(CNN) Growing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus variant first identified in India may force the United Kingdom to tweak its Covid-19 vaccination program to prioritize people in the most affected areas, a top health official said Friday. Data released by Public Health England (PHE) on Thursday showed the number of confirmed cases of the B.1.617.2 variant in the UK has more than doubled in just a week, rising from 520 to 1,313 infections. The vast majority of cases were identified in England, with only a handful occurring in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. UK Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi said the country would "flex" its vaccine rollout in response to the growth of the variant. "There are concerns in areas like Bolton and Formby and of course parts of London that the B.1.617.2 variant ... could be more infectious," Zahawi told British broadcaster Sky News.

Source: CNN May 14, 2021 12:11 UTC