新的 Covid XEC 变种预计将在 2024 年冬季成为优势菌株

伦敦大学学院遗传学研究所所长 Francois Balloux 教授告诉 BBC 新闻，XEC 比其他方法具有“轻微的传播优势”

A new Covid variant is set to become the dominant strain in the UK by winter 2024, experts have predicted.

专家预测，到 2024 年冬季，新冠病毒新变种将成为英国的主要病毒株。

The XEC strain was first identified in Germany in June but has since been found in other countries including the UK and USA.

XEC 菌株于 6 月首次在德国发现，但此后在英国和美国等其他国家也发现了该菌株。

Prof Francois Balloux, director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, told BBC News that XEC has a "slight transmission advantage" over other recent Covid variants, but vaccines should still provide good protection.

伦敦大学学院遗传学研究所所长弗朗索瓦·巴卢克斯教授告诉 BBC 新闻，XEC 比其他最近的新冠病毒变种具有“轻微的传播优势”，但疫苗仍应提供良好的保护。

"The vaccines are regularly updated, and a version specifically targeting XEC, which evolved from earlier Omicron subvariants, has not yet been released.

“疫苗会定期更新，专门针对 XEC 的版本尚未发布，该版本是从早期的 Omicron 亚变体演变而来的。

"However, the UK Health Security Agency advises that it's worth getting one if you're eligible.

“但是，英国健康安全局建议，如果您符合资格，那么值得购买。

“As we move into autumn, protection from any earlier Covid-19 vaccination you may have had will be starting to wane.

“随着进入秋季，您之前接种的任何 Covid-19 疫苗的保护作用将开始减弱。

"For those who are more likely to become seriously ill from Covid-19, the NHS offers a free vaccine in the autumn, previously known as the 'Autumn Booster'.

“对于那些更有可能因 Covid-19 而患重病的人，NHS 在秋季提供免费疫苗，以前称为‘秋季加强疫苗’。

"Current vaccines provide good protection against severe disease and hospitalisation.

“目前的疫苗可以很好地预防严重疾病和住院治疗。

“UKHSA surveillance data relating to last autumn's programme shows that those who received a vaccine were around 45% less likely to be admitted to hospital with Covid-19 from 2 weeks following vaccination, compared to those who remained unvaccinated. Protection lasts for around 4 months.

“与去年秋季计划相关的 UKHSA 监测数据显示，与未接种疫苗的人相比，接种疫苗后两周内，接种疫苗的人因感染 Covid-19 入院的可能性降低了约 45%。保护持续约4个月。

"Vaccination continues to help protect against severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths arising from Covid-19.

“疫苗接种继续有助于预防由 Covid-19 引起的严重疾病、住院和死亡。

“Between November, December and January over 38,000 people were admitted to hospital with the virus."

“11 月、12 月和 1 月期间，超过 38,000 人因感染病毒入院。”

There are several key groups who do still qualify for the autumn Covid-19 vaccination on the NHS.

有几个关键群体仍然有资格参加 NHS 秋季 Covid-19 疫苗接种。

The eligibility is the same across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰的资格是相同的。

The vaccine should usually be offered no earlier than around six months after the last vaccine dose.

通常不应早于最后一剂疫苗接种后六个月左右提供疫苗。

If you are eligible, you can get protection from an autumn Covid-19 vaccination even if you have not taken up a Covid-19 vaccine offer in the past.

如果您符合资格，即使您过去没有接种过 Covid-19 疫苗，也可以获得秋季 Covid-19 疫苗接种的保护。

Those eligible for the autumn Covid-19 vaccination include:

有资格接种秋季 Covid-19 疫苗接种的人包括：

People aged 50 and over

50岁及以上人士

Pregnant women

孕妇

Those in a care home

那些住在疗养院的人

Those who are immunosuppressed

免疫抑制者

Those who are housebound

那些足不出户的人

Those who have learning disabilities

有学习障碍的人

Those who are autistic

那些自闭症患者

Those who are living with someone who has a weakened immune system

与免疫系统较弱的人住在一起的人

Those who are frontline health and social care workers

一线卫生和社会护理工作者

Those who are over 16 and have a long-term health condition

16岁以上且有长期健康状况的人

Those who are over 16 and are a carer, either paid or unpaid

年满 16 岁并且是带薪或无薪看护者的人

Those who are over 16 and live with someone who is more likely to get seriously ill from Covid-19

16 岁以上且与更有可能因 Covid-19 患重病的人住在一起的人

Those who are over 16 and are pregnant

16岁以上且怀孕的人

Those who are over 16 and have a weakened immune system

16岁以上且免疫系统较弱的人

Those who are over 16 and are in a care home

16 岁以上且住在护理院的人

Those who are over 16 and are frontline health and social care workers

16 岁以上的一线卫生和社会护理工作者

Those who are over 16 and have learning disabilities

16岁以上有学习障碍的人

Those who are over 16 and are autistic

16岁以上患有自闭症的人

Those who are over 16 and are living with someone who has a weakened immune system

16 岁以上且与免疫系统较弱的人住在一起的人

Those who are over 16 and are pregnant

16岁以上且怀孕的人

Those who are over 16 and have a long-term health condition

16岁以上且有长期健康状况的人

Those who are over 16 and are a carer, either paid or unpaid

年满 16 岁并且是带薪或无薪看护者的人

Those who are over 16 and live with someone who is more likely to get seriously ill from Covid-19

16 岁以上且与更有可能因 Covid-19 患重病的人住在一起的人

Those who are over 16 and are in a care home

16 岁以上且住在护理院的人

Those who are over 16 and are frontline health and social care workers

16 岁以上的一线卫生和社会护理工作者

Those who are over 16 and have learning disabilities

16岁以上有学习障碍的人

Those who are over 16 and are autistic

16岁以上患有自闭症的人

Those who are over 16 and are living with someone who has a weakened immune system

16 岁以上且与免疫系统较弱的人住在一起的人

Those who are over 16 and are pregnant

16岁以上且怀孕的人

Those who are over 16 and have a long-term health condition

16岁以上且有长期健康状况的人

Those who are over 16 and are a carer, either paid or unpaid

年满 16 岁并且是带薪或无薪看护者的人

Those who are over 16 and live with someone who is more likely to get seriously ill from Covid-19

16 岁以上且与更有可能因 Covid-19 患重病的人住在一起的人

Those who are over 16 and are in a care home

16 岁以上且住在护理院的人

Those who are over 16 and are frontline health and social care workers

16 岁以上的一线卫生和社会护理工作者

Those who are over 16 and have learning disabilities

16岁以上有学习障碍的人

Those who are over 16 and are autistic

16岁以上患有自闭症的人

Those who are over 16 and are living with someone who has a weakened immune system

16 岁以上且与免疫系统较弱的人住在一起的人