Key TakeawaysBQ.1.1 is a new Omicron subvariant descended from Omicron BA.5.BQ.1.1, along with its sister variant BQ.1, accounts for around 11% of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S.It might render first-gen treatments like monoclonal antibodies ineffective, but experts say the bivalent boosters should protect against Omicron subvariants that are similar to BA.5.

Key Takeaways

BQ.1.1 is a new Omicron subvariant descended from Omicron BA.5.BQ.1.1, along with its sister variant BQ.1, accounts for around 11% of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S.It might render first-gen treatments like monoclonal antibodies ineffective, but experts say the bivalent boosters should protect against Omicron subvariants that are similar to BA.5.

COVID-19 variants appear to have mutated far enough from the original virus that certain therapies no longer work against them. BQ.1.1, the newest Omicron subvariant, threatens to evade monoclonal antibodies in treatments likeEvusheld.

BQ.1.1 and its sister variant BQ.1 have been detected in the U.S. and several other countries. They account for about 11% of the new U.S. COVID-19 cases, although the proportions might be undercounted due to declines in virus surveillance efforts and PCR testing.

“There’s a lot of fog in this system in terms of what’s really increasing and how fast it’s increasing, because those sequencing efforts have been minimized over the past couple of months,” saidAndrew Pekosz, PhD,a virologist and researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

By the same token, more COVID-19 variants could be circulating undetected, he added.

For now, BA.5 is still the dominant variant, responsible for around 68% of new cases.But the disease severity of COVID-19 appears to be decreasing as bothdaily hospitalizations and deaths remain in a downward trend.

How Dangerous Is BQ.1.1?

BQ.1.1 and its sister variant BQ.1 are both descendants of BA.5, with some mutations similar to those of BA.5.

“BA.5 is like this big family,”Pavitra Roychoudhury, PhD, MSc, an instructor at the department of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Washington, told Verywell. “Within the BA.5, you can have diversification, and as evolution progresses, you get mutations.”

As these new subvariants compete with one another, one of them could become dominant and more resistant to vaccines as winter indoor gatherings may allow the variants to spread faster, she added.

Still, Roychoudhury said researchers have learned not to assume how a variant will take off in the future.

Study: Newer COVID-19 Variants Have Shorter Incubation Periods

Will the New Bivalent Boosters Protect Against BQ.1.1?

Since BQ.1.1 is similar to BA.5 in composition, thenew bivalent booster vaccinesshould just be as effective against this new variant, according to Pekosz.

According toPfizer’s latest announcement, ongoing clinical trials show that the bivalent booster shot “demonstrated a substantial increase in the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 neutralizing antibody response” seven days after administration.

He said that the vaccines are better at reducing hospitalizations and deaths than reducing infection risks, but the updated booster shots are still the best tool available against COVID-19.

How Long Will Immunity Last With the New COVID Bivalent Booster?

Will Current Treatments Work Against BQ.1.1?

A recent preprint study suggested that monoclonal antibody drugs like Evusheld may not be effective against the BQ.1.1 variant.These treatments are meant for immunocompromised individuals, who are most at risk of antibody-evading variants like BQ.1.1, Pekosz said.

Since COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatments weredeveloped earlier in the pandemic, they may not work as well against Omicron subvariants, which look very different from the original strain, he added.

“We’re still working with that first generation of treatments. We’re not seeing this second-generation development of treatments in the way that we’re going to need,” Pekosz said.

To fight the pandemic equitably, commercial manufacturers need to build updated versions of treatment for the Omicron variants, he added.

“Our way out of this pandemic is to keep the sword sharpened and keep using it effectively,” Pekosz said. “If we let up a little bit, we run the risk of limiting the tools that we can use to fight the virus, and seeing larger numbers of cases.”

How Vaccine Makers Are Tackling the Omicron Variant

What This Means For You

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID Data Tracker.Variant proportions.

Cao Y, Jian F, Wang J, et al.Imprinted SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity induces convergent Omicron RBD evolution.bioRxiv. Published online October 4, 2022:2022.09.15.507787. doi:10.1101/2022.09.15.507787

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