What to know about the new variant of Omicron

What you need to know about the new Omicron variant

Carl ZimmerReporting on the coronavirus< /figure>

What to know about the new Omicron variant

Carl ZimmerCoronavirus Report

Jim Wilson/The New York Times

Three years on the onset of the pandemic, the coronavirus continues to impress virologists with its rapid evolution.

Here are answers to some common questions about the fast-growing variant XBB.1.5 →

What you need to know about the new Omicron Vari ant

Carl ZimmerReporting on the coronavirus

Do vaccines offer protection against XBB.1.5?

XBB.1.5 can evade some of the antibodies produced either by vaccines or by infections with older versions of the coronavirus. But bivalent boosters appear to provide additional protection against infection and will likely do a good job of reducing the risk of hospitalization, especially for older people who are most at risk of serious illness and death.

Is XBB.1.5 more dangerous than earlier forms of the virus?

There is no evidence yet that it causes more severe disease. But it will take time for scientists to gather enough data to make a more robust assessment.