News 12's Elizabeth Hashagen was joined this morning by Dr. Thomas McGinn to answers questions about vaccines and variants spreading across the country.

The first children in the U.S. are now receiving Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, part of a new study testing its safety and effectiveness for kids. Pfizer is testing its vaccine in children ages 12 to 15. Many parents want protection for their children, and vaccinating children should help produce the herd immunity considered crucial to stopping the pandemic. Dr. McGinn discusses how children being vaccinated helps the community:

The CDC says nearly 71 million Americans, or just over a quarter of the adult population, have received at least one dose of a vaccine while nearly one in 10 of all adults is fully vaccinated. Experts are worried some Americans are letting up too early, at a critical time when looming dangers are threatening to wipe out the progress the U.S. has made in its battle against COVID-19.

The highly contagious B.1.1.7 variant, that was first identified in the U.K., is projected to become the dominant variant in the U.S. by the end of this month or early April, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Monday.

Dr. McGinn comments on the variants and why people need to now be encouraged to get the vaccine: