Oklahoma Health Experts Tracking Several COVID-19 Variants In State

More than half a million Oklahomans are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. New cases continue to drop and now state health leaders are tracking variants of the virus.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health said there are already several variants of COVID-19 in the state.

Epidemiologists said it includes the strain from Europe, which they say is the most common. They're also seeing two variants from California, and from Brazil.

Health experts say the strain identified most recently in Oklahoma was the African version.

They say that was a vaccine breakthrough case, which means an Oklahoman was diagnosed with COVID-19 more than 14 days after getting their second shot of the vaccine.

State leaders are investigating it, but experts say no vaccine gives 100 percent protection, so breakthrough cases are not new or unique to COVID-19.

"Sequencing is definitely going to be a priority, especially now that we have the capacity, and we're certainly keeping an eye on the variant distribution and how it looks in Oklahoma and how it looks in comparison to the national guidance," OSDH Deputy State Epidemiologist Joli Stone said.

Medical professionals say the good news is that cases and hospitalizations are trending lower in the state.

They encourage everyone get the vaccine when they're able.