COVID-19 cases are surging with the emergence of the new variant NB.1.8.1, particularly in parts of the eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asia. The WHO indicates the new variant has a low public health risk globally and that current vaccines are expected to be effective. The U.S. has detected the variant in travelers, prompting discussions on vaccine recommendations, as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has suggested that COVID-19 shots are no longer necessary for healthy children and pregnant women. The dominant variant currently is LP.8.1, but reports indicate no significant severity differences with NB.1.8.1.
As the new variant NB.1.8.1 spreads globally, the WHO indicates a low public health risk while suggesting existing vaccines remain effective against it.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a shift in the U.S. COVID-19 vaccination recommendations, impacting guidance for healthy children and pregnant women.
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