Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2021-09-29

Duration: 00:56:29

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Public health | COVID-19 pandemic | Coronaviruses | Vaccines

Contributors:

• Moreau, Andre Host
• St. Cyr, Kara Host
• Johnson, Ben Producer
• Wall, Nathan Interviewee
• Simpson, Katie Panelist
• Richards, Edward Panelist
• Delatte, Kathy Interviewee
• Kanter, Joseph Panelist
• O'Neal, Catherine Panelist
• Perret, Nelson Panelist
• McComiskey, Sander Speaker
• Cacodcar, Anil Speaker
• Myers, Sean Speaker
• St. Clair, Jaren Speaker
• Ellis, Alexis Speaker
• Russell, Colden Speaker
• Minagar, Alex Speaker
• Butler, Merissa Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from September 29, 2021, features Andre Moreau leading a discussion with audience members and panelists on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Louisiana. The first segment focuses on religious and legal concerns about the vaccine. It includes an interview with Nathan Wall, the owner of Wall’s Gator Farm and a pastor in Springfield. The panelists are Reverend Katie Simpson of University Methodist Church in Baton Rouge and Edward Richards, a law professor at LSU. They discuss: the constitutionality of vaccine mandates; body autonomy; religious exemptions to mandates; the relationship between science and faith; and vaccine mandates at schools. The second segment focuses on the medical concerns about the vaccine. It includes an interview with Kathy Delatte, a retired ICU nurse. The panelists are: Dr. Joseph Kanter, the state health officer and medical director for the Louisiana Department of Health; Dr. Catherine O’Neal, the chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge; and Dr. Nelson Perret, the medical director at LSU. They discuss: the importance of discussing the vaccine with your doctor; rebuilding trust between medical professionals and the public; breakthrough cases; the equitable distribution of the vaccine in Louisiana; booster shots; the evolving science of the pandemic; the importance of vaccinating younger children; and their message for people who are still hesitant to get the vaccine. Hosts: Andre Moreau and Kara St. Cyr