omicron

New COVID variants that are highly immune evasive have overtaken BA.5 to dominate in the U.S. Experts warn this means more reinfections and a possible winter surge.

New omicron subvariants now dominant in the U.S., raising fears of a winter surge

5:20pm November 11, 2022

by Rob Stein

Step aside, BA.5. The new variants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, appear to be among the most adept yet at evading immunity from previous infection and vaccination.

An electron microscope image shows a SARS-CoV-2 particle isolated in the early days of the pandemic. It's been nearly a year since omicron was first detected, and scientists say this branch of the coronavirus family tree is still thriving.

Omicron keeps finding new evolutionary tricks to outsmart our immunity

5:02am October 25, 2022

by Rob Stein

SARS-CoV-2 is evolving "rapidly," spawning one new variant after another. But omicron continues to dominate, raising new questions about how evolution of the virus is headed.

Health & Safety

Latest COVID booster now available in North Carolina for kids 5 and older

12:03pm October 14, 2022

by David Ford

The updated COVID-19 booster is now available in North Carolina for children and teens five and older.

Sikhulile Moyo, the laboratory director at the Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute and a research associate with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, headed the team that identified the omicron variant.

Whatever happened to the Botswana scientist who identified omicron — then caught it?

4:53pm September 02, 2022

by Melody Schreiber

Sikhulile Moyo led the team that first identified omicron — and was dismayed by the world's reaction — blaming and blacklisting African nations. He's now a bit more optimistic.

The new booster shot would be an update to Pfizer's current version of the shot, which was designed for the original strain of the coronavirus.

Health & Safety

Pfizer asks FDA to greenlight new omicron booster shots, which could arrive this fall

1:33pm August 22, 2022

Pfizer has submitted data on its bivalent COVID-19 booster shot that specifically targets the latest omicron subvariants. If authorized, the company says the shots could be ready as soon as September.

The FDA is trying to make "bivalent" COVID vaccines, which target two different antigens, available as soon as September.

Reformulated COVID vaccine boosters may be available earlier than expected

11:17am July 26, 2022

by Rob Stein

The Biden administration may scrap plans to expand eligibility for second boosters to younger adults. Instead, it's trying to speed up the next generation of boosters targeting the omicron variant.

Queue Listen Now

A syringe is prepared with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic at the Keystone First Wellness Center in Chester, Pa., Dec. 15, 2021.

Health & Safety

The omicron subvariant dominating U.S. COVID-19 cases is more vaccine-resistant

2:19am July 15, 2022

by Ayana Archie

The BA.5 strain represented 65% of cases from July 3 to 9, according to data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

A Covid-19 testing site stands on a Brooklyn street corner in April.

A new dominant omicron strain in the U.S. is driving up cases — and reinfections

7:39pm July 11, 2022

by Allison Aubrey

BA.5 is now the dominant omicron strain in the U.S. It's good at evading the immune system, though doesn't appear to cause more serious illness.

Queue Listen Now

Print a poster version of this comic to hang up on your fridge or give away to friends. Download the poster here.

Health & Safety

Coronavirus FAQ: Can I get COVID outdoors? (With printable poster on how to cut risks)

5:04pm July 01, 2022

by Melody Schreiber

We've heard for months that chances of catching SARS-CoV-2 outdoors are far less than indoors. Is that still true with highly contagious omicron strains? And if it is, what can you do to stay safe?

A nurse fills a syringe with a COVID-19 vaccine in the Staten Island borough of New York on April 8, 2021. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recommended that COVID booster shots be modified to better match more recent variants of the coronaviru

Health & Safety

FDA says COVID boosters for the fall must target newer omicron types

4:05pm June 30, 2022

by The Associated Press

With immunity waning and the super-contagious omicron family of variants getting better at dodging protection, the Food and Drug Administration decided boosters intended for fall needed an update.