CDC recommends updated COVID vaccines for everyone 6 months old and older to protect against new variants
Experts predict potential summer surge in COVID-19 cases due to KP.2 and KP.1.1
KP.2 is slightly more infectious and better at evading immune defenses than JN.1
New COVID-19 variant KP.2 dominates approximately 25-30% of COVID cases in the US
Vaccines still provide good protection against COVID-19, especially against severe illness and hospitalization
Health officials are warning of a potential summer surge in COVID-19 cases due to the emergence and dominance of new variants, specifically KP.2. This variant, which is an offshoot of the omicron variant, has been growing in prominence since at least the start of 2024 and now makes up approximately 25-30% of COVID cases in the US. According to experts from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), KP.2 is very similar to JN.1, the dominant variant for roughly three years, but it may be slightly more infectious and better at evading our immune defenses.
The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months old and older get an updated COVID vaccine from fall 2024 to protect against these new variants. The agency is also closely monitoring the impact of KP.2 and KP.1.1 on public health, but currently, there are low levels of SARS-CoV-2 transmission overall.
Experts predict that a summer increase in COVID-19 cases is possible due to these new variants, although it may not be as severe as past summer waves. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) emphasizes the importance of staying informed and taking precautions such as wearing masks and avoiding large crowds if COVID-19 cases are on the rise locally.
It's important to note that vaccines still provide good protection against COVID-19, especially against severe illness and hospitalization. Additionally, elderly individuals, those with compromised immune systems, and children should take extra precautions when dealing with potential COVID-19 cases.
These variants, nicknamed FLiRT, have been growing in prominence since at least the start of 2024 and are sublineages of the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant.
An updated COVID vaccine was released in fall, and the CDC recommends everyone 6 months old and older get it along with Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax.
The CDC is working to understand KP.2 and KP.1.1’s potential impact on public health, but currently, there are low levels of SARS-CoV-2 transmission overall.
It’s too soon to say whether a new COVID vaccine will be created for the summer months.
Accuracy
There are two new COVID-19 variants, KP.2 and KP.1.1, circulating and posing a threat to a summer surge.
KP.2 is currently the dominant strain in the U.S., comprising almost 25% of sequenced tests, while KP.1.1 makes up about 8% as of end April.
COVID vaccines were expected to provide protection 'for several months' with the protection declining over time as seen with previous doses.
There isn't enough data to show whether the vaccine or immunity from a recent case of COVID will provide effective protection against FLiRT variants.
The World Health Organization recommended that future COVID vaccines be based on the JN.1 variant, a close relative of FLiRT offshoots.
It's too soon to say whether a new COVID vaccine will be created for the summer months.
FLiRT is a family of COVID-19 variants, with KP.2 currently being the most dominant strain.
Vaccines still provide good protection against COVID-19, especially against severe illness and hospitalization.
The CDC recommends staying home when ill to prevent spreading infection.
Elderly individuals, those with compromised immune systems, and children should take extra precautions such as avoiding large crowds and wearing masks if COVID-19 cases are on the rise locally.
Accuracy
KP.2 is proving to have the most significant resistance to the 2023-24 COVID-19 booster.
It could be slightly more infectious than previous variants.
Deception
(35%)
The article provides accurate information about the FLiRT COVID-19 variant and its symptoms, as well as advice on how to protect oneself from infection. However, it does not disclose the sources of this information or quotes any experts directly. Additionally, it makes no attempt to discuss or report on the potential negative impacts of this variant or its spread.
The CDC estimates that it currently accounts for 28.2% of cases, up from 15.9% just two weeks ago when the previous report was released on April 27th.
