XBB.1.5

The amount of severe illness caused by respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 is decreasing in Ohio, but the state's health director said too many people are skipping the new booster and unnecessarily risking serious disease or death at a time when the coronavirus is still circulating.

XBB.1.5 is an omicron subvariant that is not really affected by the original COVID-19 vaccine. The most recent bivalent booster provides the best protection, according to health experts.