(WASHINGTON D.C.) — Despite a falling number of new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and death the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports nine percent of Americans — 28.9 million people – have received one or more vaccine doses.

When counting how many Americans have been fully vaccinated, the number falls to 7.5 million people, or two percent of Americans.

Deaths have fallen four percent since vaccination efforts ramped up, with mortalities peaking on January 13.  Hospitalizations are down 37 percent.

Still, all eyes are on COVID variants that could complicate vaccination efforts.  Namely, the much more transmissible U.K. variant continues to spread in the country.  A new study suggests that cases are doubling every 10 days.

The study has not been peer reviewed.

While vaccinates do not appear to be impacted by that particular variant, health officials express concern that the South African variant could impact a vaccine’s efficacy.

COVID-19 has infected more than 27 million Americans and killed over 463,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. 

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.