Community members react to Gov. Edwardsâ expansion of vaccine eligibility (Source: KSLA) By Tayler Davis | March 9, 2021 at 4:57 PM CST - Updated March 9 at 8:26 PM SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Gov. John Bel Edwards announced in a news conference Tuesday, March 9, that the state of Louisiana would be expanding vaccine eligibility. The announcement came as a bit of surprise to many. Retail or grocery workers are still not specifically named as having vaccine priority in Louisiana, although many of them with health conditions are now eligible. The long list of newly-eligible people for the vaccine includes smokers, overweight individuals and many more.