Coronavirus Vaccine Updates: Deadly US ice storms slows down shipments

NEW YORK (WABC) -- COVID vaccination centers stretching from Colorado to Pennsylvania are scrambling to catch up after last week's deadly ice storms slowed shipments.

At least 6 million doses were unable to be delivered.

Approximately 42 million Americans, according to the CDC, have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

The supply shortages have fueled debate over whether second doses should be delayed to get more Americans their first shot.

The White House is holding firm on following the two-dose regimen.

What to know about coronavirus:

Tracking COVID-19 availability and progress in NYC

New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker

Find out if you are eligible and where you can go to get your vaccine

Coronavirus by zip code - New York City

Do you have coronavirus symptoms?

Here are more of today's headlines:

Monmouth County vaccination appointments canceled for Monday

Vaccine appointments scheduled for Monday, Feb. 22 in Monmouth County are canceled due to the continued delay in vaccine deliveries.

"The County still has not gotten notification that the vaccines have even shipped yet and so we have no choice but to cancel the scheduled appointments for Monday," said Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone. "Again, we apologize for this inconvenience to those with scheduled appointments. Everyone who had an appointment scheduled for Monday, Feb. 22 should report to the same location on Monday, March 1 at the same time as their originally scheduled appointment."

US inches closer to 500,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths

Just over a year since the first known US COVID-19 death, more than 500,000 people will have died from the disease by the end of this week.

Amanda Kloots gets COVID vaccine months after Nick Cordero's death

Amanda Kloots, the widow of Broadway star Nick Cordero, got her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine seven months after his death.

Kloots shared her husband's long battle with coronavirus before he died in July at the age of 41. She said in an Instagram post Friday that she is grateful to be vaccinated against the virus that left her a single mom.

New vaccination site in Queens delayed again

Martin Van Buren High School in Queens will not open its doors Sunday as the city's newest vaccination site. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced it won't open because of the supply shortage delayed by storms.

The site was scheduled to open last Thursday, but was postponed due to low supply. The facility will eventually be the first permanent vaccination site in Eastern Queens, other than a number of chain pharmacies that began offering vaccine appointments under a federal program.

111-year-old woman gets COVID vaccine, says wine, beer, eating 'what I like' her secret to longevity

As of this week, nearly 60 million doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered across the U.S.

One of those recipients was 111-year-old Maria Aulenbacher, the oldest known person in the state of South Carolina -- and became one of the oldest people to be vaccinated against COVID-19 Friday.

Variant found in South Africa identified in NY resident

The first case of the COVID-19 variant first detected in South Africa has been identified in a New York resident. The sequencing, involving a Nassau County resident, was conducted at Opentrons Labworks Inc's Pandemic Response Lab, a New York City based commercial lab, and verified at the Wadsworth Center in Albany.

Last week, a Connecticut resident who had been hospitalized in New York City was found to have the variant.

Fauci: 'Possible' Americans will be wearing masks in 2022 to protect against COVID-19

Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that it's "possible" Americans will still need to wear masks in 2022 to protect against the coronavirus, even as the US may reach "a significant degree of normality" by the end of this year.

Asked by CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union" whether he thinks Americans will still need to wear masks next year, Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, replied: "You know, I think it is possible that that's the case and, again, it really depends on what you mean by normality."

COVID pandemic's mental health burden heaviest among young adults

The pandemic has closed schools, offices, sports arenas and limited social interaction for millions of people -- perhaps an even bigger struggle for young people more used to being active.

In a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 63% of 18- to-24-year-olds reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, with 25% reporting increased substance use to deal with that stress and 25% saying they'd seriously considered suicide.

NY statewide positivity rate drops below 3%

The single day COVID-19 positivity rate in New York has dropped below 3% for the first time since Nov. 23, Gov. Cuomo announced.

UK speeds up vaccinations: All adults get 1st jab by July 31

The British government declared Sunday that every adult in the country should get a first coronavirus vaccine shot by July 31, at least a month earlier than its previous target, as it prepared to set out a "cautious" plan to ease the U.K.'s lockdown.

The new target also aims for everyone 50 and over and those with an underlying health condition to get their first of two vaccine shots by April 15, rather than the previous date of May 1.

The makers of the two vaccines that Britain is using, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, have both experienced supply problems in Europe. But U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday that "we now think that we have the supplies" to speed up the vaccination campaign.

With heavy hearts, Italians mark year of COVID-19 outbreak

With wreath-laying ceremonies, tree plantings and church services, Italians on Sunday marked one year since their country experienced its first known COVID-19 death.

Towns in Italy's north were the first to be hard-hit by the pandemic and put under lockdown, and residents paid tribute to the dead. Italy, with some 95,500 confirmed virus dead, has Europe's second-highest pandemic toll after Britain. Experts say the virus also killed many others who were never tested.

Six Flags to open parks

Six Flags is planning to open all 26 of its parks this summer, including Great Adventure in New Jersey. The company says it will limit crowd sizes and require reservations. Most Six Flags parks were at least partially open last year after pandemic restrictions were relaxed, but attendance was down more than 80%.

Cuomo, Newsom see stars dimmed by virus woes

At the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, two Democratic governors on opposite ends of the country were hailed as heroes for their leadership in a crisis. Now they're leaders on the ropes. Andrew Cuomo of New York and Gavin Newsom of California are embroiled in distinct political woes.

Mass vaccination site at casino

One of Connecticut's largest casinos is betting on the success of the state's vaccination efforts. Not far from slot machines and table games at Mohegan Sun is a mass vaccination site.

Top 7 COVID vaccine questions answered

You had questions about COVID-19 vaccines and 7 On Your Side is getting you answers from doctors on the front line of the pandemic.

Positive COVID-19 cases by zip code - New York City

New York City COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker

New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker

Find out if you are eligible and where you can go to get your vaccine

Do you have coronavirus symptoms?

Where to get tested in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

WATCH: Eyewitness to a Pandemic

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus

Submit a News Tip or Question