Is NYC COVID-19 Variant More Severe, Dangerous Than Other Strains? CDC Answers KEY POINTS The B.1.526 variant does not carry a higher risk of reinfection Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines work against the New York variant The COVID-19 variant first detected in New York City does not appear to cause more severe infections or re-infections at a higher rate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed in a new report Wednesday. A new preliminary analysis by New York City health officials showed that the variant, referred to as B.1.526, does not carry an increased risk for a se...