United Kingdom variant of COVID-19 detected in the USA as national race for vaccine distribution

How the US marks the deaths of more than 400,000 Americans in COVID-19, the UK variant has been detected in at least 20 states. Health officials are trying to stay ahead of the virus, vaccinating as many people as possible – but it hasn’t been easy.

The UK variant appears to be 50% more contagious than other strains. Dr. Michael Osterholm, a member of President-elect Joe Biden’s COVID-19 Advisory Council, told CBS News that it is still unclear how the vaccines will work with new mutations of the virus.

“At this point, we are concerned that vaccines may be challenged, which means that they may have reduced disease prevention capacity,” said Osterholm.

The presence of the new strains makes vaccination even more critical. And now, the most populous city in the country has serious problems with the supply of vaccines. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday: “At the rate we are going, we will start running out on Thursday,” adding, “We will literally have nothing more to offer on Friday.”

O vaccine launch is in full swing in Michigan. In Lansing, Sparrow Health System opened two bays in an old Sears Center that was previously used for oil changes to administer the vaccine. The cars are aligned as far as the eye can see.

But there is still a struggle to bring the vaccine to rural communities in need. Twice a week, Dr. Richard Bates carries a refrigerator with the Pfizer vaccine for a two and a half hour trip to a clinic in a small town.

“It was important for us that all communities felt connected and felt that they were not left out,” Bates told CBS News.