The UK variant COVID-19 has been detected in the US as a national vaccine distribution

As the US scores deaths of over 400,000 Americans from COVID-19, the British version has been detected in at least 20 states. Health officials are trying to stay on top of the virus by vaccinating as many people as possible – but it hasn’t been easy.

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

“Right now, we are concerned that vaccines may be challenged, which means they may have a reduced capacity to prevent disease,” Osterholm said.

The presence of new strains makes vaccination even more critical. And now the nation’s most populous city has serious problems with the supply of vaccines. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday: “At the pace we are following, we will start to run out on Thursday,” adding: “We will have nothing literally to give on Friday.”

vaccine launch is in full swing in Michigan. In Lansing, the Sparrow Health System opened two bays at an old Sears Center that was previously used to change the oil for vaccine administration. The cars are aligned as far as can be seen.

But there is still a struggle to get the vaccine to disadvantaged rural communities. Twice a week, Dr. Richard Bates loads a chiller filled with the Pfizer vaccine for two and a half hours by car at a clinic in the city.

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