North Oaks to Launch COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling Line Monday, Feb. 8 at 8 a.m.

North Oaks Immunization Clinic will launch a COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling Line Monday, Feb. 8, at 8 a.m. The scheduling line will remain operational from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays and/or until all appointments for the week are filled. It will reopen in subsequent weeks based on vaccine availability. Individuals who meet current eligibility criteria as defined by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) may call (985) 230-SHOT [7468] to schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the North Oaks Immunization Clinic.

Effective Feb. 8, LDH defines individuals who are eligible to receive the vaccine as follows:

• Individuals, age 65 or older, in the community
• First responders to serve as vaccinators
• Law enforcement and other first responders
• Dialysis providers and patients
• Ambulatory and outpatient providers and staff
  • • Behavioral health providers and staff
    • Urgent care clinic providers and staff
    • Community care providers and staff
    • Dental providers and staff

• Professional home care providers (including hospice workers) and home care recipients (including older and younger people with disabilities over the age of 16 who receive community- or home-based care, as well as clients of home health agencies)
• American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and Support Service Providers (SSPs) working in community- and clinic-based settings, and clients who are both deaf and blind
• Health-related support personnel (lab staff, mortuary staff who have contact with corpses, pharmacy staff)
• Schools of allied health students, residents and staff
• State and local essential COVID emergency response personnel
• Some elections staff ahead of March elections.

Proper identification will be required when you arrive for your appointment. LDH recommends the following forms of identification as acceptable based on eligibility criteria include:

• Age: State-issued driver’s license, passport, other government-issued identification card that includes date of birth. A person 65 years of age is eligible. Anyone who has not reached their 65th birthday on the day of their appointment is NOT eligible.
• Patient Status: A patient must show proof they are receiving home-based care or receive regular dialysis care. The State has provided people with disabilities a qualification letter from the State Health Officer. Other forms of verification may be acceptable as well, such as the person’s Plan of Care for community and home-based services.
• Employment: Proof of employment such as Employee ID or name tag, paystub, letter from employer, uniform, parking pass or any other ID acceptable to the vaccine provider.

Appointments are required; walk-ins cannot be accommodated. The appointment for the second dose will automatically be made during the appointment for the first dose and administered at the same clinic location.

The Immunization Clinic is located on the North Oaks Medical Center campus in Hammond. Those with appointments should enter the campus via Medical Arts Plaza Drive from Highway 51 Business/Veterans Boulevard, use Parking Lot C and follow the blue “IMM” signs to the Immunization Clinic entrance.