Despite a dip
in U.S. COVID-19 cases, health experts worry virus variants may erase pandemic
progress.
Americans
are being urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible, but the vaccine supply
issue remains a big problem.
In the war
on COVID-19, health experts agree it is one of the best defenses, but although
more than 42 million doses have been given, in many places there still is not
enough.
Faced with
a vaccine shortage in California, Los Angeles County is only giving out second
doses of the vaccine for the rest of the week, rather than offering any more
first doses.
Pfizer
says it has now increased production to double its coronavirus vaccine output.
The
vaccine maker expects to deliver 200 million doses to the U.S. by the end of
May.
Meanwhile,
in the fight to slow the virus’ spread, Transportation
Secretary Pete Buttigieg says the CDC is
looking at all its options while considering whether passengers should be
required to provide a negative COVID-19 test before domestic flights.
"What
we know is that it's the appropriate measure for international travel, people traveling
into the U.S., given some of those considerations. You know, I'd say the
domestic picture is very different, but you know the CDC is always evaluating
what can best be done to keep Americans safe," says Buttigieg.
Doctors say the current vaccines are very effective against the U.K. variant, and it’s critical to get shots in arms
now.