The latest, highly contagious subvariants are driving infections, but new vaccines may help stem the tide of another wave — if people get immunized.

There’s a new coronavirus subvariant catching the attention of global doctors and researchers: it’s being called “XEC.” Experts suspect this new strain of the coronavirus could become the dominant variant in a matter of months.

Another COVID-19 variant is on the rise this fall, hot on the heels of a massive summer surge of the virus. The variant, called XEC, is appearing worldwide. The SARS-CoV-2 virus mutation has also been spotted in at least half of the United States,