New data from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech suggests that the highly mutated variant of the COVID-19 virus, known as BA.2.86 or "Pirola," is not as concerning as initially feared. The variant has been detected in several countries, including the US, but current vaccines are showing effectiveness against it. The dominant variant in the US is currently EG.5, with BA.2.86 accounting for less than 1% of cases.