The Latest Breaking News from Omicron

How long should I wait after a third dose? Should I wait for an Omicron-specific vaccine? Your questions answered

How the most common of the 11 variants compare

Australia said on Thursday it would expand the rollout of the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccines from next week as it battles a steady rise in hospital admissions fuelled by the highly transmissible new Omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5.

New Zealand has been in a COVID lull for the past two months, but with the BA.5 variant on the rise and more than 10,000 new daily cases reported this week, it appears we are now at the start of a second Omicron wave.

As viruses morph and adapt, there's a greater call for targeted vaccines and boosters

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County’s coronavirus case rate hit its highest point in nearly five months over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, a troubling sign of how two new super-infectious omicron strains are creating conditions for a fraught summer.

Immunome Inc (NASDAQ:IMNM) has announced that its cocktail (IMM-BCP-01) retained activity against the BA.4/5 and BA.2.12.1 subvariants in lab testing.  IMM-BCP-01 is currently in Phase 1b testing in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and in locations where the predominant variants are BA.2.12.1, BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2. Related: Immunome Shares Rise After Publishing Positive COVID-19 Antibody…

Australia is expected to follow other parts of the world in expanding eligibility for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose to the wider population, with the Prime Minister saying the pandemic "isn't over" while encouraging eligible Australians to get their booster shots.

With a third Omicron wave approaching, the wider Australian population may soon be able to get their second COVID booster shots.