Another variant detected for the first time in the UK appears to make the virus more transmissible, the scientist said, which could overwhelm US hospitals if it spreads around here. So far, about 20 states have detected the UK variant.
Together, Fauci said, the new strains highlight the need to eliminate the disease with an effective vaccination program as soon as possible. He said there are “alternative plans” in case there is a need to modify the vaccine.
“This is not very expensive,” said Fauci. “But now, from the reports we literally have as of today, it looks like vaccines will still be effective against them, with the exception that you want to pay close attention to that.”
Fauci said he did not see evidence that the tension under surveillance in South Africa has reached the United States, but admitted that “the level of comprehensive sequence surveillance, so far, is not at the level we would like. So, we will look very hard. , very careful. “
Fauci’s comments were made on the second day of Joe Biden’s presidency, who made fighting coronaviurs his most urgent priority. Biden plans to vaccinate 100 million Americans in the first 100 days of his term – a plan that Fauci said was a “reasonable goal”. Fauci also maintained his previous predictions that a critical mass of the country could be vaccinated by mid-year.