First case of highly infectious COVID-19 variant detected in Colorado

“This is cause for concern but not alarm,” the federal scientist said of the arrival of the variant in the United States, noting that there is no evidence it causes more severe infection. But the scientist added that the United Kingdom variant, as well as one spreading rapidly in South Africa, “appear to be more transmissible, meaning they can move rapidly through a population of people. And this is one more reason to do everything you can to prevent infection and its spread.”

How likely will this spread like wild-fire across the US? How will we know if the current vaccine can work against this variant?

Thanks! If the vaccine can get ahead of the new variant, then we should be ok. I wonder how long testing would need to happen before they can know for certain.