This week the CDC gave its final approval for emergency use authorization of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 years old. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare urges parents to consider the vaccine, saying it is both safe and effective.

The children’s vaccine is available at your Idaho public health districts, or visit www.vaccines.gov to find a vaccine near you.

The statewide test positivity rate, or percentage of tests that come back positive, has dropped to 10.3 percent, down from this surge’s high of 17 percent. That’s the lowest that number has been since the beginning of August. Public health officials aim to keep the rate below 5%.

Hospitalizations and ICU admissions continue to drop, but some hospitals in Idaho continue to operate under crisis standards of care, meaning there are more patients in need than there are resources to help everyone.

On Nov. 4, the state reported that there were 19 available ICU beds statewide. As of Thursday, 3,629 Idahoans have died of COVID-19 related causes.