With the arrival of the B.1.1.7 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Sheboygan County, the race to vaccinate becomes even more significant. The variant emerged in England last November, arrived in the US by December and was in Wisconsin by January. The B.1.1.7 is the first, and only one of three known variants to make it to Sheboygan County so far.
The new strain has demonstrated an ability to spread more easily and quickly than the original coronavirus, and researchers are now investigating an apparent increased risk of death but have yet to confirm that.
One thing that is known is that all three vaccines being administered appear to be as effective against all variants as they are in protecting against hospitalizations and deaths from the original coronavirus, putting an increased urgency behind vaccinating as many as possible – as quickly as possible.
While Wisconsin passed the milestone of a million residents fully vaccinated on Monday – that’s just over 17% of the state’s population, Sheboygan County was slightly behind with 15.1%, or 17,429 fully vaccinated. Over 33,000 here have received at least one shot.
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