>> i would say don't be afraid to get it. just go ahead and get it. it's worth it. i mean, i wish i'd gotten it. otherwise, i probably wouldn't have wound up in the hospital like this. >> reporter: in louisiana, critical care nurse, now covid patient mary lubrano is having trouble breathing. >> you don't want to end up this way. this is the scariest i've ever been in my whole life. you take breathing for granted. >> reporter: she was planning to get vaccinated but delayed it until she recovered from surgery and radiation for breast cancer. >> everyone needs to be vaccinated, or we'll never beat this any other way. >> reporter: across the south, medical teams are facing a flood of covid patients. doctors pitching in to help nurses. >> i was giving bed baths on sunday, emptying trash cans, changing sheets, rolling patients to mri. >> reporter: in mississippi, hospitals warning the system could fail within a week. the state asking the biden administration for the usnc comfort ship. the 1,000-bed floating hospital that was docked off than mat tan at the height of the pandemic. in texas, hospitals say they're