NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — It's that time of year when the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Orleans Health Department are ringing the alarms to get people vaccinated against the flu, COVID and RSV. "I think the work we've done to get that COVID vaccine out earlier than we had it out last year has really helped. We see more folks in Louisiana making their plan and taking up the COVID vaccine and the flu vaccine so it's great. We're actually ahead of where we were last year, but we know there's still more work to do. We want folks in Louisiana to be protected," said the Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Mandy Cohen. Warm days and pleasant nights through the weekend Cohen's call is centered around prevention. We are a couple of years removed from the pandemic but COVID is still a scourge killing over 130 people in the state in the last three months. But medical professionals say some of the deaths are preventable "We've got a lot of tools in the toolbox for folks to be protected and protect those that they love who might be vulnerable to severe illness," said Director of the New Orleans Health Department Dr. Jennifer Avegno. Avegno pointed out that diseases often spread from our children. Kids are really good vectors. They tend to share things, they tend to not respect personal space and because of that they pass viruses around all the time and flu can be serious in kids. COVID can be serious in kids and certainly RSV can be one of the leading causes of hospitalizations for infants, but the greater danger is that they're going to pass it to grandma," said Avegno. According to CDC statistics, some Louisiana residents are listening. The COVID vaccination rate is only 6% but that's twice what it was a year ago. The state flu vaccination rate is also higher at 19%. NOPD seeking the public’s concerns on ending consent decree With the weather changing, more residents in closed settings amongst each other this time of year are saying it's worth getting the shots. "We all want to have a great holiday a word of recommendation as we go into the season again an updated COVID shot, an updated flu shot, and if your over 75 an RSV vaccine as well. We want people in Louisiana to be protected," said Cohen. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Former GOP Rep. Tom Rice helped impeach Trump — but won't vote for Harris Big Game Bound: Hopkins on the move to Kansas City Early voting is underway Trump’s campaign exudes confidence as it enters the homestretch CDC and NOLA Health Department encourages three major vaccinations