Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

Prior to viewing a movie at the Zinema or attending a show at the Renegade Theater, Zeitgeist in Duluth will require attendees to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result from the past 72 hours.

The vaccination needs to have been completed at least 14 days prior, according to the nonprofit's website.

Masks are still required throughout the Zeitgeist Arts Building regardless of vaccine status.

Zeitgeist staff, as well as the Renegade Theater's cast and crew, are 100% vaccinated, the website says.

The first live show since the pandemic began will return to the theater Thursday. The cast and crew are tested weekly and will continue testing throughout the show's run, which ends Aug. 28.

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Zeitgeist theaters require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test result - Duluth News Tribune

Norwegian flags flutter at Karl Johans street in Oslo, Norway, May 31, 2017. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

OSLO, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Norway will get access to one million additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks, allowing the country to speed up its immunisation programme, the government said on Friday.

"With this delivery, adults above the age of 18 will be able to complete their vaccination during the first two weeks of September," Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in a statement.

Solberg's centre-right government, in power since 2013, trails the centre-left opposition in opinion polls ahead of an election for parliament on Sept. 13. read more

Norway had previously aimed to complete the vaccination of its adults by the end of September at the earliest.

The extra supply of vaccines comes from U.S. drug maker Moderna (MRNA.O) via the European Union, with which Norway cooperates on coronavirus vaccine procurement.

Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Jacqueline Wong

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Norway to speed up COVID-19 vaccination - Reuters

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The Spirit of Springfield announced that in addition to the flapjack feast, theyll also be serving up COVID-19 vaccines.

Baystate Health will be administering both the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines in front of Monarch Place. Anyone who gets vaccinated will receive a goody bag, including two tickets to Six Flags New England.

In Court Square, Caring Health Center will offer Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Recipients will receive a $25 gift card to Big Y, Stop & Shop, or Walgreens.

The Worlds Largest Pancake Breakfast will be held Saturday, August 21 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Pancakes, syrup, bacon, milk, juice, coffee, and waterare free for anyone 18 or younger and $3 for adults.

Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni will serve as the Honorary Chair. Growing up in Springfield, I have fond memories of attending the Worlds Largest Pancake Breakfast with my dad, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated. It is an honor to be named Honorary Chair and be a part of this years breakfast, especially as it returns to downtown Springfield after the pandemic. I hope many families from the region create their own memories and join me at the famous Worlds Largest Pancake Breakfast in downtown Springfield on August 21st.

On Bruce Landon Way, Mayor Domenic Sarno, District Attorney Anthony Gullini, Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt, Zito and Suzanne from Mix 93.1 FM, and other distinguished guests will speak at 9:30 a.m.

We have been waiting more than two years to serve the Worlds LargestPancakeBreakfast and honor Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, said Judy Matt, Spirit of Springfield President. We have received an overwhelming response from sponsors, donors, and volunteers. It is clear that the community is eager to celebrate and come together for the Worlds LargestPancakeBreakfast.

The Worlds LargestPancakeBreakfast is back! I am thrilled that we are now able to hold this record-breaking event that we look forward to with the Spirit of Springfield every year, said Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. Thepancakebreakfast has become a favorite Springfield tradition and also draws thousands of people from throughout the region to our downtown. We can now safely come together to celebrate after much hard work and patience over the last year. I look forward to the scent of maple syrup in the air seeing bright smiles throughout our downtown Springfield once again.

Kids can enjoy Dr. Seuss storytelling, arts and crafts with the Springfield Museums at Monarch Place. Characters from Six Flags New England and Boomer from the Springfield Thunderbirds will be greeting guests along Main Street.

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Springfields pancake breakfast event to offer COVID-19 vaccines - WWLP.com

Decades ago I helped organize a conference that brought together vaccine skeptics and public health officials. The debate centered on what governments can and cannot demand from citizens, and what behaviors one can rightly expect from others.

It took place many years before the current coronavirus pandemic, but many things that happened at that conference remind me of our circumstances today. Not least, as a political theorist who also studies social ethics, it reminds me that arguments grounded in self-interest can often be correct but still deeply inadequate.

I recall one participant summarizing her objection to vaccines in the following way: She said that the government demanded that she allow a live biological agent to be injected into her childs body even though it could not guarantee her childs safety. For these reasons, she claimed, she had every right to decide that her child would not receive the vaccine.

This womans objection was driven by her suspicion that the MMR vaccine, for measles, mumps and rubella, caused autism. This claim has been shown, repeatedly and conclusively, to be without merit. Still, she was not entirely wrong. Many vaccines do contain live agents, though they are in a weakened or attenuated state. And while adverse and even serious reactions have been known to occur, such a risk is infinitesimally small. Indeed, the preponderance of evidence shows that the risk of harm or death to the unvaccinated child from infections such as MMR is far greater than any associated with receiving the vaccine.

But more importantly, this parents decision to reject the vaccine affected more than just her child. Because so many parents refuse vaccination for their children, outbreaks of measles have taken place throughout the U.S. In fact, in 2019 the United States reported its highest number of cases of measles in 25 years.

Many individuals are rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine for similar reasons that is, reasons grounded in self-interest. They say that COVID vaccines are experimental, their long-term effects are unknown and that emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration was rushed.

In fact, while the vaccines were given emergency authorization to expedite their availability to the general public, they are not experimental but rather the result of years of already existing research on mRNA vaccines and coronaviruses the family of viruses including SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. And they received authorization only after conclusive evidence showing they were indeed safe.

Those who reject the COVID vaccine also note that many receiving the vaccine have had an adverse reaction, including flu-like symptoms that are short-lived but often quite unpleasant. Cases of anaphylactic shock or blood clots have also happened, but they have been extremely rare, and safeguards on how to provide immediate care are in place for any such eventuality.

Here again the risks associated with the vaccine are extremely small, but for some people, still real. Therefore these individuals apparently decided that they would rather take their chances with the disease itself. Many are young and dont think the disease will affect them, and many more dont trust the doctors, scientists and politicians who they say are pushing them to take the vaccine.

One could readily dispute these claims, too. In fact, rising vaccination rates over the past few weeks show that many people have reevaluated the risks of remaining unvaccinated. Whether these people have seen evidence of the virulence of the delta variant or have seen for themselves that millions of people have taken the vaccine and are completely fine, their evaluation of their own self-interest has changed.

Nevertheless, many others remain adamant that these risks are unacceptable. Like that parent from many years ago, these individuals are not entirely wrong. There are risks associated with getting the vaccine. And knowing these risks, and knowing that they bear the costs of their decision, many Americans believe that they alone have the right to decide. What the government or anyone else wants is beside the point.

But here again, the costs of refusing the vaccine are not borne by the individual alone. Rising case numbers and hospitalizations, renewed restrictions regarding public events, even the emergence of the delta variant itself are happening largely because many millions of Americans chose not to get the vaccine. And for parents of children under 12 who cannot yet receive the vaccine some of whom are immune compromised the thought of returning to school this fall with infection rates again climbing no doubt fills them with dread.

Many would argue that this lack of concern for other people is immoral. The Golden Rule do unto others as you would have others do unto you manifests that concern for the well-being of others is at the core of morality. Those who choose not to take the vaccine ignore this concern and therefore act immorally. But, I would argue that their indifference to the welfare of others is not only immoral, it is also un-American.

Americans are a highly individualistic nation, and the spirit of rugged individualism, or the idea of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, runs deep in American culture and history. In fact, from the nations very beginning, Americans have accepted the notion that human beings care about themselves and those they love more than they do about other people.

At the time of Americas founding, many contemporaries believed that a democracy is possible only if citizens love their country more than themselves. But Americas founders rejected this idea. Human beings are not angels, James Madison said. The founders accepted the reality of human selfishness and developed institutions especially the checks and balances among the three branches of government whereby peoples natural selfishness could be directed toward socially useful ends.

But neither Madison nor any of the other founders believed that human beings were merely selfish. Nor did they believe that a democracy could be sustained on selfishness alone. The Federalist Papers were written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay in support of the U.S. Constitution drafted in 1787. In Federalist 55, Madison presents this summation of human nature:

As there is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust, so there are other qualities in human nature which justify a certain portion of esteem and confidence. Republican government presupposes the existence of these qualities in a higher degree than any other form.

Yes, Madison says, human beings are selfish, and one must not ignore that reality when one is deciding how to run a society. But people are not merely selfish. We are also capable of acting with honesty and integrity and of thinking for the good of the whole rather than merely ourselves.

More, Madison argued that this other side of human nature, this concern for others, had to be operative if democracy were to survive. In fact, he insisted that, more than any other form of government, a democracy depended on virtuous citizens. Speaking at the ratifying convention for the U.S. Constitution in his home state of Virginia, Madison said:

Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks no forms of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea.

Madison lived through the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. He even advised President George Washington about how he might address this health emergency. But there was no vaccine, nor even an understanding of what caused the epidemic.

While we dont know what Madison would have said about a vaccine, we do know what President Dwight D. Eisenhower said after the development of the polio vaccine. Eisenhowers words likewise affirm the idea that our democracy requires that we show concern for one another.

We all hope that the dread disease of poliomyelitis can be eradicated from our society. With the combined efforts of all, the Salk vaccine will be made available for our children in a manner in keeping with our highest traditions of cooperative national action, he said.

Because of Madison and the other founders, the United States is a free and democratic society. Within very broad limits, Americans all have the right to make their own decisions. In some cases, Americans may even have the right to ignore the impact of their decision on others.

But a free society demands more of its citizens than mere selfishness. Political institutions can help direct and mitigate the effects of this natural human inclination to selfishness.

Throughout history, Americas leaders have recognized that without concern for others, without the highest tradition of cooperative national action, democracy is in peril. People who decide not to get vaccinated must understand that their actions are not just selfish, they are un-American.

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Why refusing the COVID-19 vaccine isn't just immoral it's 'un-American' - The Conversation US

HONOLULU (KITV) -- Investigators with the Hawaii Attorney General's office arrested a father and son on Sunday when they reportedly tried to use fake vaccination cards at a Hawaii airport.

The pair were arrested at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu after flying there from California.

WATCH: Experts warn fake vaccination cards could prolong pandemic, FBI categorizes them as crime

Investigators said Trevor and Norbert Chung were arrested following a tip from someone in the community.

Investigators are working with the Federal Government to identify the source of false vaccine cards.

SEE ALSO: Fake COVID-19 vaccination cards worry college officials

The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

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Father and son arrested for using fake COVID 19 vaccination cards to vacation in Hawaii - KTRK-TV

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin issued a memo Monday saying he will ask the president to approve making COVID-19 vaccines a requirement by mid-September. "I have every confidence that Service leadership and your commanders will implement this new vaccination program with professionalism, skill, and compassion," Austin said in the memo.

Austin said he will seek to make the vaccine mandatory either by mid-September or immediately upon the FDA's full approval, whichever comes first. Vaccines in the military are voluntary when under emergency use authorization by the FDA. The president has the authority to waive the rule and make the vaccine a requirement for personnel.

In a statement, President Biden said he "strongly" supported Austin's decision.

"I am proud that our military women and men will continue to help lead the charge in the fight against this pandemic, as they so often do, by setting the example of keeping their fellow Americans safe," Mr. Biden said.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said Monday that Mr. Biden's message of support is appreciated but does not constitute the approval of a waiver. The Pentagon still has to go through the process of requesting a waiver and receiving approval from the president, which it has not done yet.

The memo issued on Monday outlines the plan moving forward.

"You can consider this memo today as what we would call in the military a warning order - a warning order to the force that this is coming, and we want you to be ready for it as well. Obviously we'd prefer that you get the vaccine now and not wait for the mandate," Kirby said.

The military services are working on implementation plans so that when a vaccine is mandatory either with a waiver from the president or after FDA authorization, the services are ready to implement. Kirby told reporters Monday the Department doesn't expect supply to be an issue.

Mr. Biden in July asked Austin to look into when and how to make the vaccine mandatory. Though FDA approval of Pfizer's vaccine may be inching closer in the next few weeks, the danger posed by the highly contagious Delta variant has prompted action.

The Department of Defense in a statement following Mr. Biden's speech last month said Austin would consult with medical professionals as well as the Joint Chiefs of Staff to determine how when to make recommendations to the president to require the COVID-19 vaccines.

As of Monday, at least 74% of active duty personnel are partially vaccinated and 65% are fully vaccinated.

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Pentagon announces COVID-19 vaccines will be mandatory for troops by mid-September - CBS News

Dr. Molly Hoss and her daughter. Hoss discusses misinformation out there about infertility and the COVID-19 vaccines. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon.

Misinformation about infertility and COVID-19 vaccines has prevented countless young women from getting vaccines.

And, as the highly transmissible delta variant causes dangerous spikes in cases of COVID-19, medical experts urgently are delivering a clear message to young women and any other eligible people who havent yet been immunized.

Get your vaccine, says Dr. Molly Hoss, a proud mom of a year-old daughter and a family medicine doctor who has delivered hundreds of babies during her career.

We have a lot of data showing that the COVID-19 vaccine doesnt cause infertility.

Hoss daughter, Juliana, now 1, was born last July during the first months of the pandemic before vaccines had been developed. But, the moment Hoss became eligible, she received her vaccine to prevent COVID-19 at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus, where she delivers babies and cares for other patients. Hoss also sees patients of all ages at the UCHealth A.F. Williams Family Medicine Clinic in Denvers Central Park neighborhood.

Hoss had done her research and learned that COVID-19 vaccines were safe for pregnant women. (Learn more about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women.)

As a bonus, Hoss was thrilled to pass antibodies to the coronavirus on to Juliana through her breastmilk.

Juliana is my world. I want to do everything I can to protect her, Hoss said.

Now, Hoss hopes to get pregnant soon again. And shes confident that the vaccines she received will keep her safe at work and wont interfere with her plans to have a second baby.

During the clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines, the same percentage of women who had been vaccinated as those who received placebos got pregnant after having been vaccinated.

Researchers have also monitored sperm counts for men who received the vaccines compared to those who did not.

Theres no difference, Hoss said. Experts have also tested ovarian reserves and function before and after the vaccine and they also showed no difference.

Early on, we knew women could get pregnant (after getting COVID-19 vaccines) and nothing harmful was happening to them, Hoss said. Plenty of my patients have gotten pregnant after getting vaccinated. And, Im planning on getting pregnant and Im not worried at all about the COVID-19 vaccines effect on my fertility.

Im more worried about my age, said Hoss, who is 36. (Fertility or the ability to get pregnant does decline with age.)

The medical experts in the U.S. who advise doctors on issues related to maternal health, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG, underscore Hoss advice on COVID-19 vaccines and infertility.

Claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to infertility are unfounded and have scientific evidence supporting them, write ACOG experts.

The ACOG experts recommend vaccination for all eligible people who are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant.

Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) echo the ACOG guidelines regarding COVID-19 vaccines and infertility.

If trying to get pregnant now or in the future, would-be parents can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause female or male fertility problems or problems getting pregnant, the CDC experts say.

Hoss points out that some women can notice a change in their menstrual cycle soon after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, but these changes are temporary. You can also notice menstrual changes after getting Covid too. Both of these are due to an inflammatory response.

Its short-lived and it goes back to normal, Hoss said. Our reproductive systems go back to normal after getting vaccines.

Hoss has learned a great deal being pregnant herself and caring for patients of all ages during the pandemic.

Hoss was in her second trimester when the pandemic began sweeping across the U.S. in the spring of 2020. Medical experts soon learned that pregnant women could become especially sick if they got COVID-19.

So, Hoss did her final delivery on April 5. Then, to protect her health, she started seeing patients via virtual visits.

In the final weeks of Hoss pregnancy, Juliana had settled into the breech position, meaning her head was face-up in Hoss belly, not the ideal position for an uncomplicated birth. Hoss went to extraordinary measures to encourage Juliana to flip. She tried swimming and doing handstands, neither of which prompted Juliana to turn. Hoss medical provider then tried to manually turn Juliana. But, she stayed put. So, in late July, Hoss had a C-section and she and her husband joyfully welcomed a beautiful baby girl.

Hoss always has been warm and supportive of her patients.

Both during her pregnancy, when she experienced extreme fatigue, and afterward, when Hoss recovered from her C-section and learned how exhausting parenting can be, she gained newfound empathy for her patients.

Now, more than ever, she understands how pregnant women and those who want to get pregnant carefully consider whats safest for them and their families.

I can reassure moms who are scared, Hoss said.

And her message about COVID-19 is utterly clear. The illness can be very serious for people of all ages. Getting vaccinated is the best way to stay safe.

Hoss has had plenty of patients get severely ill from COVID-19.

The virus is dangerous. I have seen the long-term side effects from the virus that have impaired peoples lives, Hoss said. Ive had patients lose their jobs and their housing after getting COVID-19 because theyre weak, have to be on oxygen or have had neurologic effects, Hoss said.

She said the illness affects people very differently. Some people have mild illnesses, while others become critically ill and die or suffer for many months.

I have patients who got COVID over a year ago and they are still on oxygen. Its not something to take lightly, Hoss said.

Yes, for some people, there are temporary side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, but none are as bad as getting COVID-19, she said. (Read more about the normal side effects of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.)

During the final months of her pregnancy, Hoss had to be very careful since she knew how poorly some pregnant women were doing if they got COVID-19.

Pregnant women are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and additionally, women who do get sick from COVID, are at increased risk for pre-term birth, Hoss said.

To stay safe, she and her husband cocooned at their home near Boulder while both worked remotely.

Hoss breastfed Juliana. She even happened to be pumping her milk while she received one of her vaccine doses and knew that as soon as her body began producing antibodies to keep her safe from COVID-19, Juliana would benefit too.

I knew that my baby would get antibodies to COVID-19, said Hoss, who continues to pump her milk to share the protection and optimal nutrition of human milk with Juliana.

Ive continued pumping. Im still trying to give her every ounce of protection, Hoss said. By getting the vaccine and giving her my breastmilk and the antibodies to COVID-19, I feel like Im taking the extra steps to protect her.

These days, Juliana is more and more curious about her world every day. She loves to point at planes in the sky and objects on the ground, asking the name for each new thing she notices. She has a favorite stuff giraffe and is a smiley, happy girl.

She loves clapping and waving, said Hoss, grinning as she cuddles with Juliana. I always knew I wanted to be a mom. I didnt know how rewarding it was going to be. It has been amazing and wonderful to have this child who I get to help shape and grow.

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Infertility and COVID-19 vaccines: Get the facts - UCHealth Today

COVID-19 vaccine by state: Across America, the pace of new vaccinations has increased  USA TODAY

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COVID-19 vaccine by state: Across America, the pace of new vaccinations has increased - USA TODAY

Two studies published by JAMA Cardiology today discuss adverse effects associated with COVID-19 vaccines. The first describes vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (VITT with CVST) linked to the AstraZeneca/Oxford and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The second is a case series looking at 15 adolescents who experienced myocarditis after receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Despite these risks, both research teams continue to advocate for COVID-19 vaccines as the health risks from the virus are far greater than those linked to the vaccine. For instance, the VITT study researchers say that CVST risk from COVID-19 infection is 60- to 230-fold higher than the risk derived from COVID-19 vaccination.

Both the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have regulatory warnings about VITT now, and data have shown that women under 60 years old appear to be at a higher risk. Symptoms include intracranial pressure, shortness of breath, lethargy, back pain, abdominal pain, spot bleeding under the skin, and leg or arm weakness, as well as positive test results for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Onset occurs a median of 8 or 10 days after receiving the Johnson & Johnson or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, respectively.

CVST, one of the worst manifestations of VITT, happens when clots form in the brain and major dural sinuses. While the average 30-day mortality is 6%, about 10% of patients have permanent neurological issues 1 year later.

No current strategies exist to avoid VITT, but interim recommendations include first-line therapy with non-heparin anticoagulants and intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), plus second-line steroids. Platelet transfusions can be given if the patient has or is at high risk for serious bleeding, but the researchers emphasize that routine platelet transfusions are associated with a 5-fold increase in mortality, probably because they are the source of platelet factor 4. Healthcare providers should also avoid aspirin.

"The mechanism of development of the prothrombotic state and its association with the vaccine are still only partially known, because multiple converging prothrombotic pathways may be involved in the pathogenesis," the researchers write.

Although both AstraZeneca's and Johnson & Johnson's adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccines have been connected with VITT, the syndrome seems to occur at four times the frequency with the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to the researchers. As for the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, no instances have been recorded with the Pfizer vaccine, but three cases have been connected to Moderna.

"Adverse events like VITT, while uncommon, have been described despite vaccination remaining the most essential component in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. While it seems logical to consider the use of types of vaccines (eg, mRNA-based administration) in individuals at high risk, treatment should consist of therapeutic anticoagulation mostly with nonheparin products and IVIG," the researchers write.

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is more associated with myocarditis, or heart inflammation, with crude analysis showing greater risk for males ages 12 to 17, according to the authors of the case series. To examine the outcomes, they looked at 15 children admitted to Boston Children's Hospital from May 1 to Jul 15 for vaccine-associated myocarditis. All but one patient was male, and the median age was 15 (children 12 to 17 are eligible for Pfizer's vaccine). None had prior, known COVID-19 infection, although one did have reactive antibodies.

Symptom onset began 1 to 6 days post-vaccine (14 cases occurred after the second dose). The whole cohort experienced chest pain, but other common symptoms were fever (10), weakness (8), and headache (6). Troponin levels were also elevated at admission (median, 0.25 nanograms per milliliter compared with 0.1) and continued increasing 0.1 to 2.3 days after admission.

Overall, 13 patients presented with myocarditis via cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Three had decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, and five had abnormal global longitudinal or circumferential strain. Still, no patients needed intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and hospitalization stay was a median of 2 days.

At a median of 1 to 13 days after discharge, four patients still had symptoms (fatigue, 3; chest pain, 1). Troponin was mildly elevated in three patients, and one patient had nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. One of the asymptomatic cases had persistent borderline low left ventricular systolic function.

The researchers conclude, "In this case series, in short-term follow-up, patients were mildly affected. The long-term risks associated with postvaccination myocarditis remain unknown. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to inform recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in this population."

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Studies look at clotting, myocarditis tied to COVID-19 vaccines - CIDRAP

Louisiana, one of the least-vaccinated states, is setting new COVID case records

August 10, 2021, 8:58 PM

8 min read

With his home state of Louisiana setting new records for COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., on Tuesday encouraged residents to get vaccinated, touting the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and urging people to talk to their doctors about any concerns.

"Instead of trying to blame people, let's encourage people to protect themselves," Scalise, who received his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine Tuesday morning, told ABC News Correspondent Kyra Phillips on ABC News Live. "In terms of hospitalizations, that's where you see people that aren't vaccinated showing up the most and so you want to encourage people to get it."

"It's not something where you go off what someone says on the internet," Scalise told ABC affiliate WGNO about vaccinations shortly after receiving his second dose in New Orleans. "You talk to your doctor about any health decision, and this is one of those."

More than 2,800 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in Louisiana -- hundreds more than the state experienced during the last coronavirus surge. Until Tuesday, when it was overtaken by Florida, Louisiana led the country in new COVID-19 cases. Just 37% of the state is fully vaccinated, among the lowest rates in the country.

Louisiana's Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who recently reinstated a new indoor mask mandate to help stem the spread of the virus, said on Twitter that he and his wife would be fasting and praying for frontline health workers and residents affected by the pandemic. And the state's top health official suggested more aggressive measures might be required.

Members of the U.S. Army operate a drive-thru testing site as cases of the coronavirus disease surge across the state, in New Orleans, Aug. 6, 2021.

As GOP governors in nearby Texas and Florida have taken steps to prevent local communities and schools from implementing new mask mandates -- with Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida even threatening to withhold pay from public educators who implement them -- Scalise, the No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives, said "ultimately those are conversations that need to be had at the school-board level."

"I would encourage people to stay involved at the local level, having those conversations where they should be had, not at the federal level," he said. "Let people in the local communities make the decisions that are best for themselves and open up the schools."

Asked about Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who recently said he regretted signing into law a ban on local mask mandates in the spring, Scalise said, "let those local conversations be had."

House Republican Whip Rep. Steve Scalise speaks with reporters as he arrives to a caucus meeting with House Republicans on Capitol Hill on July 20, 2021, in Washington.

Scalise, who has criticized recently updated federal mask guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, did not attack the Defense Department's announcement that it will request approval for the COVID-19 vaccine to become mandatory for all U.S. military service members by mid-September, saying that he would "leave it to the generals to determine what's best to run the military."

"I still don't want to see the federal government make those kinds of mandates," he added.

The Louisiana Republican, who was first eligible for his vaccine in December as a member of Congress, received his first dose in July. Asked about the delay, Scalise said he waited because of a positive antibody test, which suggested he had previously contracted the virus. The CDC has found that the COVID-19 vaccines provide more robust protections against the virus than antibodies from prior infections.

"Ultimately with the delta variant, I saw the spike in hospitals and primarily as over 98% of people in the hospitals with COVID were unvaccinated. And that's when I decided to get the (vaccine)," he said. "I'm very glad I did it, it's very safe and effective."

Separately, Scalise said he plans to oppose the bipartisan infrastructure bill, approved by the Senate earlier Tuesday, when it is taken up in the House, because of the Democrats' plans to pair it with a more expansive, $3.5 trillion policy package they plan to advance with only Democratic votes.

Seventeen Republican senators voted with all of the Democrats to advance the $1 trillion infrastructure measure Tuesday.

"It's less about infrastructure and more about taxes and spending, and Speaker Pelosi made that very clear," he told ABC News Live. "There is a whole lot of spending that has nothing to do with infrastructure, and they're going to be tax increases that are going to hurt jobs it's going to hurt middle class families."

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Rep. Steve Scalise promotes 'safe and effective' COVID-19 vaccine after getting 2nd shot - ABC News