Does the COVID vaccine protect against the new XEC variant?

James Cheng-Morris
A new COVID variant has emerged. (PA)
A new COVID variant has emerged. (PA) (Jeff Moore/PA Wire)

A new COVID variant has emerged, with some scientists saying it could soon be the dominant strain of the virus.

While global cases of the XEC variant remain small in number, it may "represent a sizeable proportion" of infections by the winter.

Here, Yahoo News UK explains what the variant is, whether it has different symptoms, whether vaccines provide protection and - ahead of the autumn booster programme - who is eligible for a vaccine.

XEC is a new variant first identified in Germany in June.

Cases have been slowly rising since, with 500 identified globally so far.

However, while these numbers are small, Prof Francois Balloux, director of the University College London Genetics Institute, said XEC “has a slight transmission advantage” over current variants.

And he said “it is possible that XEC will become the dominant subvariant over the winter” when COVID cases - as with other respiratory illnesses - are likely to increase.

Prof Balloux said it is "not anticipated that XEC will cause different symptoms".

That would mean the usual COVID symptoms - including a high temperature or shivering, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to sense of smell or taste - would still apply.

Prof Balloux said: "Protection provided by vaccines and prior infections against severe symptoms remains in place".

Free NHS autumn vaccines are only available for:

  • people aged 65 and over

  • residents in care homes for older people

  • people between six months and 64 years who are in a clinical risk group

  • frontline NHS and social care workers, and those working in care homes for older people

The autumn programme will begin on Monday when people will be able to start booking appointments.

The UKHSA said COVID vaccines last autumn reduced the risk of hospitalisation by almost half. (PA)
The UKHSA said COVID vaccines last autumn reduced the risk of hospitalisation by almost half. (PA) (Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

The UK Health Security Agency said data from last autumn’s programme showed vaccinated people were 45% less likely to be hospitalised from COVID from two weeks after vaccination. The protection lasts for about four months.

Between November, December and January, 38,000 people were admitted to hospital with the virus.

People who are not in the eligible groups listed above can still buy COVID-19 vaccines privately.

Boots is one high street retailer which provides a private vaccination service, with the 15-minute in-store appointments costing £98.95.

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