This blog post was reviewed and updated in October 2024.
With the emergence of the ‘XEC’ COVID-19 variant, some people are asking how this new lineage - or group of genetically similar viruses - compares to other variants. XEC is a combination of two lineages in the Omicron family: KP3.3 and KS.1.1.
What have we seen so far?
Our surveillance shows that where COVID-19 cases are sequenced, around 1 in 10 are the ‘XEC’ lineage. Current information doesn’t suggest we should be more concerned about this variant, but we are monitoring it closely.
The most important thing to do is to get your vaccination as soon as possible if you’re eligible. It’s normal for viruses to mutate and change, and more widely we’re still getting to grips with how the healthcare system responds to the ebb and flow of seasonal cases. As more data becomes available on this variant, we’ll have a better understanding of how it interacts with our immune systems and how to optimise our protection as well as actions we can take to keep the most vulnerable safe and live our lives as normally as possible.
If people become unwell, and are unsure if they have COVID-19, what should they do?
If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you should avoid contact with vulnerable people and stay at home if possible.
For those of us who absolutely can’t stay at home, our Living with COVID guidance is unchanged, and outlines how to prevent transmission to others.
What vaccination programme is in place for COVID-19 in the UK?
Vaccines remain our best defence against severe disease and hospitalisation from flu and COVID-19. Our autumn/winter 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccination programme is now open and eligible people can book via the NHS App, website or by phoning 119.
What surveillance systems are in place?
We publish the latest surveillance data for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses weekly, to the UKHSA data dashboard, and we publish our COVID-19 and flu surveillance report weekly during the winter and fortnightly the rest of the year. We’re also getting vital data from those who are admitted to hospital with symptoms, and we are utilising genome sequencing to understand which variants people are most vulnerable to.
There are also specific surveillance programmes in place, where small sample groups are tested regularly. These allow us to monitor trends in the wider community.
Hospital is where we will see the more severe cases, and we will be monitoring the numbers of people attending with COVID-19 symptoms very carefully. This will help us understand the growth rate and transmission potential of the new variant.
We continue to collaborate globally with health organisations in other countries, the World Health Organization and initiatives such as the Global Influenza Surveillance & Response System (GISAID) to ensure that we have the most current data.
What is the UKHSA doing to tackle the new variant?
When a new variant appears on our radar, at the initial stages it is often quite difficult to know whether the mutations provide any advantages to the virus. Genetic mutations happen all the time, and in some cases have been known to make a virus less transmissible or cause a milder reaction in people.
At these early stages our scientists at the Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC) are preparing the variant for testing in our high containment facilities.
At the same time, scientists in our COVID-19 Vaccine Unit work hand in glove with vaccine developers to get samples of new, as yet unlicensed, vaccines to assess whether they will give better protection against the virus.
Vaccinations for flu and COVID-19 help to keep vulnerable people out of hospital and carrying on with their day-to-day lives, as well as reducing pressure on our NHS.