Scientists predict another increase in infections as states relax their public health restrictions and Americans go back to school and work. But they hope vaccinations will stump any potential fourth boom.
On Tuesday, President Biden increased his vaccination schedule by two weeks, calling on states to qualify every American adult for coronavirus vaccination by April 19, a goal that almost all states have already reached or expect to beat. after initially asking them to do so. by 1 May.
“It is in our power to minimize death, illness and misery,” Andy Slavitt, an adviser to the White House pandemic, said Wednesday. “If we all do our part, we can help save lives in April, May and June. Wear a mask. Social distance. Get vaccinated if it’s your turn. ”
In February, a study analyzing half a million coronavirus tests and hundreds of genomes predicted that this variant could become predominant in the United States in a month. At that time, the CDC was struggling to sequence the new variant, which made it difficult to detect.
But those efforts have improved significantly over the past few weeks and will continue to grow, largely due to $ 1.75 billion in genomic sequencing funds in the stimulus package signed by President Biden last month. In contrast, Britain, with a more centralized healthcare system, started last year with a highly acclaimed sequencing program that allowed it to track the spread of the B.1.1.7 variant.
“We knew it would happen, this variant is much more transmissible, much more contagious than the parent strain and it obviously has implications,” Dr Carlos del Rio, a professor of medicine and an expert in infectious diseases, told the Emory University, said. In addition to spreading more efficiently, it appears that the B.1.1.7 strain causes more serious diseases, “so it gives you a double slap.”
The White House has also announced an expansion of its vaccination program at community health centers, bringing the total to nearly 1,400 community centers across the country where people can be vaccinated. Mr. Slavitt said most of these community centers are in neighborhoods with less uninsured patients. Last week, Mr. Biden promises that 90 percent of the adults in the country will have a vaccine within five miles of their home.
Eileen Sullivan reported.