Just days ago, the so-called Brazilian variant of the coronavirus was confirmed for the first time in North Texas. A top vaccine expert says that strain is "nasty" and "enormous" cause for concern.
Dr. Ross McKinney, Jr., Chief Scientific Officer at the Association of American Colleges, said one problem with the Brazil variant lies in the fact that it has infected some individuals who had earlier recovered from COVID-19.
Dr. McKinney added the new strain, one of hundreds to be identified during the pandemic, provides yet another reason to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Despite the growing presence of the Brazil variant, Dr. McKinney said the U.K. strain (B.1.1.7) is now the most prevalent in the U.S. The two are among five variants now circulating across the nation.