(CNN) – Less than 20% of Americans are fully vaccinated and some parts of the United States are seeing worrying increases in COVID-19 cases.
Experts are warning of a variant of the virus that appears to infect schoolchildren and younger adults.
The highly contagious B117 variant is on the rise in Europe and experts fear the United States could be next if security measures are not implemented.
“What we know from last year about the pandemic is that we tend to be about three to four weeks behind Europe,” said epidemiologist Celine Gounder.
In Minnesota, more than 740 schools had cases of the variant identified for the first time in the United Kingdom.
In Michigan, more and more young people are being hospitalized as cases increase.
Last month in Florida, Orange County officials reported an increase in COVID-19 cases in the 18-25 age group.
“What we are seeing are pockets of infection across the country, especially in younger people who have not been vaccinated, and also in school children,” said former Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb.
Although this age group is relatively well protected, experts say that younger groups are still vulnerable as the variant circulates.
Experts say the variant is more contagious and can cause more serious illnesses. Research suggests that it can also be more deadly.
“It’s acting differently than anything we’ve seen before in terms of transmissibility, in terms of affecting young people, so we have to take it very seriously,” Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine said.
Experts say the current vaccines appear to be working well against the variant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the United States reported a record over the weekend with more than four million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered in 24 hours, but despite the vaccination numbers, experts say there are no enough people protected and the country could start another wave.
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