HJBR Mar/Apr 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  MAR / APR 2021 59 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com Medical leaders across the Health District are speaking up in support of the COVID-19 vaccines as a safe, effective, and essential tool in fighting the pandemic: 1. “This vaccine is one way that we can build herd immunity and get one step closer to ending this pandemic. These vaccines have been extensively tested using years of proven research to get them where they are today. If you have questions or concerns about this vaccine, speak with your health- care provider on the best option for you, but I encourage everyone to strongly consider taking the vaccine,” said Catherine O’Neal, MD, chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake. 2. “Getting both a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot isn’t a problem. Everyone should want both because preventing the combination of flu and COVID is very important. It’s not too late for the flu shot, just speak to your healthcare provider to ensure that you space out the vaccines,” said Ralph Dauterive, MD, vice president of medical affairs for Ochsner Baton Rouge. 3. “It is not possible to get COVID-19 from the vaccine” said Andrew Olinde, MD, chief medical officer at Baton Rouge General. “The current vaccines require two doses, with full protection expected to start within a week after receiving the second dose”. 4. “Women in later stages of pregnancy are considered at higher risk for more severe COVID-19 complications. Woman’s sup- ports the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in recommend- ing that every pregnant and breastfeeding woman discuss with her OB-GYN to deter- mine if she meets the criteria for vaccina- tion,” said Barbara Griffith, MD, Woman’s Hospital CEO/president. “Other ways for pregnant women to continue to remain healthy include getting a flu shot, practic- ing social distancing, and wearing masks.” 5. “The COVID-19 vaccines are based on years of medical research and vaccine develop- ment. While the COVID-19 virus is new, the technology and science behind the break- through vaccines and their rapid develop- ment has been extensively proven.” added Frank Greenway, MD, chief medical officer at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. More vaccine science information is avail- able in a video called Tell Me More About Vaccines, made available here through U.S. Health and Human Services. 6. “In exclusively caring for patients with can- cer, we are keenly aware of the importance of keeping those who have compromised immune systems safe,” said Charles Wood, MD, medical director, radiation oncology, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “And with COVID-19, taking the vaccine is best way to ensure we can do this. This is the start of the breakthrough we’ve been anticipating, but it’s important to remain vigilant in masking- up, washing our hands, social distancing and all of the other precautions we take as the vaccine makes it way throughout the com- munity and country.” BRG School of Radiologic Technology Graduates 2020 Class Thirteen students graduated from Baton Rouge General’s School of Radiologic Technol- ogy (SORT), joining the nearly 370 radiologic technologists who have completed BRG’s pro- gram since 1985. Radiologic technologists work in a wide variety of fields and are cross-trained in advanced technologies like CT, MRI, mammog- raphy, and heart catheterization and intervention. During the Dec. 11th ceremony at Jefferson Bap- tist Church, the graduates received their diplomas after two years of prerequisites, two years of pro- fessional radiography program courses, and six semesters of hands-on clinical time with seasoned Thirteen students graduated from Baton Rouge General’s School of Radiologic Technology (SORT) on Dec. 11, 2020.