Hey there, it looks like there’s a new group of COVID-19 variants making the rounds in the U.S. They’re being called “FLiRT,” and they’re grabbing attention because they’ve become the most common strains across the country, according to the CDC.
One of these variants, KP.2, seems to be particularly widespread, making up about a quarter of all infections in the U.S. right now. These FLiRT variants are part of the omicron family, which we’ve been keeping an eye on.
Megan L. Ranney, the dean of the Yale School of Public Health, pointed out that these FLiRT variants have some changes in their spike protein, which could help the virus stick around and make people sick. That’s definitely concerning.
The CDC hasn’t given out a lot of details yet, but they’re emphasizing that COVID-19 is still a big deal, especially for older adults. Hospitalization rates are still higher among folks over 65.
To help combat this, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization is recommending that everyone over 65 get an extra dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine. They’re hoping this booster shot will give folks better protection against severe outcomes like death, especially since immunity can weaken over time.
