Omicron BA.5 reportedly has been driving a surge of new infections globally and has shown to be particularly good at evading the immune protection afforded either by vaccination or prior infection, according to Reuters.
As per the data, Omicron subvariant BA.4 was estimated to make up 12.9% of the circulating variants in the United States. Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration has asked vaccine manufacturers to target the two currently dominant subvariants for a potential fall season booster dose.
Amid sudden surge in cases, the US health officials are urging people aged 50 or more to get a booster shot, adding that doing so would not prevent them from getting another "bivalent" booster designed to fend off Omicron more specifically later this year, the Reuters report said.
Meanwhile, as per latest reports, the United States President Joe Biden who is suffering from Covid-19 is likely infected by highly contagious Omicron subvariant BA.5.