The number of people in Louisiana who received their initial COVID-19 vaccine increased by 14% in the week after the state opened registration for its $2.3 million lottery incentive.
Even with this slight increase, vaccination rates remain at historic lows.
Over the seven-day period ending Monday, 26,086 people received either the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine or the first part of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, according to Louisiana Department of Health data. That is an increase of more than 3,200 from the 22,842 people who received their first shot in the week leading up to June 17 when Gov. John Bel Edwards unveiled a collection of cash prizes and scholarship giveaways, including a $1 million jackpot.
New vaccinations in Louisiana have dropped off dramatically since peaking in March, when eligibility was expanded to include essential workers and those with one of a dozen, broadly defined medical conditions. At its peak, nearly 25,000 new vaccinations were administered daily.
