GoLocal Daily RI Vaccination Update: RI Has Received 127K Doses and Administered 60K, Says CDC

GoLocal Daily RI Vaccination Update: RI Has Received 127K Doses and Administered 60K, Says CDC

Friday's GoLocal vaccination update provides the most up-to-date information and data on the Rhode Island vaccination program as well as emerging national and global developments.

 

1. RI Continues to Struggle to Get Vaccine in Arms

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According to the CDC updated data report on Thursday evening:

RI has now received 127,450 doses

RI has administered 59,104 doses

RI has utilized 46% of the available doses.

Rhode Island needs to administer between 1.5 million and 2 million doses

 

 

2. Fauci Worried About New Strains

Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Thursday that new data shows that the COVID-19 vaccines currently on the market may not be as effective in guarding against new, more contagious strains of the coronavirus. Fauci serves as President Joe Biden’s senior health advisor.

A number of new variants  have been identified in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil appear to be more transmissible than previous strains but not necessarily more deadly.

 

 

3. Growing Concerns About Brazilian Strain

A new strain of the coronavirus emerging in Brazil is worrying public health experts because this strain may be reinfecting those that already suffered through and recovered from the virus.

According to Covid ActNow:    

NPR explores whether a new COVID variant identified in Brazil may be causing reinfections. Brazil had one of the world’s worst outbreaks in the city of Manaus last April, leading some researchers to believe that the city may have achieved herd immunity. Experts believe that a new surge, which is overwhelming hospitals, is largely being driven by a new variant that has been circulating around Manaus since at least last December. The variant, P1, shares three key mutations with 501Y.V2, which was identified in South Africa. These mutations target the region of the virus that binds to human cells and antibodies, which could decrease some antibodies’ ability to recognize and neutralize the virus, making it easier for people to get COVID a second time.