As global health attention diversified beyond the initial phases of the pandemic in late 2023, health authorities highlighted emerging concerns. The new COVID-19 Variant, EG.5.1.1, commonly known as Eris, was identified as a potential contributor to a rise in COVID-19 cases observed in various parts of the world, including a notable spike reported in the United States.
Eris is a subvariant of the Omicron variant, sharing similar symptoms, which typically include muscle aches, fever, coughing, and congestion. Despite its increased prevalence at the time, reports from sources like the New York Times indicated that the EG.5 variant was not deemed to pose a significant global threat and was not fundamentally different from other variants already circulating in the US. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified EG.5 as a “variant of interest” in August 2023, while noting a low public health risk at the global level.
It remained crucial for the public to understand that COVID-19 vaccines continued to be competent in protecting against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from the virus, including the Eris variant. These vital COVID-19 vaccines were readily available at health centres across Trinidad and Tobago, encouraging continuous protection for the population.
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