Boosting Protection: New Covid Vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax Effective Against Eris Variant

New Covid vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, designed to target the omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, are expected to provide substantial protection against the new Eris variant, which is now the dominant strain in the U.S. The vaccines are awaiting FDA approval and will likely be available in about a month. Initial data suggests that the updated shots will be effective against Eris and other widely circulating variants. Eris accounted for 17.3% of all cases in the U.S., surpassing XBB.1.5. Health experts believe the vaccines will be effective due to the genetic similarity between Eris and XBB.1.5. Moderna reported a "significant boost" in protective antibodies against Eris and another variant in a clinical trial, while Pfizer stated that its shot "effectively neutralized" Eris in a study on mice. Experts recommend discussing individual circumstances with doctors to determine whether to get currently available boosters or wait for the new vaccines.