Blah. Meant to say, I really hope for LP.8.1 Was hoping for more options (like NB or XFG), but I get why this year, the risk:benefit ratio of being cutting edge didn’t seem worth it to the manufacturers It’s weird to go from “man I hope they select NB/XFG and not LP” to “pls update from KP.2”
NB and XFG aren't really on the table. Really the options that are feasible are KP.2, JN.1, and LP.8.1. In this particular case, they are so close together antigenically that the differences are not that important, but given the totality of evidence I would go with LP.8.1
Obviously, I wish I could pick from a dropdown menu and DIY it lol Data from pan studies showed how it’s probably best to vax with distant versions — to get naive B cells and ideally breadth as a result Idk. I’m way too deep in this stuff. I wish I could get my nasal vaccine and move on
I agree. However, I usually find myself going back to the “well, if there’s such little difference, then how did these variants manage to dominate to the degree they did” Obv more than S matters, but tbh it just makes me think those extra few mutations might really matter going forward
mutations outside S matter, but a big part of it is still timing. As antibodies contract, people again become susceptible to infection and that could catapult whatever variant happens to be around to dominate even if it has minimal evolutionary advantage over the others
You know what, you’re definitely right. I think it’s harder to tell myself that and believe it vs hearing it directly from a trusted authority on the subject (you) Maybe I should put deference on the studies that compare the variants? Idk. Industry sponsoring usually adds to my lack of finality