Here's the update on the circulating coronavirus variants.

It is basically all JN.1 or JN.1 descendants. KP.2 recently became the dominant variant.

KP.2 is a so-called FLiRT variant due to certain spike mutations at positions 346 and 456.

Just a reminder that if you are 65 and older you are eligible for a second dose of the updated coronavirus vaccine from last year.

Next month the FDA's advisory committee is meeting to discuss updating the vaccines. The World Health Organization is recommending targeting JN.1 and its descendants in the strain updates. VRBPAC tends to usually follow suit.

Novavax is working already on a JN.1 vaccine in line with the WHO. Since it is the non-mRNA vaccine in the US, it is the laggard on any strain update. That might bias VRBPAC to target JN.1. But if KP.2 continues to be ascendant, we might see it end up as the target.

The current plan is to have new vaccines this fall. If you aren't up to date at present, it might be worth waiting. Coronavirus levels are fairly low right now.