DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa's effort to quickly expand eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations could work to fend off a new threat.
The state confirmed 38 new cases of the U.K. variant just hours after Governor Kim Reynolds announcement Wednesday that all adults could get shots as early as April 5th.
State epidemiologist Kaitlin Pedati says new variants can sometimes be more transmissible, and is advising all Iowans to get shots as early as possible.
The state is already asking people who've been in close contact with those infected with the U.K. variant to isolate in accordance with federal guidelines.
Iowa's effort to move up vaccinations for all adults is well ahead of President Biden's May 1st timeline for all states to do the same.
It's also a reflection of a growing trend across the country.
Mississippi and Alaska are already offering doses to all adults 16 and older.
And seven other states plan to start vaccinating all adults as early as this month, according to reporting from the New York Times.
Governor Reynolds says Iowa will be able to meet her April 5th goal as long the federal supply continues to increase as projected.
She expects to find out for sure next week.
Current national projections show 20-29 million vaccine doses of vaccine will be sent to states starting in April. Iowa could expect about 200,000-290,000 doses from that supply, enough for about 10-15 percent of the state's adult population.
The adult population of Iowa is about 2.1 million.