핵심 개념
The author discusses the availability of autumn's COVID vaccines and the emergence of new variants, highlighting the importance of booster shots and potential concerns about immune evasion.
초록
Autumn's COVID vaccine rollout is imminent, with FDA approval expected by mid-September. New variants like XBB 1.5, EG.5, FL 1.5.1, and BA.2.86 are under scrutiny for their immune evasion capabilities. Preliminary data suggests BA.2.86 may not be as concerning as initially feared, but vigilance remains crucial due to its evolutionary potential.
통계
The CDC estimates that EG.5 is responsible for about 20% of COVID-19 cases in the US.
Variant FL 1.5.1 accounts for 15% of cases in the US.
BA.2.86 has over 30 mutations in spike protein.
인용구
"It’s been quite a long time since boosters were provided for covid, and those boosters did have a relatively low uptake rate in the population." - Andrew Pekosz
"We’re lucky... This one could have been really bad." - Eric Topol
"The concern will be that it will continue to evolve and its descendants will have traits that make it successful at reaching new hosts." - T. Ryan Gregory