Health Highlights: Jan. 20, 2021

NYC May Run Out of COVID-19 Vaccines

New York City's COVID-19 vaccination rate has outpaced its supply of vaccine, and the city could run out of doses in the next few days, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday.

"If we don't get more vaccine quickly, a new supply of vaccine, we will have to cancel appointments and no longer give shots," he said during a media briefing, CBS News reported.

"At the rate we are going we will begin to run out on Thursday… we will have literally nothing left to give as of Friday," de Blasio warned.

The mayor asked the federal government to send more vaccine as soon as possible, CBS News reported.

More than 220,000 people in the city were vaccinated last week -- one every 3 seconds -- and the city could vaccinate 300,000 more this week if it had enough vaccine, according to de Blasio.

He said that 53,000 doses arrived Tuesday, giving the city only 116,000 doses for the week ahead, CBS News reported.

Dr. Rachel Levine Nominated as U.S. Assistant Health Secretary

Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, has been nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to serve as assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

If confirmed by the Senate, Levine would be the first openly transgender federal official in a Senate-confirmed role, according to Biden's transition team, CBS News reported.

Levine is the secretary of health for Pennsylvania and is currently leading the state's response to COVID-19 pandemic.

"Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability — and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond," Biden said in a statement, CBS News reported.

"She is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our administration's health efforts," Biden said.