Coronavirus Watch: The BA.5 variant is being replaced

The BA.5 variant now accounts for less than half of new infections in the U.S. for the first time since early summer.

That's according to CDC data, which shows the variant accounted for more than 50% of cases in late October, but just under 30% a few weeks later. It is being replaced by a few variants, including:

• BQ.1.1, which now accounts for just over 24% of cases
• BQ.1, which accounts for more than 20% of cases

Why this matters: Booster shots now available were designed to target both the initial form of COVID-19 and the omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. Time will tell whether the shots are protective enough against other variants. Read more here. 

It's Monday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's the latest news:

• Hospitalization rates among infants under 6 months increased elevenfold during the BA.2 and BA.5 surges from April to July, according to a CDC study.
• First needle-free COVID vaccine: Biotech company Vaxxas announced last week it started clinical trials for a needle-free vaccine using a patch that people could self-administer at home.

Tracking US cases: We continue to track cases across the country. Click here (and scroll down) for maps that update weekly based on CDC data. 

Today's newsletter brought to you by: Health reporters Karen Weintraub and Adrianna Rodriguez and editor Rachel Aretakis.