In recent weeks, a new COVID-19 variant called KP.3 has gained dominance in the United States. KP.3 is part of a family of mutated strains nicknamed "FLiRT," which are driving an increasing proportion of cases across the country. As KP.3 spreads, some are concerned about potential summer wave.
The FLiRT strains which include KP.3, KP.2, and KP.1.1 now account for more than half of all COVID-19 infections nationwide, according to the latest data fromthe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
These new variants, which scientists dubbed"FLiRT"after the locations of their spike protein mutations, have been circulating in the U.S. since the early spring. In April, KP.2 quickly overtookJN.1,theomicron subvariantthat drove asurge in COVID cases this past winter.
In a matter of weeks, the KP.3 variant overtook KP.2 to become the most prevalent strain in the U.S., per the CDC.
During a two-week period ending on June 8, KP.3 made up an estimated 25% of cases in the U.S., up from about 9% in early May. After KP.3, the next most common variant is KP.2, another FLiRT variant that gained dominance in May and now accounts for about 22% of cases. It's followed by LB.1, a JN.1 subvariant, and another FLiRT variant, KP.1.1.
Together, the FLiRT variants make up an estimated 55% of cases in the U.S.
Although hospitalizations are down and COVID-19 numbers are relatively low, there has been a small uptick in test positivity and emergency room visits, per the latest CDC data. These trends, along with previous summer waves, have stoked fears about a surge of infections this summer.
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Scientists are warning that the FLiRT variants may be better at evading the immune system due to their spike protein mutations, and that waning immunity and poor uptake of the latest COVID-19 vaccine have created a more susceptible population.
Will there be another COVID-19 wave? What are the symptoms of the FLiRT variants? Are vaccines still effective? We spoke to experts to learn more.
KP.3 is one of the FLiRT variants along with KP.2 and KP.1.1 which are spinoffs of JN.1.11.1, a direct descendant of JN.1. They were initially detected in wastewater samples from across the country.
KP.3 and the other new variants have additional mutations that set them apart from JN.1 and appear to give them an advantage over previous variants, Dr. Albert Ko, infectious disease physician and professor of public health, epidemiology and medicine at Yale School of Public Health, tells TODAY.com.
The nickname "FLiRT" is based on the technical names for their mutations, according to theInfectious Disease Society of America.
Just like other COVID-19 strains that have gained dominance in the U.S. over the last year JN.1,HV.1, EG.5 aka Eris, andXBB.1.16 or Arcturus the FLiRT variants part of theomicron family.
The emergence of KP.3 and other FLiRT variants is the "same old story," Andrew Pekosz, Ph.D., virologist at Johns Hopkins University, tells TODAY.com. The SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates and gives rise to a new, highly contagious variant, which becomes the dominant strain. "The timeline that it happens in, three to six months, is much faster than we see with other viruses like influenza," says Pekosz.
Its still early days, but the initial impression is that this variant is rather transmissible, Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tells TODAY.com.
The proportion of cases caused by KP.3 is increasing, while the proportion caused by other variants is decreasing, which suggests the FLiRT variants have features that give it an advantage, the experts note.
Over 97% of people in the U.S. have natural or vaccine-induced antibodies against the the SARS-CoV-2 virus, per the CDC, but this immune protection fades over time.
Low vaccination rates and waning immunity create a vulnerable population, which may allow the FLiRT variants to take hold. Only time and more data will tell, the experts note.
Laboratory studies suggest that the FLiRT variants are mutated enough such that current vaccines and immunity from prior infection will only provide partial protection, says Schaffner. "We'll have to see how true that is, but it appears, over time to be becoming a more prominent variant," he adds.
Its still really early ... but I dont think we need to sound the alarm bells as of yet, says Ko.
It's too soon to tell whether KP.3 and the FLiRT variants will cause a summer wave or surge, the experts note. However, it is clear that COVID-19 is still circulating and won't be taking any time off.
"We're seeing these infections year-round, at modulating levels. ... Were probably not at the stage yet where well see COVID go away completely at any time of the year, says Pekosz.
Test positivity, which is an early indicator of case levels, was 5.4% as of June 8, up 0.8% from the previous week but a sharp decline from a peak of about 12% in mid-January,per the CDC. (The CDC no longer tracks the total number of cases in the U.S.)
"We're not seeing a lot of hospitalizations, and we're certainly much lower than we were in the winter, so I'd say right now we're at a low point, which is reassuring," says Ko.
Wastewater datapublished by the CDC show that the viral activity level for COVID-19 is currently low it was considered high or very high for most of January and February.
"It seems like transmission is pretty low right now, and that makes sense because usually the big peaks are in the winter, when people are inside and in more contact," says Ko.
COVID-19 has caused summer wavesin the past, the experts note, which are often smaller than the winter surges. I dont think that well see any kind of massive surge in cases, says Pekosz.
The seasonality of COVID-19 is something scientists are still trying to understand. But one thing is obvious: This virus is now integrating itself into our population and our way of life, says Schaffner.
Adds Ko: Im not expecting a large surge in the summer, but again, we have to be cautious and we have to follow the data. ... We always have to be humble because SARS-CoV-2 has taught us a lot of new things.
It is still too early to tell whether the symptoms of KP.3, KP.2 and other FLiRT variants are different from previous strains.
The FLiRT variants are probably not going to create very distinctive symptoms. It looks at the moment to follow the other subvariants, says Schaffner.
The symptoms of the FLiRT variants are similar to those caused by JN.1, which include:
According to the CDC, the type and severity of symptoms a person experiences usually depend more on a persons underlying health and immunity rather than the variant that caused the infection.
Similar to JN.1 and other omicron subvariants, the FLiRT variants seem to be causing milder infections, says Schaffer.
Early laboratory studies indicate that the vaccines will continue to provide protection the FLiRT variants "a little less protection, but not zero by any means," says Schaffner.
As the virus mutates, it is becoming progressively different from the omicron strain targeted in thelatest updated boosterreleased in the fall of 2023. "We would expect that to happen, and we anticipate the plan is to have an updated vaccine in the fall available to everyone," says Schaffner.
Advisers to theU.S. Food and Drug Administrationmet on Tuesday, June 5, to decide which strains to include in the updated COVID-19 vaccines for 20242025. The committee unanimously voted to recommend a monovalent vaccine targeting the JN.1 variant for this fall, the agency said in a press release.
Even if vaccines do not prevent infection, they can still offer some protection by preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and COVID-19 complications,TODAY.com previously reported.
Its still clear that the more severe cases that come into the emergency room predominate in people who either are not up to date on their vaccines or havent gotten a vaccine in a really long period of time, says Pekosz.
Vaccination is especially important for the elderly, says Pekosz, which is why the CDC recently recommended adults ages 65 and older get an additional dose of the2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Unfortunately, vaccination uptake is still poor, the experts note. "The vaccines are still showing signatures of effectiveness, but they're not being utilized anywhere close to the level that they should be," says Pekosz.
As of April 2024, only about 22% of adults and 14% of children have reported receiving the updated COVID-19 vaccine released in September 2023,according to the CDC.
All current PCR and at-home tests are recognizing KP.3 and other FLiRT variants, the experts note. (Though if you havesymptoms of COVID and test negative, it's a good idea to stay home to avoid potentially exposing other people, TODAY.com previously reported.
If you are using an at-home antigen test, always remember to check the expiration date and whether its been extended bythe FDA.
Antivirals (such as Paxlovid) are also working well. ... Theres not any major signals of antiviral resistance in the population, which is a positive sign, says Pekosz.
While it's too early to tell how the FLiRT variants will pan out this summer, people can always take steps to protect themselves and others against COVID-19.
The CDC recommends the following prevention strategies:
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from Today:
The journal BMJ Public Health is placing an expression of concern on a paper it said gave rise to widespread misreporting and misunderstanding, namely, claims that it implies a direct causal link between COVID-19 vaccination and mortality.
The article, Excess mortality across countries in the Western World since the COVID-19 pandemic: Our World in Data estimates of January 2020 to December 2022, appeared online June 3, and quickly attracted attention and criticism. The expression of concern is not yet live.
In their conclusions, the authors wrote:
Excess mortality has remained high in the Western World for three consecutive years, despite the implementation of COVID-19 containment measures and COVID-19 vaccines.
The next step, they wrote, was to distinguish between the various potential contributors to excess mortality, including COVID-19 infection, indirect effects of containment measures and COVID-19 vaccination programmes.
Lots of outlets covered the study. The Telegraph ran its story with the headline, Covid vaccines may have helped fuel rise in excess deaths.
The New York Posts story took a similar angle, writing that the researchers found excess mortality has remained high since 2020 despite the widespread rollout of COVID vaccines and various containment measures, and quoting the papers statements about reported serious injuries and deaths following vaccination. The Post later corrected its story and added the following note:
An earlier version of this article did not reflect that the study did not analyze the impact of vaccination nor establish a link between mortality and vaccination status.
In response to the coverage, BMJ released the following statement:
Various news outlets have claimed that this research implies a direct causal link between COVID-19 vaccination and mortality. This study does not establish any such link. The researchers looked only at trends in excess mortality over time, not its causes. While the researchers recognise that side effects are reported after vaccination, the research does not support the claim that vaccines are a major contributory factor to excess deaths since the start of the pandemic. Vaccines have, in fact, been instrumental in reducing the severe illness and death associated with COVID-19 infection.
The message of the research is that understanding overall excess mortality since the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial for future health policy, but that identifying specific causes is complex due to varying national data quality and reporting methods.
In a similar episode, the New England Journal of Medicine added an editors note in 2017 to a 1980 letter published in the journal that, the note said, had been heavily and uncritically cited as evidence that addiction is rare with opioid therapy.
Despite BMJs statement, scientists critiqued the studys methodology on X (formerly Twitter). Ariel Karlinsky, an economist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, whose work the study cited, wrote:
Karlinsky told Retraction Watch he and a few colleagues have submitted a commentary and request for retraction to BMJ Public Health.
Three of the authors (Saskia Mostert, Minke Huibers, and Gertjan Kaspers) are affiliated with the Princess Mxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht, The Netherlands; the fourth, Marcel Hoogland, is identified as an independent researcher in Amsterdam. Mostert, the corresponding author, has not responded to our request for comment.
On June 11, the Princess Mxima Center issued a statement saying it distances itself from the publication and will investigate the scientific quality of this study. The statement added:
Originally, the idea was to look at the effect of COVID measures on, among other things, the mortality rate of children with cancer in low-income countries. During the course of the study, the focus shifted and diverted in a direction that we felt was too far from our expertise: pediatric oncology. We are not experts in epidemiology, nor do we want to give that impression. The Mxima Center therefore emphatically distances itself from this publication. We should have been more alert to the formation and results of this publication and will further investigate the way it was created. If it turns out that carelessness was involved in the realization of this publication, it will of course be withdrawn.
On June 13, BMJ sent a press release to reporters saying it is investigating the quality of the research and the messaging of the paper, and would place an expression of concern on the article.
BMJs press release concluded:
As part of the investigation the authors will be asked to review and respond to the concerns raised to BMJ about the quality and messaging of the paper. BMJ will then decide what further action is needed.
Like Retraction Watch? You can make atax-deductible contribution to support our work,subscribe to our freedaily digestorpaid weekly update,follow uson Twitter, like uson Facebook, or add us to yourRSS reader. If you find a retraction thatsnot in The Retraction Watch Database, you canlet us know here. For comments or feedback, email us at team@retractionwatch.com.
Though the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week recommended that vaccine companies switch to the JN.1 variant for updated shots for the fall, yesterday it urged companies to focus on the KP.2 lineage if possible, based on recent shifts and a national rise in cases.
On June 5, the FDA's vaccine advisory group recommended a switch to the JN.1 variant, though it held off on recommending the KP.2 offshoot of JN.1, partly due to uncertainties about further evolution of SARS-CoV-2 strains. The group was also concerned about the availability of Novavax, which as a protein-based vaccine that has a longer production timeline and would not be able to switch to the more specific KP.2 lineage.
Shortly after, the FDA accepted the advisers' advice but said it would continue to monitor the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, along with the evolution of the virus. In its latest variant proportion update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported another jump in KP.3 proportions, along with a further rise in KP.2 viruses and a steady decline in the JN.1 parent lineage.
The two rising offshoots have the mutations that are thought to make them more evasive to immunity from earlier infection or previous vaccination.
In its statement yesterday, the FDA said that, based on the latest data, including rises in COVID-19 activity in some parts of the country, the preferred vaccine lineage is KP.2, and that a switch from the original JN.1 recommendation is intended to ensure that 2024-25 COVID vaccines more closely match circulating strains.
"The agency does not anticipate that a change to KP.2 will delay the availability of the vaccines for the United States," the FDA said. mRNA vaccines have a shorter production timeline and appear well poised to incorporate the change.
Novavax, which produces the protein-based option, said its vaccine provides broad cross-neutralization against a range of JN.1 descendant viruses, including KP.2 and KP.3. It also said the vaccine produces conserved T-cell responses against a range of JN.1 offshoots.
"These responses indicate that our vaccine technology induces broadly neutralizing responses against multiple variant strains, including to circulating forward drift variants," it said in a statement, which was first posted on June 5, then updated on June 10.
The company said it expects to have the vaccine ready for commercial delivery in September, pending FDA authorization.
In its data updates today, the CDC reported more rises in its early COVID indicators, which have shown a small uptick over the past few weeks from very low levels. The percentage of tests with positive results rose slightly and is highest in the western region that includes Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada.
Emergency department visits from COVID were up modestly. Hawaii has the highest level, which is listed as moderate. Other states are at the minimal level or don't have enough data for analysis.
Earlier this week, the Hawaii State Department of Health urged the public to be vigilant because of high COVID levels, which are at the red level, meaning they are at high levels compared to historic trends. "This high level means that recommended precautions are more important for reducing risk," it said.
In a respiratory virus illness snapshot today, the CDC estimated that COVID levels are growing or likely growing in 34 states or territories, declining in 1, with the trend uncertain in 14. "An increasing proportion of the variants that cause COVID-19 are projected to be KP.3 and LB.1," the agency said. LB.1 is another JN.1 offshoot showing rising proportions.
Hawaii's health department urged people to be up to date with their recommended vaccine doses, especially seniors, to stay home when sick and take extra precautions in the household, to wear a well-fitted mask indoors with other people, and to test if having symptoms.
CDC wastewater tracking show that overall levels are low, but up sharply in the West. Meanwhile, the latest data from WastewaterSCAN, a national wastewater monitoring system based at Stanford University in partnership with Emory University, suggest that COVID levels are in the high category nationally and in the South and Northeast, with concentrations medium and on an upward trend over the past 3 weeks. It put the Midwest and the West in the medium category.
Coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 virus cell with messenger RNA (mRNA) and syringe on blue background.
(Adobe Stock 404350586 by Matthieu)
The world of medicine has changed in the past half a decade. One evolving revolution is the new technology in RNA-mediated vaccines. Scientists conceived, created, tested, and delivered the COVID-19 vaccine at record speed and are now developing and testing RNA vaccines for HIV and malaria. The deep understanding of immune dysregulation as an underlying self-destructive cause of death in COVID-19 has translated to a new understanding of septic shock, adult respiratory disease syndrome, and many long-term indolent chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Our collective understanding of immune issues is what has changed the most. This new understanding offers immense promise as we look to eradicate diseases, solve chronic health care issues, and even tailor medicine to fit each patient's innate biological complexity. Researchers' ability to get into the minds of other experts and combine thinking with a new focus should allow for many advances. Here are five reasons our understanding of immune issues is changing and what it means for health care.
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Former President Donald Trumps chaotic and denial-filled response to the Covid-19 pandemic turned off independent voters and arguably cost him the 2020 presidential election.
Four years later, a different aspect of his handling of the pandemic has emerged as a sensitive subject with another slice of the electorate: his own die-hard supporters.
Over the past year, as I have listened to Trumps devotees sing his praises all over the country, I have noticed that theyve shown a rare willingness to criticize Trump over the speedy development of the Covid-19 vaccines, which he had celebrated as one of his administrations major successes. The vaccines, a scientific breakthrough, have been given to 270 million Americans and are estimated to have saved millions of lives.
Im not real thrilled with the accelerated rollout of the vaccine, said Amaris Angell, the owner of a recently shuttered food truck business, who went to see Trump in Las Vegas on Sunday. He still seems to be proud of himself for that.
Its poison, Nanette Finazzo said of the Covid vaccine.
I dont believe in the shots, Jeanette Reineck said as she waited for Trump to take the stage on Sunday. Never have.
The anti-vaccine sentiment coursing through Trumps fan base has not yet emerged as a major political liability for the former president. Most voters Ive spoken to quickly excuse Trump for listening to the people around him at a time when no one understood much about Covid. And attempts by Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, to attack him over his handling of the pandemic during the primary and caucus season never really caught on.
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KP.3, the new variant of COVID, is currently responsible for over 25% of all COVID cases in the US as per the data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is overtaking the previously dominant JN.1 variant. Apart from this, other variants of the FLiRT group of COVID variants are also driving COVID cases in the US. What is the KP.3 COVID variant?KP.3 is a "sublineage of the JN.1 lineage, which comes from the Omicron variant, CDC spokesperson Rosa Norman. KP.3 evolved from JN.1, which was the major viral lineage circulating since December 2023. It is very similar to JN.1 and only has two changes in spike compared to JN.1, he told the USA Today. KP.2, another major variant of COVID, currently accounts for 22.5% of COVID cases in the US. What are the symptoms seen in the KP.3 COVID variant?COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, presents a wide array of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Common symptoms include fever, dry cough, and fatigue. Many patients also report a loss of taste or smell, which can be a distinguishing feature of the virus. Respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain can occur, especially in more severe cases. Muscle or joint pain, headaches, and sore throat are frequently reported. Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are also observed, highlighting the virus's ability to affect multiple body systems. Some individuals experience skin manifestations, including rashes and discoloration of fingers or toes. The severity of symptoms varies widely; while some individuals remain asymptomatic, others develop life-threatening complications such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multi-organ failure. Do not ignore COVID signs in kidsChildren and adolescents tend to experience milder symptoms compared to adults. However, a rare but serious condition known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) has been linked to COVID-19. High-risk groups, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and compromised immune systems, are more likely to develop severe symptoms and complications. Early detection and isolation are crucial to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Testing, vaccination, and adherence to public health measures remain vital in managing and controlling the pandemic. Experts say, vaccines do protect against KP.3 variant. Preventing COVID-19 infection involves several key practices. Wear masks in public spaces to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets. Maintain physical distancing, keeping at least six feet away from others. Practice good hand hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid large gatherings and poorly ventilated areas. Stay informed about COVID-19 vaccines and get vaccinated when eligible. Follow public health guidelines, such as staying home when feeling unwell and adhering to local restrictions and recommendations. These measures collectively help reduce the risk of infection.
Its been over four years sinceCOVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic, and despite best efforts, the virus that causes it is still very much kicking about. Thats in large part thanks to it evolving into multiple different variants, the latest of which has been dubbed KP.3.
KP.3 is one of the FLiRT variants of SARS-CoV-2. These variants are rather less saucy than they sound; the name comes from the amino acid mutations theyve picked up in the spike protein, the part of the virus that latches onto the cells in our bodies and allows it to infect them.
The immune system can learn to recognize spike proteins either naturally or through vaccination and get rid of the virus, but by evolving into slightly different forms, the virus can evade destruction.
Thats why it seems like theres a new variant every other week KP.3 is the latest in a long line. In fact, FLiRT variants are all descended from another variant, JN.1, that popped up at the beginning of this year.
Until now the FLiRT variant KP.2 had taken over JN.1s top spot as the most dominant variant of the virus circulating in the US. However, according to predictions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which has a SARS-CoV-2 surveillance program tracking variants KP.3 has now taken over.
Currently, it is estimated that KP.3 viruses make up between 16% and 37% of all SARS-CoV-2 viruses in the United States, CDC Spokesperson Rosa Norman told USA Today.
But whilst it may be the most dominant, that doesnt necessarily mean therell be an uptick in cases. Most key COVID-19 indicators are showing low levels of activity nationally, therefore the total number of infections this lineage may be causing is likely low, Norman added.
That being said, with the increase in social gatherings often seen in the summer months, opportunities for the virus to spread and cause COVID-19 may also increase.
So, what are the signs of an infection with this new variant?
The CDCs list of possible symptoms for KP.3 is the same as those for JN.1:
Thats not an exhaustive list by any means. Symptoms may change with new COVID-19 variants and can vary by person, the CDC states. They can also appear up to two weeks after being exposed to the virus.
As for whether vaccines will be able to tackle the new variant, its hoped that updated vaccines set to be released in the fall pending FDA approval will do the job thanks to KP.3s lineage, as epidemiologist Adrian Esterman told Newsweek.
[T]here will be a new vaccine available around September, based on either JN.1 or one of the FLiRT subvariants, that will give much better protection."
To the Editor:
Re Why Covid Probably Started in a Lab, by Alina Chan (Opinion guest essay, June 9):
Dr. Chan makes a case for a laboratory origin of Covid-19. Richly illustrated with animated graphics online, the text proposes five main arguments to accuse a team led by Dr. Shi Zhengli, a scientist based in Wuhan, China, of having created the virus causing Covid in her lab, letting it leak, and hiding information linking the pandemics origin to her work. Dr. Chan further implied that Dr. Shis collaborators could also be hiding incriminating evidence.
These accusations are very serious, yet the case made by Dr. Chan rests entirely on speculation. Critical facts are ignored, such as the presence of live wild animals involved in the emergence of SARS in the market where many of the first people known to have gotten Covid worked or shopped. In my view, proper scientific analyses, which a majority of experts agree support a natural origin, are misrepresented or inappropriately dismissed by Dr. Chan.
While the origin of the pandemic is still not known with certainty, Dr. Chan has identified her culprits without any actual evidence.
Florence Dbarre Paris The writer, an evolutionary biologist, is a senior researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research.
To the Editor:
Based on the comments in response to this well-presented and compelling article, it appears that many still insist on putting their heads in the sand about the source of the Covid pandemic. They insist the article does not prove the origin of the pandemic to be the lab in Wuhan.
However, it should be noted that the headline of the article includes the word probably, which is probably as close as we will ever get to knowing the source of the pandemic, because the Chinese government certainly will never come clean about it if it is in any way at fault.
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A: Here is whats new in the realm of COVID-19 right now:
In a nutshell:
There is a new COVID variant family called FLiRT that may lead to an increase in cases this summer.
Current vaccines will provide some protection against FLiRT variants.
Data so far does not suggest that FLiRT variants are more severe than prior variants. Data on long COVID risk is not available.
Current vaccines do wane over time, but continue to reduce disease severity. However, those over 65 or who are immunocompromised are eligible for a second dose this year to increase protection.
New updated vaccines targeting JN.1 will be available this fall.
There is a new variant family currently circulating, with individual variants known as KP.2, KP.3, and KP.1.1. Collectively, they have been named FLiRT. These variants are descendants of the omicron and JN.1 variants but have acquired new mutations that enable the virus to evade some prior immunity generated from vaccines or infection. Currently, data does not suggest a change in severity. It is unknown if the risk of long COVID is altered for these variants compared to earlier ones.
Dataso far suggests that immune cells generated from vaccines or prior infection can still target these variants, albeit less effectively.New dataalso shows that protection from the updated COVID-19 vaccines waned over the time since their rollout in Fall 2023, particularly in their protection against infection. However, they do still help decrease disease severity. The general population was only recommended to receive one updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2023/2024 season. To enhance protection, individuals aged65 and olderor those immunocompromised are eligible to receive a second vaccine dose.
The FLiRT variants have been increasing in numbers globally but theCDC dashboardcurrently indicates low case numbers. However, certain regions are starting to see anuptick of cases, possibly signaling a summer wave.
Viruses mutate, so the emergence of new variants is not unexpected. This is why we are likely transitioning to an annual COVID-19 vaccine schedule that enables updated vaccines for new variants. The FDA met this week andvoted to proceedwith a new fall vaccinetargeting JN.1. Although FLiRT variants are somewhat different from JN.1, they share many similarities, so they will increase protection against these new variants. The updated vaccines are expected to be available sometime this fall. Exactly who will be eligible for the fall 2024 vaccine will be announced closer to rollout.
In the meanwhile, receiving a 2023/24 COVID vaccine, masking and other general infectious disease precautions can help mitigate your risk of getting sick this summer.
