Here is the FDA statement about the new vaccine:
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/pres...ly-circulating
Of course, as usual, the government isn't telling you the whole story.
The "bivalent" vaccine (the first updated version of the vaccine, from a year ago) was released to cover BA.4/BA.5. The problem? By that point those were on their way out, and the new variants spawned from BA.2 were taking over. A stupid decision was made by all vaccine makers to ignore BA.2, as it was seen as an almost-dead relic from the spring and early summer of 2022. Whoops.
So the updated 2022 vaccine was almost obsolete at the time of release. Fail.
Now they've released a version for XBB.1.5, which was a dominant variant throughout most of 2023. Good for those who need it, right?
Not so fast.
According to this
well-respected tracking site, XBB.1.5 is down to just 3% prevalence -- and falling!
Whopos!
The current dominant variants are EG.5 (21-22%) and FL.1.5.1 (14-15%). Both are rapidly accelerating, mainly due to a mutation known as "F456L", which allows them to spread a lot faster than the XBB variants.
This isn't as bad as the bivalent vaccine mistakes, as at least EG.5 and FL.1.5.1 are in the same family as XBB, so it's possible the XBB.1.5 vaccine will work against them.
However, it's also possible that the XBB.1.5 vaccine will be of little use, if that new mutation allows these new variants to dodge it.
And once again, it has been quietly acknowledged that these new variants are NOT more dangerous or deadly than the XBB variants we've seen all year. It's seen as roughly equivalent, and the recent panicky media stories about "increased hospitalizations" ignore the fact that the increase comes from an increase in overall cases, not an increase in per-person danger.
Bottom line is that I feel you shouldn't bother with this vaccine unless you are over 65. And you especially shouldn't bother if you're under 65 AND get side effects from the vaccines (as I do).