What to Know About New COVID Vaccines as ‘Eris’ Variant Dominates
As cases of the new COVID-19 variant EG.5 (dubbed “Eris”) rise, experts explain how and if future vaccines will protect against the latest variant.
The updated boosters will be targeting a different strain than last year’s shot.
Experts explain what to expect with this year’s vaccine.
Back to school, fall colors, and all things pumpkin are just around the corner—which means so is your annual flu shot and COVID-19 booster. But you may be wondering, with the new variant EG.5, nicknamed “Eris,” on the rise, will there be a new COVID vaccine that targets the strain?
In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that Americans receive an annual COVID-19 vaccine each fall, similar to the current recommendations with the annual flu vaccine. Meaning, that people only need one dose of the coronavirus vaccine a year to restore protective immunity for a period of time.
Now that it’s almost time to get your next jab, and with an increase in cases of the latest variant, it’s normal to wonder if there will be a vaccine for EG.5, a.k.a. “Eris.” Here, experts break down what to expect.
Is there a COVID vaccine for the “Eris” variant, EG.5?
There is not a specific vaccine targeted towards the EG.5 or “Eris” variant; however, the forthcoming updated XBB.1.5 booster vaccines will target a closely related strain, says Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
The updated COVID vaccine will target XBB.1.5, which is a subvariant of Omicron and is similar to EG.5 (a.k.a. “Eris,” also a subvariant of Omicron), says Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician and professor of medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University. In other words, the boosters that will be available this fall have been updated to fight subvariants of Omicron that have been dominant since last year.
How will 2023’s COVID vaccine differ from last year’s?
The upcoming booster will target a new strain of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV2, says Dr. Adalja. This year’s vaccine will target XBB.1.5, which is different from last year’s vaccine, which was a bivalent vaccine that covered the original strain and the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, explains Dr. Watkins.
When should I get my next COVID vaccine/booster?
The new COVID vaccines will likely be available starting in late September or early October of this year, Dr. Watkins speculates.
With that said, the decision of when to get your booster all depends upon your risk factors for severe disease, says Dr. Adalja. “The boosters really provide benefit to the high risk in terms of prevention of severe disease.” Dr. Watkins recommends getting the new shot when it becomes available (and to not wait too long), as the number of cases continues to surge.
Who will be eligible for the new COVID-19 vaccines?
It is likely that anyone aged 2 and older will be eligible for a shot, says Dr. Watkins. “Kids between 6 months and 2 years may need multiple shots.” But if you have any doubts as to who in your family may need a shot (or multiple), consult your doctor and they can clarify.
What are more prevention measures I can take against EG.5?
Frequent hand washing, especially when out in public and when returning home from being out, is strongly encouraged, says Dr. Watkins. “Mask-wearing may become more prevalent in the fall and winter, depending on how much COVID activity there turns out to be,” Dr. Watkins notes (grab some N95 or kN95 face masks to help curb the spread). In fact, wearing a mask can help protect against the flu and other viruses, too.
The bottom line
It is in your best interest and the interest of your family and friends to not get sick, which can be very disruptive to your life and expensive, says Dr. Watkins. “Therefore, get the COVID and flu shots this fall,” and stay healthy, he says.
This article is accurate as of press time. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly evolves and the scientific community’s understanding of the coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since it was last updated. While we aim to keep all of our stories up to date, please visit online resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department to stay informed on the latest news. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice.
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