Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins to Hold COVID Vaccine Press Conference

Mayor Adrian Perkins will join Dr. David Lewis, Chief Medical Officer of Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, for a live press conference at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport at 3:30 PM Tuesday, December 15th. Mayor Perkins and Dr. Lewis will discuss the importance of the COVID vaccine to our area and the rigorous protocols the vaccine underwent ahead of approval for public use.  

“News of a safe and effective vaccine arriving in Shreveport is a sight for sore eyes,” said Mayor Perkins. “We reported our first COVID case on March 11th, and for the past 280 days, this virus has wreaked havoc on our community. We are not out of the woods yet, so we are urging the public to remain vigilant. But this vaccine is a major breakthrough." 

“At Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, we highly encourage widespread vaccination. With a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines at this time, we will follow CDC and state guidelines offering it to those at highest risk first—including our team on the frontlines of this pandemic. As COVID-19 cases continue to increase, we remain dependent on the community to maintain social distancing, masking and hygiene guidelines to protect themselves and others,” said Dr. David Lewis, Chief Medical Officer, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport.  

The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on Friday, and Shreveport hospitals began receiving vaccine doses on Monday morning. This is a monumental turning point in treating the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed nearly 500 lives in the Shreveport area.  

Media outlets are invited to attend the press conference and to live stream the event. The Press Conference will be held at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport outside the main entrance at 1541 Kings Highway. A back-up location will be selected in the event of inclement weather.