UK COVID-19 variant detected in US as national races to distribute vaccines

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

The British variety appears to be 50% more contagious than other species. Dr. Michael Osterholm, a member of President-elect Joe Biden’s COVID-19 Advisory Board, told CBS News that it is not yet clear how vaccines will work with new mutations of the virus.

“At the moment we are concerned that the vaccines could be challenged, which means that they have a reduced ability to prevent disease,” 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 vaccine supply. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday, “At the pace we go, we’ll start running out on Thursday,” adding, “We’ll literally have nothing to give from Friday.”

The vaccine rollout is well underway in Michigan. In Lansing, Sparrow Health System opened two bays in an old Sears Center previously used for oil changes to administer the vaccine. Cars are set up as far as the eye can see.

But there is still a struggle to get the vaccine to disadvantaged rural communities. Twice a week, Dr. Richard Bates loads a cooler filled with the Pfizer vaccine for a two and a half hour drive to a clinic in a small town.

“It was important to us that every community felt connected and felt that they were not left out,” Bates told CBS News.