RNA viruses, such as COVID-19 or flu, mutate all the time. This leads to the creation of new variants. The reason you are hearing about variants in the news right now is because the change is in the spike protein, which is what we have an immune response to when vaccinated.
Because these variants are more contagious, we may see more people become infected with COVID-19. This would lead to more hospitalizations, increased strain on healthcare resources, and potentially more deaths. We recommend getting vaccinated when eligible and continuing to follow all mitigation strategies (social distancing, mask-wearing and proper hand hygiene).
Want to learn more about common COVID-19 questions? Check our Fast Facts page.
