EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO, EVERYONE.

AND WELCOME TO LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE.

I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

HOST OF TONIGHT'S VERY IMPORTANT SPECIAL, VACCINES, FREEDOM, FEAR, AND FACTS.

IN RECENT WEEKS A FOURTH WAVE OF COVID-19 HAS SWEPT ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AND OUR STATE.

JUST UNDER 45% OF PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED, MAKING OUR STATE ONE OF THE LOWEST VACCINATED STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WHAT ARE THE ISSUES AND WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING VACCINATED IN LOUISIANA?

TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE THESE TOPICS WITH A LIVE AUDIENCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUSH TO GET THE SHOT.

JOINING ME TO HELP MODERATE TONIGHT'S EPISODE IS MY COHOST, KARA.

THANKS.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

VACCINE HESITANCY HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN THE UNDERSTAND LONG BEFORE COVID-19.

-- IN THE UNITED STATES LONG BEFORE COLDS, BUT TODAY VACCINES ARE MORE POLARIZING THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN.

THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EFFECT MIXERNESS ARE DRIVING -- AND ALSO A MAJOR TOPIC OF DISCUSSION RECENTLY.

NEW ORLEANS CREATED A VACCINE MANDATE FOR MOST INDOOR AREAS AND RECENTLY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MANDATED VACCINATIONS FOR ALL U.S. COMPANIES, EMPLOYING MORE 100 PEOPLE.

MANY CITIZENS FEEL THIS IS GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, WHILE OTHERS FEEL IT'S A NECESSARY STEP TO MAKE COVID A THING OF THE PAST.

TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO TALK WITH SOME OF THE STATE'S TOP MODE PROFESSIONALS, PUBLIC SERVANTS, LAWYERS, AND EDUCATORS TO DISCUSS VACCINE HESITATION AND HOPEFULLY APSES SOME OF YOUR OWN QUESTIONS.

BEFORE WE INTRODUCE OUR PANELISTS, LET'S HEAR FROM NATHAN WALL.

HE'S A BUSINESS MAN AND A PASTOR FROM LIVINGSTON PARISH WHO HAD HIS OWN HESITATIONS ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED.

HERE'S HIS STORY.

MY NAME IS NATHAN WALLS.

I LIVE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA, RAISE ALLIGATORS FOR A LIVING, BEEN DOING THAT SINCE 1986.

WHAT WE'VE ALSO DONE IS SHRIMP, CRAB, WE TRAP FUR, AND MOM AND DAD RAISED US UP IN CHURCH AND I'VE BEEN DOING FOR MYSELF, STARTING IN APRIL THIS PAST APRIL, FELT LED TO START A CHURCH HERE IN SPRINGFIELD, LAST, SO I'M A PASTOR HERE AT BIG DREAM CHRIST ALSO.

I GOT COVID BACK IN JUNE OF 2020.

ALSO MY TWO SONS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK HERE ON THE FARM GOT COVID AT THE SAME TIME.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH COVID IS I LOST TASTE AND SMELL, VERY TIRED, BUT I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ISOLATED FROM ANYONE ELSE.

MY GREATEST CHALLENGE WAS ACTUALLY THAT IT AFFECTED ME MENTALLY IF I BENT DOWN, I GOT A HEADACHE.

EVEN SLEEPING ALONE SEPARATE FROM MY WIFE.

ACTUALLY COME TO FIND OUT WITH ISOLATION AND WITH THE WEAKNESS, I'VE ACTUALLY SENSED A LITTLE DEPRESSION AND I'M A VERY STRONG CONFIDENT SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN, BUT PUT ME IN A PLACE THAT I WASN'T COMFORTABLE WITH, AND THEN EMOTIONALLY TRYING TO OVERCOME BEING WEAK AND THEN JUST MENTAL STRAIN OF THE HEADACHES AND CONCERNED AND ALSO OF WHAT WAS GONNA BE THE OUTCOME OF THAT WITH MY TWO BOYS ALSO GETTING COVID AT THE SAME TIME.

WHEN THE VACCINES COMES OUT, AS FAR AS ME PERSONALLY, I WASN'T AGAINST THE VACCINES.

BUT I DIDN'T NECESSARY THINK IT WAS NECESSARY FOR VACCINE SINCE I ALREADY GOT THE COVID MYSELF.

THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS IN THE MEDIA, A LOT OF THINGS THAT WAS SAID BY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, SOME FRIENDS OF MINE GOT VACCINATED.

BUT STILL AT THAT POINT, I DIDN'T SEE A NEED BECAUSE I WAS -- SINCE I WAS HEALTHY, IN MY MID 50s, AND EVEN MY BOYS, EVERYONE IN GENERAL ARE VERY HEALTHY PEOPLE.

AS TIME PASSED AND SEEING AS DELTA HIT, NOT THE ORIGINAL COVID, BUT WHEN DELTA HIT, AND THEN I GO VISIT THREE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL.

BEFORE I GOT THERE, ONE LADY PASSED TWO HOURS BEFORE I GOT THERE.

SHE WAS A MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN AND VERY GOOD HEALTH.

AND GO TO THE NEXT INDIVIDUAL, TO PRAY FOR THEM.

THAT MONDAY THEY PASSED.

SO WHILE I WAS PRAYING THE NURSE SAID, SIR, DOING ABOUT YOU, BUT I SEE YOU PRAYING.

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO COME TO THIS ROOM.

A FAMILY JUST LOST THEIR DAD A WEEK AGO.

THEIR GRANDMOTHER TWO WEEKS AGO.

AND THEIR MOTHER IS ABOUT TO PASS.

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TRAY TO -- TRY TO COME IN AND COMFORT THE FAMILY.

IT WAS TWO DAUGHTERS AND A SON AND A SON-IN-LAW STANDING OVER THEIR MOM.

AND AS WE'RE PRAYING, SHE LITERALLY PASSED IN MY HANDS AND TO SEE THE DAUGHTERS AND THE SON WE'LL BE SUCH DESPERATION -- WEEPING OF SUCH DESPERATION LOSING THEIR DAD AND THEIR MOM, IT BROKE MY HEART.

IT WAS CHALLENGING EVEN TO KNOW WHAT TO SAY, BECAUSE IN THAT INSTANT, BOTH INDIVIDUALS WAS COUNTRY, SIMPLE, HARDWORKING.

NEITHER ONE HAD ANY HEALTH ISSUES WHATSOEVER.

AND BOTH INSTANIOUSLY WITHIN A SEVEN-DAY PERIOD PASSED BECAUSE OF A VIRUS.

IT'S HARD TO GRASP WHY WOULDN'T WE PROTECT OUR FAMILY.

WE BUY GUNS TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE EVEN MAKE OUR CHILDREN GET IN CAR SEATS.

BUT NOW WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE RISK IS TOO HIGH FOR THEM NOT TO BE BELTED IN.

BIT YET WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY -- BUT YET WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A VACCINE AND WE CHOOSE NOT TO.

ONCE I UNDERSTOOD THE BENEFITS OF THE VACCINES, I ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY MANDATED IT HERE ON THE FARM.

AND THEN AFTER I TOOK INTO MORE CONSIDERATION, I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR EVERYONE THAT WORKS HERE AT THE FARM TO BE VACCINATED.

I ALSO SPOKE AT A CONGREGATION HERE AT THE CHURCH AT VICTORY IN CHRIST THAT I RECOMMEND FOR EVERYONE TO GET VACCINATIONS.

THEY SAID, WELL, WHY.

WELL, TRY TO GET YOU TO CONSIDER, SIT DOWN YOUR DEFENSES.

I'M PRETTY SURE ONE DONALD TRUMP GOT THE SHOT HIMSELF AND IT WAS APPROVED UNDER HIM.

NOW FDA HAS APPROVED PFIZER.

I ASK YOU, PLEASE, TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY, YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR LOVE ONES.

PLEASE GO GET THE VACCINATION.

HE'S SPEAKING STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART AND WHAT A POWERFUL STORY FROM THAT PASTOR IN LIVINGSTON PARISH.

IT RAISES SOME GREAT QUESTIONS ABOUT FAITH AND FREEDOM FOR OUR PANEL DISCUSSION.

AND JOINING US IN STUDIO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME IS OUR LIVE AUDIENCE.

STUDENTS FROM THE LOUISIANA YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL.

THEY'RE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND THE LSU SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION.

WE'VE ASKED STUDENTS TO PRESENT CONCERNS OF THEIR OWN TO OUR PANELISTS WHO WE'LL INTRODUCE TO YOU.

FIRST THE REVEREND KATIE McKAY SIMPSON IS THE SENIOR MINISTER AT UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN BATON ROUGE.

THAT'S ON THE LSU CAMPUS.

AND KATIE JOINS US IN STUDIO.

WELCOME.

AND ALSO JOINING US VIA SKYPE IS EDWARD RICHARDS, A PROPERTY OF LAW AT LSU, SPECIALIZING IN PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY.

AND HAS ALSO WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE CDC AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

REVEREND AS MANY AS, LET'S START WITH YOU.

-- REVEREND SIMPSON, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WE JUST HEARD FROM A PASTOR WHO ENCOURAGED HIS CONGREGATION TO GET VACCINATED AFTER STRUGGLING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

SOME PASTORS FEEL VACCINES GO AGAINST RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS AND HOW DO YOU THINK MEMBERS OF OUR AUDIENCE SHOULD THINK ABOUT IT AND PEOPLE OF FAITH?

WELL, OBVIOUSLY, I -- I'M A PERSON THAT BELIEVES IN -- IN FREEDOM AND NOT ONLY IN THE NATION BUT ALSO IN THE LIFE OF OUR FAITH LIVING WITH FREE WILL.

BUT OF COURSE, I'M THE PASTOR OF A CONGREGATION THAT HAD TO DO THAT WORK OF DISCERNMENT AS WELL AND WE'RE -- WHERE WE LANDED WAS THAT WE THOUGHT THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO USE OUR VOICE OF INFLUENCE IN THE COMMUNITY TO WORK TOWARD OUR LOVE AND DUTY TOWARD THE COMMON GOOD.

SO, FOR US OVER THE COURSE OF COVID, I LED THEM ALONG WITH MY OTHER LAY LEADERSHIP TO MASK ALL OF THE TIME SO THAT WE COULD PROTECT THOSE THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE.

AND WE BEGAN TO BE A VACCINATION SITE FOR THOSE AROUND CAMPUS AND OTHERS IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE MOST VERBAL AS WELL.

-- VULNERABLE AS WELL.

SO IN A WAY WE'RE USING OUR AGENCIES AND FREEDOM IN WAYS THAT WE THINK ARE MOST FAITHFUL TO THE GOSPEL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ESPOUSE IN PRACTICAL WAYS.

THINGS HAVE COME FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE, OPINIONS AND ISSUES AND FIERCE OF GOVERNMENT OVERREACH HAVE ALSO DOMINATED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT COVID.

ESPECIALLY IN RECENT WEEKS.

NEW ORLEANS CREATED ITS OWN VACCINE MANDATE IN AUGUST.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS ANNOUNCED THE MANDATE FOR U.S.

BUSINESSES.

THIS FOR PEOPLE WITH BUSINESSES EMPLOYING OVER 100 PEOPLE.

AND VACCINE MANDATES.

WE ASK THE QUESTION, ARE THEY CONSTITUTIONAL.

MR. RICHARD, I WANT TO GO WITH YOU THIS QUESTION ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF VACCINE MANDATES.

LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT VACCINE MANDATES REALLY MEAN.

OUTSIDE OF THE MILITARY, THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT FORCE PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST THEIR WILL.

THE SHERIFF IS NOT MANDATED TO HOLD YOU DOWN DID VACCINATE YOU.

BUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES IS PREVENT FROM YOU ENDANGERING OTHERS BY PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES THAT MIGHT INFECT OTHERS IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED.

YOU COULD BE BARRED FROM WORK, FROM PUBLIC TRANSPORT, FROM SCHOOL AND OTHER CONGREGATE ACTIVITIES.

YOU MAY REFUSE VACCINATION, BUT THE REFUSAL LIKE REFUSING TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY WHEN DRAFT COMES AT A COST.

IN THE 1905 JACOBSON CASE, THE ONLY REALLY SUPREME COURT CASE DIRECTLY ON VACCINATION, THE SUPREME COURT UPHELD THE RIGHT OF A COMMUNITY TO FINE VACCINE RESISTORS.

IF THE FINE WAS NOT PAID, THE PERSON COULD BE IMPRISONED BUT WOULD NOT BE FORCED TORE VACCINATED.

SUCH UNVACCINATED PERSONSES COULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT POSED THE THREAT OF SPREADING SMALL POX.

CHILDREN WERE EXCLUDED DURING EPIDEMICS AND THIS CAUSED NO CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.

LET'S TURN FOR A MINUTE TO THE PROPOSED FEDERAL VACCINE MANDATES.

ONLY MILITARY PERSONNEL ARE REQUIRED TO BE VACCINATED.

THAT IS WELL WITHIN THE POWERS OF THE MILITARY.

THE MANDATES DO NOT REQUIRE FEDERAL OR CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES TO BE VACCINATED.

THEY DO REQUIRE UNVACCINATED EMPLOYEES TO BE FREQUENTLY TESTED FOR COVID.

THIS IS NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM.

BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS OF WHETHER OSHA HAS A STATER TO AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE THE TESTING.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE POWER TO EXCLUDE THE UNVACCINATED FROM AIRCRAFT AND PASSENGER TRAINS.

IT'S NOT -- [INAUDIBLE] MR. RICHARDS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

WE WANTED TO INCLUDE AS MANY VOICES FROM OUR STATE AS POSSIBLE.

IN THIS PROGRAM.

LET'S NOW GET SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO SHARE THEIR HESITATIONS ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

LISTEN TO THIS.

I'M NOT 100% COMFORTABLE WITH THE VACCINE DUE TO THE FACT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VACCINE IS OR CONSISTS OF.

I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE HAS THE OPINION TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEIR BODIES, RIGHT?

SAME WAY THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEIR BODY WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN AND THE ABORTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT, RIGHT?

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I REALLY PEOPLE LIKE WE SHOULDN'T BE MADE OR FORCED TO DO ANYTHING THAT WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY COMFORTABLE WITH NCHTD BUT HEY, TO EACH HIS OPEN.

'D HESITANCY ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE.

I'M NOT A FAN OF THE GOVERNMENT TELLING ME THAT I NEED SOMETHING.

I'VE NEVER HAD THE -- [INAUDIBLE] GROWING -- [INAUDIBLE] [AUDIO DIFFICULTIES] I WASN'T -- I DIDN'T GET MY DAUGHTER ALL OF HERS.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING INTO MY CHILD.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TELL US WHAT, HOW, WHEN, WHEN FOR ME I BELIEVE IF WE HAD A HANDLE ON IT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, IT COULD BE STOPPED.

SO NOW IT'S HERE AND THEN TO SAY, YES, FDA APPROVAL, NOT FOR THE VACCINE.

IT'S NOT GONNA HARM.

OH, NO, IT IS GONNA HARM.

YOU MAY NOT GET IT.

UNTIL YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME TRUTH, I'M GOOD ON JUST NOT GETTING IT AT THE MOMENT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW MAY HOLD.

I MAY CHANGE MY MIND.

BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK I'M GOOD.

SO BODY YOU A TAUN ME IS CLEARLY -- AUTONOMY IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE FOR PEOPLE CONSIDERING THE VACCINE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THESE PEOPLE WHO SUGGEST THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE FORCED INTO GETTING SOMETHING THAT THEY SIMPLY DO NOT WANT?

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION, ESPECIALLY BEING A FEMALE PASTOR DEALING WITH WOMEN THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH BODY AUTONOMY IN SOCIAL ISSUES JUST AS THE FIRST PERSON QUOTED.

CONTINUES TO BRING UP.

I THINK IT'S GROWN AT ITS BEST FROM COMPASSION TRAINING AND OTHERS THAT HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT BEING PUT IN THE IN THAT PLACE OF HAVING TO DEAL WITH A TYPE OF MANDATE.

I THINK BODY AUTONOMY ALSO IS CHALLENGED A BIT WHEN IT COMES TO MY TRADITION AND SO MANY OTHERS THAT CONTINUE TO -- THAT PREACH FROM SCRIPTURE OR OTHER FAITH TRADITIONS IN WHICH WE HAVE SOME CONNECTION.

SO BODY AUTONOMY IS BASED IN AN INDIVIDUALISTIC ETHIC.

AND BY VIRTUE OF MY FAITH AND THE FADES OF THOSE IN MY KONG -- FAITH OF THOSE IN MY CONGREGATION, WE BELIEVE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE MEMBERS OF A NATION AND ARE PROUD TO ENJOY THE FREEDOMS THAT ARE IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY, WE ALSO ARE APART OF A GREATER -- A GREATER COMMITMENT WHERE WE ALONG WITH OTHER HUMAN BEINGS ARE PULLY -- MUTUAL LEE FOUND IN A COMMON COMMUNICATION.

THERE'S A SENSE WHERE THE FREEDOM FOR SOMEONE WHO IS UNVACCINATED TO GO INTO A CLASSROOM AND IMPLICATE OR PUT AT RISK THOSE STUDENTS AT LEAST FROM OUR ADVANTAGE TAJ POINT -- VANTAGE POINT, THAT'S PART WHERE THE AUTONOMY END AND WHERE OUR COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER FOR EACH OTHER'S BEST BELLEVILLE AND THE COMMON GOODWILL BEGINS.

MR. RICHARDS, DO MANDATES FORCE VACCINATION AND IS THAT WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO?

MANDATES ENCOURAGE VACCINATIONS.

PUTTING A COST ON NOT BEING VACCINATED.

BUT THAT'S ALWAYS MADE THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF.

THEY'RE THINKING THAT THE SHERIFF IS GOING TO SIT ON THEM AS I SAID BEFORE AND VACCINATE THEM.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN PARTICIPATING IN OTHER ACTIVITIES.

AND/OR GETTING VACCINATED.

THAT SEEMS LIKE A FAIR TRADE-OFF.

WE'VE LOST OUR FEAR OF THE DISEASES.

THERE HAVE NOT BEEN MAJOR OUTBREAKS WITHIN THE LIFETIMES OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT VACCINATIONS NOW.

THE ISSUE HAS BECOME POLITICIZED AND WHAT I FIND SO FRIGHTENING MYSELF IS THAT WE'VE HAD ALMOST 700,000 PEOPLE DIE, WHICH IS MORE THAN DIED IN ANY OF OUR WARS.

IT'S NOT AS MANY AS DIED PER CAPITA IN THE 1918-1919 PANDEMIC.

BUT IT'S STILL A FRIGHTENING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIALED.

IT'S MANY MULTIPLES THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIED WITH THE 9/11 ATTACKS.

AND YET WE DON'T HAVE ANY SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT WE HAD IN WORLD WAR II OR IN OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE THE COUNTRY IS FACING A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

WE APPRECIATE THAT, MR. RICHARDS.

LET'S HEAR A QUESTION FROM ONE OF OUR STUDENTS HERE.

AND SANDER, YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR REVEREND SIMPSON.

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF, TELL OUTS WHERE YOU'RE FROM, AND ASK YOUR QUESTION.

HI.

I'M IN CROFGTON AND MY QUESTION IS WHEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS SUCH AS POPE FRANCIS AND MICHAEL -- HAVE STATED THERE IS NO LEGITIMATE RELIGIOUS OBJECTION WITH THEIR RELIGION TO VACCINATION AND EVEN CALLED IT AS ENCAT -- CALLED IT A -- WHAT IS THE -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE MANY LEDGES RELIGIOUS LEADERS THAT HAVE SPOKEN TO THE FACT THAT MOST OF THE DEBATED POINTS WHERE SCRIPTURE MIGHT ARGUE AGAINST VACCINATION HAVE BEEN DEBUNKED BY NOW.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE FINAL STATEMENTS FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AT LEAST IN THE TRADITION, FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TO DIFFERENT PROTESTANT BODIES THAT ACTUALLY DO HAVE A COLLECTIVE STANCE WRITTEN DOWN AND ASCENTED TO BY THOSE RESPECTIVE BODIES, NONE OF THEM OVER THE COURSE OF HISTORY, NOT EVEN JUST NOW, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF TIME AND DELIBERATION HAVE SAID ANYTHING AGAINST RECEIVING VACCINATIONS.

SO WHEN WE COME TO THE PLACE WHERE IT DOESN'T COME FROM A SCRIPTURAL POINT OF VIEW, OFTEN THE REQUESTS FOR EXEMPTIONS THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED AND FELLOW CLERGY OF MINE HAVE ENCOUNTERED COME FROM A PLACE OF INDIVIDUAL AND PERSONAL DISCERNMENT.

SO FOR INSTANCE, SOMEONE RECENTLY TOLD A FRIEND OF MINE THAT THEY HEARD GOD SAY EXPLICITLY TO THEM THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE VACCINE AND THAT THEY WERE STRUGGLING WITH ANXIETY ABOUT THEIR WORKPLACE, MANDATING THEM TO DO SO.

AND AGAIN, THE STANCE THAT HE TOOK THAT I THOUGHT WAS RIGHT WAS TO WRITE A LERTER -- LETTER TO SAY, THIS PERSON IS FEELING THIS FROM A FAITH PERSPECTIVE, BUT BEING CLEAR THERE'S NOTHING IN OUR GENERAL CHURCH THAT IS GIVING THAT MANDATE ANY KIND OF EXEMPTION FROM A LARGER STANDPOINT.

SO REALLY, EXEMPTIONS -- I FIND AGAIN, THESE EXEMPTIONS TO VACCINES ARE COMING LARGELY FROM A MORE POLITICAL STANCE THAN THEY ARE A RELIGIOUS OR SCRIPTURALLY-BASED ONE.

SO WE HAVE TO REALLY WEIGH WHETHER -- WHETHER WE'LL CONTINUE TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN IN CHURCHES.

BUT THE CHALLENGE IS FORMIDABLE AND I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE IT WELL WHILE UPHOLDING OTHER PEOPLE'S AGENCIES AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

ON THAT NOTE, MR. RICHARDS, GIVEN YOUR WORK WITH PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY, IS RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION A LEGITIMATE OPTION?

ALLOWING A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FOR VACCINATION WHILE YOU ARE EXCLUDED FROM WORK OR E COLLUDED FROM SCHOOLS -- EXCLUDED FROM SCHOOL, THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE TRADITION NOTION OF THE STRENGTH OF RELIGIOUS BELIEVE.

-- BELIEF.

IN THE MILITARY IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO FIGHT, YOU HAD SHOW YOUR SINCERITY AND YOU HAD TO PERFORM SIGNIFICANT OTHER SERVICE INCLUDING PERHAPS SERVING ON THE FRONTLINES IN THE AMBULANCE CORPS RISKING THEIR LIFE.

SO WHAT I FOUND AS CONCERTING IS NOT RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS BUT THE COURT OF COST-FREE RELIGIOUS EXENTS THAT ARE JUST CHECK OFF THE BOCK.

-- BOX.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

LET'S GO BACK TO OUR STUDENTS NOW.

WE'VE GOT ANOTHER QUESTION FROM THEM THAT RELATES TO RELIGION.

NEIL, YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION.

WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR FULL NAME, TELL US WHERE YOU'RE FROM, AND STATE YOUR QUESTION, PLEASE.

I'M NEIL.

I'M A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL FROM LAFAYETTE, LAST.

AND MY QUESTION IS THIS.

RELIGIOUS FIGURES ARE COMING FORTH IN SUPPORT OF VACCINATION AS MORALLY ACCEPTABLE SUCH AS THE POPE AND ISLAMIC LEADERS THAT SIGNED THE DECLARATION.

AS A CHRISTIAN HOW DO YOU APPROACH IN GENERAL THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND FAITH?

SPECIFICALLY INTO MY CHURCH, I -- IN MY CHURCH, I OFTEN REMAINED MY FOLKS JUST BECAUSE WE'RE PEOPLE OF FAITH, WE'RE NOT CALLED TO CHECK OUR MINDS AT THE DOOR.

AND SO YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT SO MANY VOICES OUT THERE ARE SAYING THAT SCIENCE IS INCONSISTENT WITH FAITH OR WITH RELIGIOUS BELIEF OR EVEN SPIRITUALITY.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT SCIENCE ACTUALLY CAN POINT TO FAITH AND FAITH CAN ACTUALLY POINT TO SCIENCE, EVEN IN THE -- WE HAD THE HARVEST MOON TWO NIGHTS AGO AND I WAS SITTING THERE WITH MY 3-YEAR-OLD ON MY SHOULDERS JUST LOOKING AT IT.

AND YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT THE BEAUTY OF THAT AND ALL THAT IT TOOK FOR US TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT SPACE AND EXPLORATION AND CURIOSITIES THAT IT TOOK TO KNOW WHAT WE KNOW NOW IN A WAY -- I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT MORE TRANSCENDENT AND EXISTENTIAL THINGS THAT ARE TRUTHS FOR US IN THE MIDST OF THAT RELATIONSHIP.

SO YOU KNOW, I GRIEVE THE FACT THAT TODAY WE ARE SO POLARIZED TO THINK THAT THESE TWO CAN'T BE IN COMMUNICATION AND ACTUALLY AUGMENT EACH OTHER AS TRADITIONS THAT CAN HELP ALL OF US BE BETTER, TO HELP ALL OF US TO KNOW MORE AND TO CONTINUE TO APPRECIATE MORE DEEPLY THE CREATION THAT IS ALL AROUND US, THAT AT LEAST IN MY BELIEF, IS FIRMLY GOD GIVEN.

REVEREND, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

TO OUR STUDENTS WITH ANOTHER QUESTION.

SHAUN, YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR PROFESSOR RICHARDS.

IF YOU'D STATE YOUR FULL NAME.

YES, SIR.

I'M SHAUN MYERS AND I'VE FROM CHURCH POINT, LOUISIANA.

MY QUESTION IS, IN THE SUPREME COURT CASE OF SUET VERSUS KING IN 1922, IT WAS DECIDED THAT SCHOOLS CAN CONSTITUTIONALLY EXCLUDE UNVACCINATED STUDENTS FROM ATTENDS CLASSES.

IF AND WHEN THE COVID-19 VACCINATION IS MANDATED IN SCHOOLS, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS FEDERAL CASE WILL HOLD JEW ADDITIONAL PRECEDENCE ALMOST 100 YEARS LATER?

THAT'S PRETTY CLEAR.

IN FACT, IN LOUISIANA LAW RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IS THE ACTUAL POLITICAL REALITIES.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS VERY SELDOM PUSH THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY.

UNDER THE EXAIFTING -- EXISTING LOUISIANA LAW, THE STUDENTS AT LSU COULD BE EXCLUDED.

ANYONE ELIGIBLE TO BE VACCINATED WHO IS -- WHO ISN'T VACCINATED TO BE EXCLUDED.

IT'S NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM.

BUT IT IS A POLITICAL PROBLEM.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE APPOINTED BY GOVERNORS.

THEY'RE CONTROLLED BY LEGISLATURES.

THEY SELDOM CAN DO AS MUCH AS THE CONSTITUTIONAL WOULD ALLOW THEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT ANSWER.

AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE, REVEREND SIMPSON AND MR. RICHARDS, FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS.

REALLY HELPING US THINK THROUGH THIS, MAYBE IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY THAN WE HAVE BEFORE AND HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.

NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO TALK WITH SOME OF LOUISIANA'S TOP DOCTORS TO HELP US ADDRESS SOME OF THE MEDICAL CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH.

BUT BEFORE WE TALK WITH OUR PANEL, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM A RECENTLY RETIRED ICU NURSE WHO HAS SEVERAL MEDICAL CONCERNS HERSELF THAT HAVE KEPT HER FROM GETTING THE SHOT.

HERE'S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

MY NAME IS KATHY DELOLT.

I HAVE BEEN AN ICU NURSE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

I'VE BEEN A NURSE FOR JUST OVER 20 YEARS.

AND HAVE WORKED IN THE COVID UNIT IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE I WAS EMPLOYED.

AND PRIOR TO THAT I HAD DONE O.R.

NURSING AND RECOVERY ROOM NURSING.

SO I FOUND MYSELF TO BE VACCINE HESITANT.

MOSTLY BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH HAD COVID LAST FALL.

AND WE RECOVERED.

AND HE GOT THE VACCINE ABOUT FOUR MONTHS LATER.

AND HE HAD SEVERE REACTIONS TO THE VACCINE.

SO THAT'S GIVEN ME PAUSE ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE.

THINKING THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN ALL LIKELIHOOD FROM PREVIOUSLY BEEN INFECTED WITH COVID.

MY OTHER REASON THAT I'VE HESITATED IS BECAUSE I HAVE A FACTOR IN MY BLOOD THAT HAS -- THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROTENSIONTY TO DEVELOP BLOOD CLOTS.

AND I HAVE HAD BLOOD CLOT THIS IS THE PAST IN MY LUNGS.

I'M PROBABLY CLOSER NOW TO GETTING THE VACCINE THAN I WAS TWO MONTHS AGO.

AND THAT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HERE LOCALLY THAT I KNOW ARE BEING PROFOUNDLY AFFECTED BY THE VIRUS.

THERE'S THIS WIDELY HELD BELIEF -- AND I SEE IT IN COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA -- THEY THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HESITATING TO GET IT ARE PART OF SOME -- CONSPIRACY-BELIEVING CULT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GET IT BECAUSE ANY NUMBER OF REASONS.

BUT THAT WE'RE IGNORANT AND THAT WE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE NOT GETTING IT YET.

AND NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

EVERYONE THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY THAT HAS HESITATED TO GET THE VACCINE, THEY'VE DONE THEIR RESEARCH.

THEY HAVE LOOKED DEEP INTO WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN SOME SITUATIONS WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE.

AND THEY'RE CONCERNED.

AND THEY HAVE VALID CONCERNS.

BUT RATHER THAN BEING ADDRESSED AND VALIDATED AT ALL, THEY'RE BEING DISMISSED.

THEY'RE JUST BEING POO-POOED.

AND SAYING GET THE VACCINE BECAUSE WE'RE TELLING YOU TO.

AND SO NOW IT'S GONNA BECOME A MATTER OF YOUR LIFE AND HOW MUCH FREEDOM YOU'RE GONNA HAVE.

I HAD RETIRED FROM NURSING BACK IN MAY OF THIS YEAR.

AND SO IT'S -- IT'S NOT GONNA AFFECT ME WHETHER I DO IT OR NOT.

AS FAR AS EMPLOYMENT GOES.

BUT IT IS GONNA AFFECT MY DAUGHTER.

SHE HAS NOT GOTTEN IT JUST YET.

I THINK SHE'S PROBABLY GETTING CLOSE.

BUT SHE HERSELF WAS DIAGNOSED AT AGE 27 THIS YEAR WITH A VERY AGGRESSIVE FORM OF BREAST CANCER.

THAT SHE'S HAD TO ADDRESS AND HAS HAD SURGERY FOR THAT.

BUT SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE VACCINE MAY AFFECT HER AUTO-IMMUNE SYSTEM WITH HAVING HAD CANCER.

BECAUSE SHE'S ALREADY HAD COVID PREVIOUSLY.

PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS RIGHT NOW IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT ARE STILL WORKING IN IT EVERY DAY AND THEY'RE FACED WITH LOSING THEIR JOBS THAT THEY'VE WORKED AT FOR MANY YEARS.

SO THEY DO LITERALLY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE GONE FROM HERO TO ZERO, BECAUSE IT WAS OKAY FOR THEM RISKING EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE SAFETY OF THEIR OWN FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, TO COME AND DO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

AND NOW IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WE DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT YOUR REASON IS FOR NOT WANTING TO GET THE VACCINE.

YOU JUST DON'T HAVE A JOB AFTER SUCH AND SUCH A DATE IF YOU DON'T.

AND IT'S THAT HEAVY-HANDED MANDATED APPROACH THAT I THINK IS JUST WHAT IS CAUSING SO MUCH ANGUISH WITH PEOPLE.

IT IS FASCINATING HEARING THESE QUESTIONS RAISED BY AN ICU NURSE, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE AN ESTEEMED PANEL TO UNPACK MANY OF THESE ISSUES.

FIRST, DR. JOSEPH CANTOR IS STATE HEALTH OFFICER AND HAS BEEN UPDATING US WEEKLY ON LOUISIANA'S COVID NUMBERS ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR.

YOU'VE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT.

WELCOME YOU TO.

ALSO, DR. KATHERINE O'NEIL IS THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OUR LADY OF THE LAKE HOSPITAL IN BATON ROUGE.

ALSO BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT MANY OF THESE NEWS BRIEFINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN DURING THE PAST YEAR.

AND ALSO WE WANT TO WELCOME DR. NELAN PERET AS THE PEL NELSON PERET AT THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND WORKING DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS, WHICH HAS TAKEN ON A NEW INTEREST JUST OF LATE WITH SOME STUDENTS NO LONGER BEING ENROLLED AT LSU.

DR. CANTOR, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU FIRST.

WE JUST HEARD FROM THIS RETIRED ICU NURSE WHO ISN'T READY TO GET VACCINATED.

SHE SAID SHE'S A LITTLE CLOSER TO IT, BUT NOT READY YET, BECAUSE OF CONCERNS WITH BLOOD CLOTS AND MEDICAL ISSUES AND ALSO RAISE AS GREAT POINT OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING TOLD GET THE VACCINE.

AND STOP ASKING QUESTIONS BUT JUST YET IT.

-- GET IT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO HER AND I GUESS SIMPLY, ARE THE VACCINES FOR EVERYONE?

YEAH, I I HAVE A LOT OF RESPT WHO ARE FOR WHAT SHE SAID.

SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT I THINK DEFAULT IS DEMONIZED PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE CHOICE WHEN IN FACT PEOPLE ARE MAKING CHOICES BASED ON INFORMATION THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM OR PARKING LOTS OR -- INSPECTORS -- PERSPECTIVES.

SHE HAS A DOCTOR WHO'S HIGH RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS OF COVID BECAUSE SHE'S A CANCER PATIENT.

ALL OF THOSE NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY IS HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE DOCTOR WHO KNOWS YOU BEST.

GET YOUR CONCERNS ANSWERED.

IF THIS WAS MY PATIENT, WHAT I WOULD SAY AND IF YOU HAVE PARTICULAR CONCERNS WITH CLOTTING, IT'S SPECIFIC TO THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE THAT HAPPENS IN ABOUT 7 OUT OF ONE MILLION WOMEN BETWEEN 18 AND 50.

IT'S RELATIVELY SMALL.

THE RISK OF GETTING A BLOOD CLOT FROM COVID ITSELF BY THE QUAY IS ABOUT 10 TIMES HIGHER.

BUT IF THAT IS YOUR CONCERN, I RESPECT THAT.

AND I WOULD ADVISE MY PARENTS TO GET VACCINATED WITH PFIZER OR MODERNA INSTEAD TO ALLEVIATE THAT CONCERN.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, DON'T JUST TAKE THOSE CONCERNS AND STOP THERE.

HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

AIR IT OUT.

THERE'S PROBABLY GOOD PERSPECTIVES OUT THERE THAT YOU SHOULD GIVE YOURSELF THE BENEFIT OF HEARING.

I'VE GOT ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU.

THE PANDEMIC AND THE STRESS OF DEALING WITH A BRAND-NEW VIRUS.

THE SCIENTISTS HAVE HAD TO COMBAT IN REALTIME ON THE FLY IN MANY CASES.

AND IT'S CREATED SOME TRUST ISSUES AS PEOPLE SAY, WELL, THEY'RE CHANGING THEIR MINDS.

SO WHAT ARE WE TO BELIEVE?

FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE PUBLIC, SO HOW DO YOU MEND THAT -- MAYBE REBUILD SOME OF THAT TRUST THAT WAS NEVER AN ISSUE BEFORE, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE, AND BUILD MORE CONFIDENCE IN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS MOVING FORWARD AS THEY DISCUSS THE VACCINE AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

I THINK YOU DO IT WITH RESPECT FOR PEOPLE'S VIEWPOINTS.

AND WHAT CONCERNS THEY HAVE.

AND I THINK YOU DO IT WITH THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE.

AND YOU KEEP GOING BACK ON THAT AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE CAN CHANGE AS MORE STUDIES COME OUT.

YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE BOOSTER SHOT CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S AN ACTIVE AND VIGOROUS DISCUSSION, DEBATE AMONGST MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ABOUT WHAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ONE SIDE IS RIGHT OR WRONG.

IT MEANS WE'RE LIVING THIS PANDEMIC IN REALTIME.

SO THE SCIENCE IS COMING FAST IN FURIOUS.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO KNOW THE BEST GUIDANCE MADE CHANGE AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVEN'T EVEN CONSIDERED.

SO YOU HAVE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND HONOR THE CONCERNS THAT THEY'RE FEELING.

DR. -- DOCTORS, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO ADDRESS THIS ALSO.

THOUSAND DO WE MEND THAT TRUST.

I THINK IT'S A TRUST THAT IN MEDICAL SIN WE GO THROUGH -- MEDICINE WE GO THROUGH SO OFTEN THAT WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

WE DEBATE EACH OTHER.

IN TRAINING WE HAVE JOURNAL CLUBS.

WE HAVE CONFERENCES AND WE GET USED TO SAYING, TO OUR OWN MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND THEN SOMETIMES TO OUR PATIENTS, WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR INSTANCE WITH THIS DISEASE.

BUT I'M GONNA USE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE ABOUT THE DISIEZ AND OTHER -- IN OTHER PEOPLE AND I'M GOING TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR YOU SITTING IN FRONT OF ME.

WE HEARD HER TALK ABOUT HOW HER HUSBAND REACTED TO THE VACCINE AND SO THAT MAKES HER HESITANT.

BUT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLELY WITH TWO -- PEOPLE WITH TWO DIFFERENT MEDICAL HISTORIES.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HER TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER PHYSICIAN ABOUT HER HEALTH AND NOT TAKE SOMEBODY ELSE'S EXPERIENCE AND APPLY IT TO HER OWN DECISION.

I THINK FROM A PHYSICIAN PERSPECTIVE, FROM AN EDUCATION PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE NOT LAID THAT OUT FOR THE PUBLIC.

HOW OFTEN IN MEDICINE WE HAVE THESE DEBATES.

YOU ON OFTEN WE HAVE REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE KNOW, AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO THAT I CAN THAT INTO PEOPLE'S LIVING ROOMS AND SHOW THEM WHAT A HEALTHY DEBATE LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE PROCEED FORWARD WITH A NEW PLAN, WHICH WE HAVE DONE IN THE PANDEMIC BUT IT'S MADE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.

INSTEAD OF SAYING WE'RE ALREADYING -- LEARNING EVERY I KNOW SINGLE DAY.

LEARN WITH US.

I THINK WE HAVE TON -- TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE DATA.

WE CAN'T SLAM IT.

WE HAVE TO BE JUST FORTHRIGHT WITH THE DATA.

BUT I THINK IN JENWE ARE FORTHRIGHT WITH THE DATA.

BUT WE'RE NOT SLANTING IT.

SIDELINES SUZ -- SCIENCE DOES CHANGE.

YOU GET NEW OUTCOMES AND DATA ALL THE TIME AND WHAT WE KNEW NINE MONTHS AGO IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN NOW.

AND PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT'S WHY RECOMMENDATIONS CHANGE.

WE'VE GOT CERTAINLY A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FROM STUDENTS THAT ARE HERE WITH US.

THE FIRST QUESTION FROM THE GROUP.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF, TELL US WHERE YOU'RE FROM, AND IS YOUR -- AND YOUR QUESTION, PLEASE.

I'M JAREN FROM LOUISIANA.

AND MY QUESTION IS WHY SHOULD SOMEONE GET THE VACCINE IF THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET COVID AND SPREAD IT TO OTHERS?

CAN AND LIKELY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT MEDICINE IS VERY FEW THINGS IF ANY ARE ABC SALUTE.

NOTHING IN -- ABSOLUTE.

NOTHING IN MY MEDICINE IS 100%.

IT'S ALL SHADES OF PERSONALAS.

CAN YOU GET COVID AFTER GETTING THE VACCINE?

YES.

ARE YOU LIKELY TO?

YOU'RE MUCH LESS LIKELY IF YOU'RE VACCINATED.

ABOUT EIGHT TIMES LESS LIKELY IF YOU'RE VACCINATED.

WHEN YOU'RE IN A SURGE, AND WE'RE COMING DOWN FROM OUR DELTA SURGE RIGHT NOW AND COVID -- IF COVID IS ALL AROUND YOU, THOSE CHANCES GO UP A LITTLE BIT.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL NUMBERS, ABOUT EIGHT TIMES LESS LIKELY TO GET INFECTED WITH COVID IF YOU ARE VACCINATED.

YOU'RE 25 TIMES LESS LIKELY TO DIE OR BE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE ODDS, IT'S NOT ABSOLUTE BUT IT'S STILL PRETTY GOOD ODDS IN FAVOR OF THE VACCINE.

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO TAKE A CRACK AT THAT?

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND TO PIGGYBACK, NOT ONLY ARE YOU LESS LIKELY TO GET, BUT IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE THE RARE BREAKTHROUGH CASE, YOU MY A VIRAL LOAD THAT CAN SPREAD IT TO OTHER PEOPLE BUT YOU SHED FOR LESS HONK SO WHEN WE TAKE -- LESS LONG, SO WHEN WE TAKE THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWED, THE PARTIALLY ARE FULLY VACCINATED CREW SHED FOR LESS DAYS OF THEIR ILLNESS.

SO OVERALL, THEIR PERIOD OF INFECTIVITY WAS LESS THAN THE UNVACCINATED.

SO WOULD YOU RATHER BE CONTAGIOUS FOR EIGHT DAYS OR CLOSE TO THREE?

I WOULD RATHER BE CONTAGIOUS FOR CLOSE TO 3 BECAUSE IT WILL HELP SAVE OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES.

SO THAT'S A BIG PART OF GETTING VACCINATED.

WHEN YOU GET VACCINATED, ARE YOU LESS LIKELY TO SPREAD?

YOU ARE BECAUSE OF WHAT DR. CANTOR SAID.

YOU'RE LESS LIKELY TO GET THE VIRUS.

AND EVEN IF YOU DO, YOU'RE STILL LESS LIKELY TO SPREAD IT TO YOUR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS AND FRIENDS.

THIS NEXT QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

COMES FROM ALIXIS.

AND ALEXIS, IF YOU WOULD AGAIN TELL US YOUR FULL NAME AND THE QUESTION.

HI, MY NAME IS ALEXIS ELLIS.

I'M FROM SAINT ROSE, LOUISIANA.

AND MY QUESTION IS AS OF LAST WEEK, THE MAJORITY OF LOUISIANA'S POSITIVE COVID-19 PATIENTS WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 THROUGH 29.

WHAT DO YOU THINK I, A FULLY VACCINATED HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE MY UNVACCINATED PEERS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF BEING VACCINATED?

FIRST THING YOU CANNOT DO IS DON'T SHAME THEM.

FOR NOT BEING VACCINATED.

WE KNOW THAT DOESN'T WORK.

YOU CAN GIVE THEM THREE GOOD REASONS TO GET VACCINATED.

YOU CAN DO THE YOU ULTERIOR MOT.

GET VACCINATED FOR YOURSELF SO YOU DON'T GET SICK.

OR YOU DON'T GET AS SICK.

DO IT FOR YOUR FAMILY.

DO IT FOR YOUR PARENTS AND GRAN PARENTS WHO CERTAINLY -- GRANDPARENTS WHO CERTAINLY MIGHT GET SICKER IF YOU GET IT.

SO YOU HELP PROTECT THEM.

AND DO IT FOR SOCIETY IN GENERAL.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE KNOW THAT THE VACCINE REDUCES THE HOSPITAL BURDEN, THE LOAD IN ICUs, THE NUMBER OF HOSPITAL DEATHS, AND SO DO IT FOR THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS, DO IT FOR THE SYSTEM.

THANK YOU, SIR.

NOW, COLTEN HAS A QUESTION.

IF YOU WOULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF, TELL US WHERE YOU'RE FROM AND PRESENT YOUR QUESTION.

I'M FROM COLUMBIA, LOUISIANA.

AS THE LEADING MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AT THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ONE OF YOUR PRIMARY GOALS HAS TBOAN ERADICATE HEALTH DISPARATES AND MAKE PUBLIC HEALTH MORE EQUITABLE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

HOW HAVE VACCINE ROLLOUT PEN EQUITY.

-- BEEN EQUITABLE.

A BIG FOCUS IN ONE OF THE ENFORCEMENT RE.

IAS OF COVID PERL -- REALITIES OF COVID IS THERE WERE WIDE DISPARATES IN HEALTH OUTCOMES.

BLACK LOUISIANANS WERE DYING AT A HIGHER RATE THAN WHITE.

THE RATES HAVE EPROACHED EQUAL RIGHT NOW, BUT EARLIER ON THEY CERTAINLY WERE NOT.

EQUITY IN VACCINES IS SO VERY IMPORTANT.

WE ACTUALLY DO VERY WELL ON THIS COMPARED TO OTHER STATES.

BUT I'M NEVER GOING TO SAY IT'S ENOUGH.

SO AS OF TODAY, BETWEEN 30 AND 31% OF ALL VACCINE DOSES BEING GIVEN ARE BEING GIVEN TO BLACK LOUISIANANS WHO REPRESENT BETWEEN 32 AND 33% OF THE POPULATION.

SO THAT'S CLOSE.

CLOSER THAN MOST OTHER STATES ARE TO THAT MEASURE.

BUT NOT NEARLY ENOUGH AND WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, PARTICULARLY AMONGST COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THE MOST TO LOSE WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

AS WE'VE MOVED FROM HAVING VACCINE LIMITED IN SUPPLY TO NOW HAVING MORE VACCINE THAN WE CAN USE, WHERE WE ARE NOW, AND A LOT OF VACCINE PROVIDERS, ABOUT 1500 ACROSS THE STATE, THAT'S A LOT FOR A SMALL STATE, THE ISSUE BECOMES LESS IS THE VACCINE TECHNICALLY AVAILABLE AND MORE IS THE RIGHT MESSAGING BEING COMMUNICATED AND DO PEOPLE HAVE THEIR CONCERNS ANSWERED TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WORK TO EMPOWER TRUSTED REGGERS IN -- MESSENGERS WITHIN COMMUNITIES.

I'M NOT THE BEST MESSENGER, CERTAINLY NOT IN COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T LOOK LIKE ME, BUT I NEED TO HELP EMPOWER THE VOICES WHO ARE SO THE MYTHS, THE MISINFORMATION, THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT TRUE BUT KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING VACCINATED GET ANSWERED IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN TRUST AND HAVE FAITH IN.

DR. CANTOR, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE'VE MENTIONED THIS.

THE BOOSTER SHOT HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT LATELY.

AND THAT'S FOR SOME.

IT CAN'T GET HERE SOON ENOUGH FOR SOME PEOPLE.

OTHERS FEEL LIKE IT'S BEING RUSHLED.

I DO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE GETTING BOOSTER SHOTS AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE WORLD HAS NOT YET HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

SO IT SEEMS A BIT SELFISH OF OTHER COUNTRIES TO BE GIVING A THIRD SHOT TO PEOPLE WHEN THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE WORLD HASN'T EVEN HAD THEIR FIRST.

THAT VIEWPOINT AND THE QUESTION FOR EVERYONE, ARE WE BEING SELFISH IF WE GO AHEAD AND GET BOOSTERS BEFORE THE REST OF THE WORLD IS EVEN NEARLY CAUGHT UP TO WHERE WE ARE?

DR. CANTOR GIVEN ME SOME INSIDE INFORMATION BEFORE WE GOT HERE.

SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S HIS ANSWER.

YOU'LL ALL GET A CHANCE.

WE LEARN FROM HIM.

ONE OF THE THINGS WITH DO KNOW ABOUT OUR VACCINE SUPPLY IS THAT MUCH OF OUR VACCINE SUPPLY HAS AN END DATE THAT IF WE WERE TO TAKE IT OUT OF LOUISIANA AND SHIP TO THE ANOTHER COUNTRY, IT WOULD EXPIRE BEFORE IT WAS UTILIZED IN THOSE COUNTRIES.

SO WE HAVE A SURPLUS THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH.

AND WE'VE ALREADY TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE WANT FOR VACCINATIONS.

WE HAVE A LARGE WANT FOR BOOSTER SHOTS AMONGST THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE READY FOR THEIR BOOSTER AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RISK FACTORS THAT WE KNOW LEAD AS TO INFECTIONS, EVEN WHEN THEY'RE FULLY VACCINATED AND THOSE ARE OUR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS.

OUR PEOPLE AT THE EXTREMES OF THEIR AGE.

SO AT THE END OF THIS WEEK WE SHOULD HEAR SOME FIRM RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHO SHOULD RECEIVE A BOOSTER AND WE HAVE THOSE DOSES AVAILABLE.

AND THEY NEED TO BE USED.

AND THEY NEED TO BE USED FAIRLY QUICKLY.

SO I DO THINK THAT WHILE MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE VIEW THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS VACCINATED, WE SHIR THAT VIEW.

WE ALSO HAVE TO USE THE SUPPLY WE HAVE WISELY AND NOT LET A SINGLE DOSE GO TO WASTE AND IF WE HAVE DOSES AT THE READY FOR BOOSTERS AND WE HAVE A POPULATION WHO WE KNOW IS AT RISK, IT SEEMS VERY PRUDENT TO USE THOSE BOOSTERS WHERE THEY'RE MOST NEEDED.

OTHER COMMENTS?

I WOULD ADD IT'S NOT AN EITHER/OR SITUATION.

LET'S BE CLEAR.

THIS PANDEMIC DOES NOT END UNTIL IT ENDS ACROSS THE GLOBE.

IF THERE ARE COUNTRIES THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TRANSMIT.

THERE WILL BE NEW VARIANTS THAN SOONER OR LATER BE NOT A GOOD MATCH FOR OUR VACCINE.

WE CAN'T GET AHEAD OF THIS PANDEMIC UNTIL WE DETAILED IN A GLOBAL FASHION.

BUT I THINK WE CAN STILL DO THAT WHILE WE FOLLOW THE SCIENCE HERE.

AND LOOK, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE DATA AND IT'S COMING IN FAST AND FURIOUS NOW ABOUT IF BOOSTERS WORK AND WHO THEY WORK FOR, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THAT DATA.

AT THE SAME TIME AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKS TO PROCURE MORE VACCINE FOR THE WORLD.

YOU HAVE TO DO BOTH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON THE MESSAGING SINCE THIS VIRUS REALLY STARTED FROM DON'T QUAR A -- WEAR A MASK TO MASK FROM YOU NEED A BOOSTER SHOT TO YOU DON'T NEED ONE.

BUT SCIENCE CHANGES AS WE KNOW.

DO YOU THINK BECAUSE THE SCIENCE CHANGES PEOPLE CHOOSE TO QUESTION IT'S VALIDITY?

I THINK THAT'S AN END EFFECT OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE TO BE IN THIS PANDEMIC REALTIME AND DEALING WITH SCIENCE COMING IN REAL TIME.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE USED TO LOOKING AT DATA THAT HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND VALIDATED OVER DECADES AND DECADES.

AND WE'RE USED TO MAKING MEDICAL DECISIONS BASED ON WELL-ESTABLISHED FACTS THAT ARE JUST UNQUESTIONED BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN PUT THROUGH THE RINGERS, SO TO SAY, FOR A LOT OF TIME.

WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF THAT NOW.

YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE HIGH, HIGH QUALITY DATA THAT WE'RE USED TO ABOUT COVID IN THE YEARS TO COME.

BUT WE'RE IN THIS BATTLE RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.

PART OF THAT AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE IS BEING HUMBLE TO CHANGE COURSE IF THE FACTS CHANGE.

AND YOU MAKE A RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THE BEST INFORMATION YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

AND IF DOWN THE ROAD THE INFORMATION CHANGES OR NEW INFORMATION COMES TO LIGHT, YOU SAY, WE LEARNED MORE AND NOW WE THINK THIS IS THE BEST THING.

EVEN THOUGH WE WERE -- SAID SOMETHING ELSE BEFORE.

AND THAT'S JUST PART OF THE GAME WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A PANDEMIC IN REALTIME LIKE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU, DR. CANTOR.

BACK TO OUR STUDENTS.

QUESTION ABOUT BOOSTER SHOTS.

ALEX, YOU GOT A QUESTION AND IF YOU WOULD ONCE AGAIN, TELL US WHERE YOU'RE FROM AND STATE YOUR QUESTION.

AND YOUR FULL NAME.

YES, MY NAME IS ALEX AND I'M FROM SHREEFER PORT, LOUISIANA.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN PFIZER AND THE CDC ON WHETHER OR NOT BOOSTER SHOTS ARE NECESSARY.

ARE BOOSTER SHOTS NECESSARY ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE LIKE US?

THE ANSWER IS YES AND NO.

I THINK BOOSTER SHOTS WOULD HELP YOU.

THEY'RE GOING TO INCREASE YOUR IMMUNITY.

THEY'RE GOING REDUCE THE CHANCE OF YOU GETTING DISEASE AND SEVERE DES.

PEOPLE LIKE US, YOU'RE REFERRING TO YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD PROBABLY BE THE LAST TO GET IT BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET AS SICK WITH COVID.

SO ARE THEY NECESSARY FOUR?

NOT NECESSARY.

ARE THEY HELPFUL?

I THINK SO.

I THINK AGAIN, AS WE'VE TALKED WITH TODAY -- ABOUT TODAY, SO MUCH ABOUT OUR DECISION ABOUT BOOSTERS AND THE SCHEDULE OF THESE VACCINES IS BASED ON THE EVOLVING SCIENCE.

AND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ENROLLED IN THE ORIGINAL STUDIES FOR PFIZER AND MODERNA, IT WAS A DECENT PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE ADDED MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE AS WE'VE SEEN THIS PANDEMIC PROGRESSION.

AND SO WE'RE LEARNING -- PROGRESS.

SO WE'RE LEARNING FROM THE COHORT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEIR VACCINES, MANY WHO ARE STILL WITHIN THE FIRST MONTHS OF HAVING RECEIVED IT.

SO KNOWING ABOUT WANING IMMUNITY WILL TAKE SOME TIME.

SO TODAY, AS DR. PERET SAID, THE EVIDENCE THAT BREAKTHROUGHS ARE HAPPENING AT A LARGE RATE IN THE 20- TO 30-YEAR-OLD POPULATION IS JUST NOT THERE YET.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT WON'T BE THERE.

AS WE GET -- WE GAT THEY ARE MORE DATA, WE'LL LEARN FROM THAT AND WE'LL BE FULL AND -- BETTER AND FULL ARMED WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT BOOSTERS AND THAT SORT OF 12- TO 30-YEAR-OLD POPULATION OF PEOPLE.

ONCE AGAIN, REALTIME.

ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT BOOSTER SHOTS FROM JARON.

IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR QUESTION AND YOUR NAME.

HELLO, ONCE AGAIN, I'M JAIRON ST. CLAIR.

I'VE HEARD FROM THE JOINS FEERKS -- JOIRNLINGS JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS LESS EFFECTIVE THAN MODERNA OR PFIZER.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, CAN THEY GET A BOOSTER SHOT OF ANOTHER VARIETY THAT COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE?

TWO GOOD QUESTIONS.

A LITTLE BIT LESS BUT STILL REALLY GOOD.

BOTTOM LINE.

JOIN ICE EFFECTIVENESS -- JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S EFFECTIVENESS IS IN THE 70% RANGE, WHICH IS GOOD FOR VACCINES.

THE BEST DATA TODAY, AND THAT MIGHT CHANGE WITH SOMETHING THAT COMES OUT TOMORROW, THE BEST DATA IS PFIZER AND MODERNA ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFECTIVE.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE 70S AND ABOVE, IT'S ALL PRETTY GOOD.

THERE ARE STUDIES LOOKING AT WHETHER IT'S HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE WHO GOT JOHNSON & JOHNSON TO EITHER GET A SECOND DOSE OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON, IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE, TORE GET A DOSE OF SOMETHING ELSE AND THAT DATA STILL HASN'T COME IN YET.

IF THERE'S GOOD DATA THAT SHOW THAT PEOPLE THAT GOT JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOULD GET A SECOND DOSE OF ONE TYPE OR ANOTHER, THAT WILL THEN BE THE RECOMMENDATION.

BUT IT'S PREMATURE TO SAY THAT NOW.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THE NEXT QUESTION FOR DR. OIL NEIL FROM ONE OF OUR STUDENTS MARISA.

HI, I'M MARISA BUTLER.

I'M A SENIOR AND PART OF THE LSU MANSHIP SCHOOL.

WITH THE REAPING OF SCHOOLS, HAVE YOU SEEN AN UPTICK OF CASES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AND WITH PFIZER SAYING ITS VACCINE IS SAFE FOR YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN, WILL VACCINATING CHILDREN ACTUALLY HELP WITH THE OVERRUN HOSPITALS?

THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF THINGS WITH THIS SURGE.

THE FIRST IS THAT WE'VE SEEN MORE PEOPLE IN THE YOUNG COHORT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, SO GRADE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE-AGED KIDS.

WE'VE SEEN MORE PEOPLE GET COVID IN THIS SURGE THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN ANY SURGE BEFORE THIS TIME OF THAT AGE GROUP.

AND THAT AGE GROUP IS ALSO NOW OUR HIGHEST AGE GROUP, ALEXIS, YOU MIXED THIS MORNING -- MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, THAT WE'RE SEEING LARGE NUMBERS IN THAT AGE GROUP.

AS WE'RE SEEING SOME CASES IN OTHER AGE GROUPS GOING DOWN, IT'S NOT GOING DOWN THAT WE WANT TO SEE.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR YOUNG AGE GROUP IS THE AGE GROUP THAT WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH ROOM LEFT TO VACCINATE.

SO KNOWING THAT VACCINATION DECREASES SPREAD, KNOWING THAT VACCINATION IS STAVE SAFE, AND KNOWING IT'S IN A COHORT OF PEOPLE WHO SPEND SO MUCH TIME TOGETHER COLORADO REALLY -- CAN BE REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL IN KEEPING SPREAD FROM OCCURRING, WE KNOW CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF 12, COLLEGE KIDS, SHOULD GET VACCINATED.

WHAT WE ALSO KNOW IS THOSE PEOPLE, IRAN OVER THE AGE OF 12 -- CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF 12 AND COLLEGE KIDS, LIVE TOGETHER AND GO HOME.

SOMETIMES ON THE WEEKEND TO WASH THEIR HOMES BUT SOMETIMES HOME TO THEIR GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS WHO MAY BE VACCINATED, OR UNDERSMASHINGSED -- UNDERVACCINATED.

THEY MAY HAVE A CONDITION THAT PUTS THEM AT IESK RISK AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT.

IT'S NOT JUST THE SPREAD WITHIN THAT AGE GROUP BUT THE SPREAD TO PEOPLE WHO WE NEED TO BE PROTECTING BY VACCINATING THAT AGE GROUP.

A VERY COMPLICATED QUESTION.

A GREAT QUESTION.

WE KNOW THROUGH FLU SAIDS THAT THE -- STUDIES THAT THE BETTER YOU VACCINATE THE YOUNGER AGE GROUP, THE LESS FLU YOU SNOW THE HIGH-RISK AGE GROUP.

SO TAKING THAT DATA LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FROM SO MANY OTHER DISEASES WE'VE STUDIED, IF YOU GO WITH FLU DATA IF I VACCINATE K-12 POPULATION REAL WELL, WE'LL HAVE BETTER COVID SEASONS AND FLU SEASON.

HAVE YOU SEEN AN UPTICK IN CASES AT LSU SINCE IT RYE OPENED?

HOW -- RE-OPENED?

HOW ARE STUDENTS TAKING THE VACCINE MANDATE?

WE SAW AN UPTICK RIGHT AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF SOME THE SEMESTER.

BUT OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, IT SEEMS TO BE GOING DOWN A LITTLE BIT NOW.

AS FAR AS HOW ARE THE STUDENTS TAKING THE MANDATE?

I THINK THE STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING IT FAIRLY WELL.

THERE'S A PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT.

WE HAVE 80% OF OUR STUDENTS VACCINATED NOW AND GIVEN QUITE A FEW VACCINES AT THE STUDENT HEALTH CENTER AND THE STUDENTS WE'LL VERY RECEPTIVE TO IT.

THANK YOU.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU TIME TO TALK TO PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE STILL ON THE FENCE.

THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT IT, BUT NOT SURE.

THEY HEAR SOMEBODY SAY SMSMGHT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

GIVE YOUR 45 MEKDZ SECONDS OF BEST SECONDS OF BEST DIALOGUE?

TO PEOPLE ON THE FENCE?

I'LL GO AHEAD AND START.

I'LL SAY YOU KNOW, WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO GET COVID DON'T GET THAT SICK, AND THAT'S EVEN MORE TRUE IF YOU'RE YOUNGER AND HEALTHIER, THAT'S NOT ABSOLUTE.

AND THE THING ABOUT GETTING COVID, IT'S LIKES ARE ROULETTE.

-- LIKE RUSSIAN ROULETTE.

THE STATS DON'T MEAN A THING IF IT'S YOU OR YOUR MOM OR DAD OR CHILDREN GET SICK.

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE GET REALLY SICK AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH IT.

TODAY WE ANNOUNCED OUR SEVENTH PEDIATRIC COVID DEATH OF THIS DELTA SURGE AND SOMEONE BELOW THE AGE OF 18.

THAT'S THE 16th WE'VE HAD OVERALL SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

IF YOU'RE -- STARTED.

IF YOU'RE THAT FAMILY, THOSE STATS DON'T MEAN ANYTHING.

WITH ANY FAMILIES WHO ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE THEY'LL TELL YOU IT'S NOT WORTH IT EITHER.

AND IF YOU WAIT THAT LONG TO GET VACCINATED, IT'S TOO LATE.

SO WITH 18 MONTHS EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PANDEMIC, WITH 380 MILLION DOSES BEING GIVEN OF THE VACCINE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT'S A LOT OF DATA.

THAT'S A LOT OF DATA.

THE VACCINE IS REALLY SAFE.

IT'S REALLY EFFECTIVE.

AND THE RISK IN MY PERSONAL AND MEDICAL OPINION IS JUST NOT WORTH IT RIGHT NOW.

DR. OIL -- DR. O'NEIL?

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY QUESTIONS ARE STILL LEFT UNANSWERED AND PEOPLE ARE RESEARCHING AND LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT ANSWER FOR THEMSELVES.

AND EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT -- WHY SHOULD SOMEBODY CHOOSE THE VACCINE WHO HASN'T ALREADY, THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE A TON OF DATA TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY AND NEXT DAY TO REVIEW AND THEY CAN KEEP WAITING BUT WHAT'S THE GOAL?

EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT GOAL IN LIFE, PERSONALLY.

WHAT'S THE GOAL WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE VACCINE?

MY GOAL PERSONALLY IF TO STOP THIS PANDEMIC -- IS TO STOP THIS PANDEMIC.

I SELFISHLY AM VERY TIRED OF IT.

I WANT TO RESPOND TO INVITATIONS TO GO TO DINNER WITHOUT HE HESITANCY.

I WANT TO SEE MY CHILDREN GO TO A REGULAR HOMECOMING.

E WANT TO STOP WEARING A MASK.

I WANT IT TO BE LIKE IT WAS BEFORE.

THAT'S MY GOAL.

AND EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT THAT GOAL, THE ONLY WAY I SEE OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC QUICKLY IS VACCINATION.

WE'LL END THE PANDEMIC EVENTUALLY.

BUT THE ABILITY TO GET TO SOME SORT OF HERD IMMUNITY NATURALLY MAY TAKE YEARS.

YEARS OF VARIANTS, YEARS OF PAIN AND ANGUISH, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GONNA BE THEM.

AND THAT JUST DOESN'T SEEM VERY SATISFYING.

AND SO MY GOAL IS TO GET OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE ONLY WAY THAT I SEE OUT OF IT IS VACCINATION.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO, ANSWER PEOPLE'S QUESTIONS, TO CONTINUE TO GIVE REALTIME INFORMATION, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF IT.

AND I THINK THE VACCINE IS SAFE.

I'M CONVINCED IT'S SAFE.

AND I THINK MOST PHYSICIANS ARE CONVINCED IT'S SAFE BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT STATISTICS, 96 PERFECT OF -- 96% OF PHYSICIANS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST COVID.

THE OTHER REASON TO TAKE IT IS TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE.

I THINK PART OF BEING HUMAN IS PROTECTING THOSE WHO CAN'T PROTECT THEMSELVES.

AND SOMETIMES WE CAN PROTECT THEM AND WE CERTAINLY CAN PROTECT BY GETTING THE COVID VACCINATION EVEN IF WE OURSELVES ARE NOT AT HIGH RISK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOU.

AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY RUN OUT OF TIME ON OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

BUT WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING A FANTASTIC AUDIENCE.

DR. CANTOR, DR.

OFFICER NEIL, DR. PEREZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXPERT ITS -- EXPERTISE.

OUR PANEL, OUR STUDENTS.

WE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO COMMENT ON TONIGHT'S SHOW.

CLICK ON THE SCROIN THE CONVERSATION LINK.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THANKS AGAIN SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A SAFE GOOD NIGHT.