe latest episode of the Fertility Answers Podcast just dropped!
Episode 19: An Update on COVID-19 and the Vaccines – Searching for the Truth
It’s been over eight months since the vaccines have come out and we’ve learned quite a bit in that time. With close to 170 million fully-vaccinated people in the U.S., the preliminary research shows that the vaccines are doing their job of saving lives. But there is a lot of varied information and opinions about the vaccines, and we know you want truthful answers from people you trust. In this episode, Dr. Neil Chappell updates you on the status of the more contagious delta variant, what research has revealed in relation to the vaccines on pregnancy and fertility, and debunks some of the myths about the vaccines. Our mission is to bring you the most up-to-date facts and help you make the best decisions while building your family! - Which Risks Should You Take?
Are you still afraid of the risks of the vaccine?
Then let’s talk about the risks ahead. Can we avoid all risk? If not, how can we keep risk small?
- Who Do You Believe?
Never have we had so much access to information and knowledge.
With that can come confusion, uncertainty and fear.
And then when a medical professional tells you something that goes against the rest…
How do you know what to believe?
Let’s discuss how the lone voice against the crowd can be so wrong. And these days, so dangerous. Let’s talk about how to protect yourself and your peace of mind.
- Vaccinated Breakthrough Cases
Yes the vaccinated can still (less frequently) get Covid. So let’s talk about my vaccinated Covid admission and compare. These exceptions were the highest risk before the vaccine and yet now their course is boring. And we *love* medically boring. You really really want to be medically boring. The vaccines all but ensure a boring COVID course
- Vaccine FDA Approval
Dr. Hebert answers a follower’s question: Can you please make a video for those who argue that vaccines aren’t FDA approved yet?
- Fight COVID like an Olympian
Schools start this week. Talk to your children about masking. Get them on team “Keep schools open and children healthy”. Louisiana may be trailing in Covid numbers but we are about to lead in keeping our children safe. I hope more states follow suit. Children in every state deserve Olympic sized protection. Oh and #vaccinate too
- Local Doctors and Nurses Share Their Experience in The Acadiana Advocate
“The exponential growth of our census, in terms of the COVID patients, is what’s most concerning. And it’s really taxing on our ability to respond to every single person.”
Dr. Frank Courmier, Pulmonologist and Critical Care Doctor“There are people that need to have an opportunity of a long life, and they are being robbed of that opportunity. And I think the community needs to understand that you have an opportunity to help both your community as well as yourself by getting the vaccine so that you won’t be robbed of that life either.”
Dr. Frank Courmier, Pulmonologist and Critical Care Doctor“We are all mentally, physically and emotionally just absolutely exhausted. We cry on the way to work. We cry on the way home.”
Critical Care Nurse Katie Jennings“… on a normal week in critical care, we have maybe one code a week. Maybe. A patient’s heart stops, and we have to do CPR and medicines to try to get them back to life. Now with COVID, we are having codes on a daily basis and multiple people are dying. Lots of people in a week. We’ve had whole families die up here. And that is hard.”
Critical Care Nurse Katie JenningsRead more at The Acadiana Advocate: https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/coronavirus/article_f2c66656-f5f1-11eb-b958-7f778de3b49f.html
- Hospitals are Stretched
“Emergency care in Louisiana is not a guarantee for the foreseeable future.”
Dr. Britni Hebert, Internal Medicine & Geriatrics
If you know an ICU doc, send them food and support. There is no one to help them. They will work every single day of this surge caring for the most complicated cases a hospital has. Then talk to someone about masking or the vaccine, but do it over the phone. ICUs are growing beyond the reach of the human capabilities of our limited ICU doctors. It is unsustainable. ER’s are flirting with complete gridlock at times. Mask. Distance. Vaccinate. Stay safe. Please. - Concerned the Vaccines “Came Out Too Fast?”
Feel like the vaccines came out ‘too fast’?
Science was ready for this. It had been preparing for decades.
It’s something to be proud, not scared of.
- Ochsner Continues to Battle COVID-19 Surge Across the State
“There are zero people in hospitals with side effects from the vaccine.”
Warner Thomas, President and CEO of Ochsner - VAERS and Reported Deaths
Why would you choose to take a risk? You actually choose risk every day without even thinking about it. And a lot of those choices are much higher risk and lower benefit than the vaccines. Let’s discuss.
- Webinar: Defeating COVID-19: Answering the Community’s Questions About Vaccines
The Region 4 Office of Public Health has partnered with several local agencies to answer ongoing questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. United Way of Acadiana, Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC), the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Nursing Professional Development Program, and Woman’s Foundation are coming together to feature six local health professionals present a webinar. This online discussion fields questions from community members and address vaccine-related questions, discuss mRNA technology, and review vaccine safety and efficacy data to provide essential information about COVID-19 vaccines.
The panelists represent a range of specialties and organizers made a conscious effort to include specialists that would have expertise in some of the common topic areas expected to generate questions.The panelists include:
Dr. Bryan Sibley (Pediatrics)
Dr. Garabet “Garo” Akoghlanian (Infectious Diseases)
Dr. John Storment (Reproductive Endocrinologist)
Dr. Frank Courmier (Critical Care/Pulmonologist/Intensivist)
Dr. Francois Villinger (Director, ULL New Iberia Research Center)
Dr. Tina Stefanski (Regional Medical Director, Office of Public Health Region 4)“For your immune system to get mixed up and attack the placental protein would be like you mistaking an elephant for an alley cat because they’re both grey. There’s just so much difference.”
Dr. John Storment, Reproductive Endocrinologist
Lafayette, LA“You don’t have to trust politicians but you should trust the doctors who, all day long, we spend our entire lives trying to take care of you… We want to keep you healthy. That’s our only goal.”
Dr. John Storment, Reproductive Endocrinologist
Lafayette, LA“It’s really a matter of getting the vaccine, getting COVID if you’re unvaccinated or getting COVID when you’re vaccinated. There is no third option here. I don’t think there’s an option where you don’t get anything and you’re going to be fine.”
Dr. Garabet “Garo” Akoghlanian, Infectious Disease Specialist
Lafayette, LAVideo Timestamps and Topics
0:8:00 – Dr. Courmier – How sick are hospitalized patients?, hospitalized ages, previous infections, Why are vaccinated people still getting COVID?, variants, vaccine long-term side effects, FDA approval.
0:18:07 – Dr. Akoghlanian – Do you need a vaccine if you previously had COVID?, when to vaccinate after COVID, antibody levels, When are you considered fully vaccinated?, effectiveness of vaccines on variants.
0:27:45 – Dr. Sibley – If children don’t have a very serious illness with COVID, why should we vaccinate?, increasing cases in children due to the Delta variant, more children hospitalized, hospital capacity for children, long-term effects of vaccines in children, why cases are more severe with the Delta variant, heart inflammation, myocarditis.
0:37:15 – Dr. Storment – Fertility, pregnancy, menstrual cycle irregularities, long-term side effects, vaccine studies on sperm and male fertility, COVID’s effect on male fertility, eggs and ovulation, spike protein and placenta, COVID risks during pregnancy, 70% increase in death in pregnant women who get COVID, hospital space for mother and baby, antibodies.
0:47:45 – Dr. Villinger – Is mRNA technology new?, history of mRNA research in vaccines and treatments, if the vaccine quickly leaves the body is it even working?, how mRNA enters cells and does it’s job, booster shots.
0:58:15 – Dr. Stefanski – How are positive cases being sequenced for the Delta variant? batch testing, vaccine brand effectiveness, Can you get COVID from the vaccine?
1:10:00 – Dr. Akoghlanian – Can tests distinguish between COVID, RSV, and flu?, PCR tests, myocarditis, Did isolation decrease our immunity? Will we need a yearly vaccine for COVID like the flu vaccine? risk of blood clots in people who have a history of blood clots, Does the vaccine cross into breast milk?
1:14:00 Dr. Sibley – risk reduction and individual freedoms, COVID compared to wildfires.
1:17:15 – Dr. Storment – trusting the experts, “We want to keep you healthy. That’s our only goal.”
1:19:30 – Dr. Villinger – long-term neurological symptoms of COVID, risks, antibody studies. - Q&A Panel With Local Doctors Hosted by First Baptist Church of Lafayette
” What you’re doing by saying ‘I’m going to wait for FDA approval’ is essentially saying you’re waiting for the bureaucracy to happen when the science is already completed.”
Dr. Frank Courmier, Pulmonologist, Critical Care Physician“Most people underestimate the severity and danger of COVID and they drastically overestimate the risk of the vaccine.”
Dr. Gregory Riggs, Internal Medicine SpecialistFirst Baptist Church of Lafayette hosted a question and answer panel with some of their church members who are in the medical field. The livestreamed event is interpreted for the Deaf and a recording of the event is linked below.
Dr. Frank Courmier is a pulmonologist who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of illnesses that affect respiration, the lungs and other organs that help you breathe. He serves in the ICU at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Lafayette.
Dr. Gregory Riggs is an Internal Medicine Specialist. He works at Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic. He is also a certified hospice medical director and currently serves as the medical director for Hospice of Acadiana.
VIDEO TIMESTAMPS
35:30 – Video begins
39:44 – Prayer
40:48 – Introductions followed by statements from the doctors
53:15 – Q&A session begins
53:15 – TESTING – Testing accuracy, flu vs COVID identification, false negatives, identifying variants, when to test
57:28 – TREATMENT – what happens after testing positive, viruses, immune response, safety of treatments, monoclonal antibodies, infusions, hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, mild vs severe cases, anecdotal evidence
1:05:00 – PREVENTION – masking, masking confusion, studies, history, Spanish flu, observational data, H1N1, contagiousness, R0, R-Value, community spread, public health measures, prevention vs reducing risk, community risk vs individual risk, Delta variant, smallpox, people who can’t get the vaccine, Alpha vs Delta and breakthrough infections, flip-flopping vs new data, answers without evidence
1:21:34 – VACCINES – how vaccines work, mRNA, spike proteins, DNA, HIV, rabies, ingredients, aborted cells, J&J, booster shots, vaccine trials, vaccine studies, organ transplant recipients, comparing the vaccines, speed of vaccine development,
1:45:19 – VACCINES continued – FDA approval, emergency authorization, vaccines vs previous COVID infections and antibodies, natural immunity vs vaccine immunity, when to vaccinate after testing positive,
1:54:00 – VACCINES continued – adverse reactions to the vaccine, safety of the vaccine vs Tylenol, blood clots, risk compared to birth control, anaphylaxis, myocarditis, pericarditis
2:00:00 – VACCINES continued – impact on fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding, COVID during pregnancy risks, rheumatological conditions, suppressed immune system, how variants develop, vaccinations in children, vaccine effectiveness with variants, nursing home and elderly breakthrough cases
2:24:00 – OPEN MIC QUESTIONS – Vitamin D, zinc, and Vitamin C, how variants are affected by vaccines, long-term effects of COVID, memory loss, clotting, Guillain-Barré syndrome, - Alarm Bells
Alarm Bells
This is the alarm bells. This is a scream for help: if you feel ‘off’ or sick AT ALL, stay home. No this is not ‘overkill’. Lourdes has 7 phases of crisis care, we are about to enter into phase 6. People will die in waiting rooms. It seems impossible that this is happening in the US. But it is. And it’s in OUR house. People will not get the care they need. Period. This is a scream for help. Please listen.
- Mask Mandate
Am I happy about the mask mandate: YES.
Am I happy we so desperately need it: No. From the pit of my stomach, No. We are too late for vaccines and their 4 week delayed protection to save our hospitals right now. And they need saving yesterday. We need a ‘right now’ solution. That’s masks. And yes. They work.Linked Articles on Google docs. The articles referenced are as follows: 4, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 21, 25). But there are more links supporting masks lowering deaths rates, hospitalizations and even improving the economy.
- Vaccinated vs Unvaccinated with Delta
No there are not more vaccinated than unvaccinated Covid deaths.
But hopefully one day there will be. Shocking to you? 3 minutes and let me explain.
- Lafayette Infectious Disease Specialist Discusses Vaccines
“To any vaccine hesitant, I say: turn off your screen, look around you, ask people on the ground. We are here, they are in the screen. How long are you gonna wait? You have been lied to and mislead, We are here!”
Dr. Garabet “Garo” Akoghlanian, Infectious Disease Specialist
Lafayette, LAI chose Infectious Diseases specialty early on in my internal medicine residency, just being exposed to patients with multiple dangerously fascinating infections early on, and the superb ability to truly save and have a huge impact in patient’s lives, someone could be in late stages of AIDS, or severe sepsis, mycobaterial infections.. and with the right management they are able to turn around a lot of the times (nothing is 100% in medicine as I tell all my patients).
However this is different.
Patients with severe covid ask: am I gonna be ok doc? I try to look confident, my face usually is very straight to avoid any expressions, I know I can’t say with my usual confidence: we got you! We’re gonna get you through this…. I say: we’ll try to do our best, we will see how you do in the next few days.
I ask: did you get your shot? The response usually is devoid of eye contact, sometimes teary, sometimes just plain silence. I let it be and get on with my exam. Its pointless at that time. I offer some possible beneficial treatments, but I never say: we got you, u’ll get over it soon because I can’t provide false hope, its unethical. But people know -I think- at that point deep down, death has lingered enough amongst us.
To any vaccine hesitant, I say: turn off your screen, look around you, ask people on the ground. We are here, they are in the screen. How long are you gonna wait? You have been lied to and mislead, We are here! - r-Value and the Contagiousness of Disease
I made this video back in December when people were confused as to why flu wasn’t spreading and COVID was. It explains r-value, or the ‘contagiousness level’ of diseases. Back then COVID had an r-value around 2-3 COVID. Now has an r-value of 8, give or take. If you don’t realize how catastrophic that jump is, you need to watch this video. And then start multiplying by 8 until the number shocks you. We need transmission to stop NOW. Please don’t gather. Please mask. Vaccinate for the next surge, but do these quick things now.
- Fertility and the COVID Vaccine
The vaccine and fertility. Let’s discuss in 3 minutes of your time.
I am mandated to go spend time with my family so I’m putting away my phone. I will return later today for any follow up questions.
- Local Hospitals Say ICUs at Max Capacity
“The transmission is very high. We know that this Delta variant is very infectious, contagious … I’ve heard reports of one person being able to infect up to five to eight people if they are around them unprotected. That is incredibly high numbers and continues to only make the spread that much faster.”
Dr. Amanda Logue, Chief Medical Officer at Ochsner Lafayette General
Source: KATC - Vaccine Side Effects Explained
Are you scared of ‘long term side effects’ of the Covid vaccines?…
- Reproductive Facts Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination
Fertility Answers Clinic – Dr. John Storment, Dr. Neil Chappelle, Dr. Susan Conway
Lafayette, LAWe will keep SCREAMING this from the rooftops!! This is from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the leading authority on female reproductive science. The vaccine does NOT cause infertility!
Repost from @americansocietyforreprodmed
ASRM COVID-19 TASK FORCE UPDATE No. 16 – Reproductive Facts Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination: The low rate of vaccination in pregnant women is concerning given the increased risk of adverse outcomes for women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy
For more vaccine info from ASRM, see
https://www.asrm.org/covid-update-16
https://www.asrm.org/news-and-publications/covid-19/statements/patient-management-and-clinical-recommendations-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/
acadianavaccinefinder.com 