Gov. John Bel Edwards, Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Dr. Courtney Phillips and Louisiana State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter went sleeves up at the Baton Rouge General Hospital on Wednesday to get their flu shots and – if they were eligible – their COVID-19 booster doses.

The CDC reports that nearly 46 percent of Louisianans are fully vaccinated against COVID and 52 percent, more than 2.4 million people, have taken at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.

“Today, I took both my flu shot and my COVID-19 booster shot, because I want to protect myself and the people around me from spreading both of these illnesses this fall and winter,” Edwards, who has now been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu, said. “Each year, thousands of Louisianans get the flu and hundreds may even die from it. Thankfully, we have very safe, easy-to-get flu shots so that we can slow the spread.

“Right now, Louisiana is hopefully over its fourth COVID-19 surge and COVID hospitalizations are dropping each day. That is good news, but we cannot afford to have a bad flu season on top of our current COVID caseload,” Edwards said. “So, please, get your flu shot. Do it this month if you haven’t already. Bring your kids to get theirs, as well. Together, we can keep ourselves and our communities healthy.”

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu shot by the end of this month, according to the state health department.

“The best way to protect our children this flu season is to make sure they get their annual flu shot, and that we as their parents get ours,” said Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Dr. Courtney Phillips. “It’s why it’s so important to me that I am here today with my son, Langston, getting our annual flu shots together. He’s not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine but this is one important step in keeping him safe while we respond to both the flu and COVID-19.”