State department of health data suggest more people are getting vaccinated for COVID-19 since small children and pre-teens were cleared to get the shots.
Since the government approved Pfizer's COVID shot for kids ages five through eleven earlier this month, the number of people in Louisiana getting their first shot has steadily increased. 23,837 people initiated the vaccine series in Louisiana compared to last week -- an increase of 5,065
Last week was also a significant jump for first-timers -- the 18,772 first doses reported by the Louisiana Department of Health was an increase of 4,056.
Those totals are still far short of the number of people getting their first shots in late August and early September, following the peak of the fourth surge.
Fifty-four percent of Louisiana has received at least one shot -- that's up a full point since the first of November. A little more than 48 percent of Louisiana residents have completed their COVID shots.
