The new COVID-19 shot is effective against the latest variant

Plus more health news | Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Health Matters]( [The new COVID-19 shot is surprisingly effective against the latest variant]( By Alice Park Senior Health Correspondent The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just released the first report on the latest COVID-19 vaccine’s effectiveness, and it’s encouraging. The scientists say the shot, which became available last fall and targets the XBB.1.5 variant, is 54% effective in protecting against symptoms of COVID-19. That’s especially reassuring given that the study was conducted from September 2023 to mid-January 2024, during which not only XBB.1.5, but a new variant, JN.1, started circulating. The researchers plan to release more data on how the vaccine is affecting visits to the emergency room and urgent care centers, as well as hospitalizations from COVID-19. The CDC hopes the results prompt more people to get vaccinated; only 21% of adults over age 18 and 41% of people over 65 have gotten the vaccine. [READ MORE]( Share This Story WHAT ELSE TO READ [Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Tied to a Range of Cancers]( By Mike Stobbe/AP The long-awaited study found at least a 20% higher risk for cancers in people stationed there from 1975 to 1985. [Read More »]( [Austin Says He Never Told Staff to Hide Hospitalization From White House]( By LOLITA C. BALDOR and TARA COPP / AP “We did not handle this right and I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis." [Read More »]( [7 Ways to Bring a Dead Friendship Back to Life]( By Angela Haupt Positivity, consistency, and vulnerability play a key role. [Read More »]( [Why the Supplement Berberine Is Not ‘Nature’s Ozempic’]( By Haley Weiss The popular supplement berberine may result in some modest weight loss, but it's nothing like Ozempic and other semaglutide drugs. [Read More »]( [What to Know if Your Doctor Put You on Statins to Lower Cholesterol]( By Elizabeth Millard Answers to five questions about this common treatment. [Read More »]( If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, [click here](. Today's newsletter was written by Alice Park and edited by Angela Haupt. [Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters.]( [Subscribe to TIME]( TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Connect with TIME via [Facebook]( | [Twitter]( | [Newsletters]( [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS]( TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508 Questions? Contact health@time.com Copyright © 2024 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.