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Batches of a new coronavirus vaccine were fanning out across the US on Tuesday amid a surge in cases and fears of a faster-spreading variant of the pathogen that was recently discovered in Britain.
The launch
of the second anti-Covid-19 vaccine, produced by Moderna, began this week as the US
headed into the festive season having surpassed 18 million cases of the virus and 320,000 deaths.
Moncef Slaoui, chief adviser to the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine scheme, said on Monday that US scientists were studying whether the coronavirus variant
in the UK was more contagious than the dominant strain.
No hard evidence new virus variant more contagious, says US official inquirer.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from inquirer.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
No hard evidence new virus variant more contagious: US official
Issued on:
21/12/2020 - 20:54 3 min
Washington (AFP)
It is not yet certain whether the new coronavirus variant discovered in Britain is more contagious, but the US is conducting studies to learn more, a top official said Monday.
Moncef Slaoui, chief advisor to the Operation Warp Speed vaccine program, added he expected that lab experiments would show the new strain would respond to existing vaccines and treatments.
While several countries have shut their borders to Britain, Slaoui said it was possible the variant has long been prevalent in the United Kingdom but that scientists had not begun looking for it until now, creating the impression of a surge when they did.
New Covid strain: No hard evidence it is more contagious, US official says
AFP/Washington, United States
(Reuters)
Slaoui said it was possible the variant has long been prevalent in the United Kingdom.
It is not yet certain whether the new coronavirus variant discovered in Britain is more contagious, but the US is conducting studies to learn more, a top official said Monday.
Moncef Slaoui, chief advisor to the Operation Warp Speed vaccine programme, added he expected that lab experiments would show the new strain would respond to existing vaccines and treatments.
While several countries have shut their borders to Britain, Slaoui said it was possible the variant has long been prevalent in the United Kingdom but that scientists had not begun looking for it until now, creating the impression of a surge when they did.