American coronavirus: Widespread vaccinations in the US will only occur in the summer. Here’s what drove Covid-19 cases so far

American coronavirus: Widespread vaccinations in the US will only occur in the summer. Here’s what drove Covid-19 cases so far

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“This is what we do right: stay apart, wear masks, do not travel, do not mix indoors with others,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Sunday.

Covid-19 infection and hospitalization numbers are now declining nationwide after rounds of devastating congestion that followed the holidays. But that does not mean that the US is clear.

“We had three increases,” Frieden added. ‘Whether we have a fourth boom is up to us, and the stakes can not be higher – not only in the number of people who could die in the fourth boom, but also in the risk of even more dangerous variants emerging if there is more uncontrolled distribution. ‘

That is why it is especially important that state leaders do not ease restrictions and lift mask mandates, experts warned.

“It’s encouraging to see these trends slow down, but it’s coming from an extremely high place,” said CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, told NBC on Sunday. “If we want to get our kids back to school, and I believe we all do, it all depends on how much community spread there is.”

“We must all take responsibility for reducing the spread of the community, including wearing masks, so that we can get our children and our society back,” the director added.

Homemade Covid-19 Variants Noticed in US

One of the major Covid-19 strains detected in the US is the highly contagious B.1.1.7 variant first spotted in the UK. More than 1,100 cases of the variant have been reported in 39 states – according to data from the CDC, about a third of the cases have been reported in Florida.

The US has also reported at least 17 cases of a strain initially seen in South Africa and at least two cases of another strain, first linked to Brazil.

Mass of homemade coronavirus mutations seen in the US
Meanwhile, researchers announced Sunday that they have identified a number of similar mutations in Covid-19 samples in the US that apparently also make the virus transmissible.
These mutations all affect the same piece of protein – the button-like extension on the outside of the virus that is used to bind to the cells that infect it, researchers write in a report that has not yet been reviewed by the peer. .
But these mutations appear to be ‘relatively rare’ so far, one of the researchers said.

States still struggle with vaccine supply

Public health experts say the US is now in a race to vaccinate as many Americans as possible before the variants spread further and mutate further.

But as states increase their vaccinations, challenges remain – including a deficit.

What you need to know before making a vaccine appointment at your pharmacy

In San Francisco, officials announced that a high-volume vaccination site would stand still for a week and reopen “once the inventory is sufficient to resume operations.” A second high-volume website expects to resume vaccination on Friday – but only for second doses. A third vaccine for high-volume vaccinations will be launched this week, officials said, but “with available appointments far below full capacity.”

“The vaccine supply coming to San Francisco’s healthcare providers and the Department of Public Health (DPH) is limited, inconsistent and unpredictable, making vaccination difficult and San Franciscans denying this potential life-saving intervention,” officials said in a news release. said. Sunday.

“The city has the capacity to administer more than 10,000 vaccines a day, but does not have the vaccine supply,” they added.

The supply shortage has also hampered operations in other parts of the state, even though officials recently announced they would add millions more to the state’s vaccination priority list. Several vaccination sites in Los Angeles’ Covid-19 were forced to close temporarily because there were no doses for vaccinations.
Small triumphs, some mistakes as the nationwide pharmacy vaccination program Covid-19 takes off
In the state of Washington, officials said the appointment for the first dose will be ‘extremely limited’ this week, as the state is focusing on administering second doses.

“We are closely monitoring the distribution of doses and making adjustments as necessary,” Health Secretary Umair A. Shah said in a statement. “While the limited availability of first doses will be challenging in the coming week, the focus on second doses will help pave the way for a better and more sustainable allocation of vaccines in the coming weeks.”

The two states are far from alone in their struggle. Officials said the supply is likely to remain a challenge for some time, and experts say vaccines are unlikely to be available to the U.S. public until late spring or summer.

Walensky, the CDC director, told Fox News on Sunday that she expects “by the end of the summer there will be enough vaccine to vaccinate the entire eligible U.S. population.”

Expert: Vaccinations of teachers ‘essential’ for reopening of school

Meanwhile, the most important questions in vaccinations are currently when educators across the country will get their chance.

Emergency physician, dr. Leana Wen told CNN on Sunday that vaccinations by teachers are crucial to reopening the school. This differs from the guidelines for reopening schools announced by the CDC last week.
CDC director says 'we have to do work' when it comes to reopening schools

The agency’s guidelines do not vaccinate as a “key” strategy for opening schools, but rather on measures such as masks and physical distance. Vaccinations for staff and teachers are an extra layer of protection, Walensky said earlier.

On Sunday, Walensky told CNN that the vaccination for teachers is not a prerequisite for the reopening of schools, but according to current CDC guidelines that those at higher risk should have virtual options.

“I am a strong supporter of teachers receiving their vaccinations, but we do not believe that it is a prerequisite for schools to reopen,” she said.

But Wen called teachers’ vaccinations “essential.”

‘If we want students to learn to learn personally, the least we can do is to protect the health and well-being of our teachers – especially as in so many parts of the country, teachers are already being made to return. go to school in poorly ventilated, cramped areas, with many students not always wearing masks and physical distance, ”said Wen.

CNN’s Keith Allen, Ben Tinker, Michael Nedelman, Maggie Fox and Naomi Thomas contributed to this report.

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