On Dec. 18, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC) announced the results of a review of the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, the performance of currently approved COVID-19 vaccines and the implications for COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition.

The objective of an update to COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition is to enhance vaccine-induced immune responses to circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. Following this meeting, the TAG-CO-VAC advises vaccine manufacturers that monovalent LP.8.1 is the recommended vaccine antigen.

The previously recommended JN.1 lineage (JN.1 or KP.2) antigens remain suitable alternatives and vaccination should not be delayed in anticipation of access to vaccines with the LP.8.1 composition. Other approaches that demonstrate broad and robust neutralizing antibody responses or efficacy against currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants could also be considered.

Vaccination remains an important public health countermeasure against COVID-19. As per the WHO Director General’s standing recommendations for COVID-19, Member States are recommended to continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination based on the recommendations of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).

There are persistent and increasing gaps in the reporting of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, from WHO Member States, limiting the interpretation of epidemiological trends. Nonetheless, in 2025, SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate globally, causing severe disease, post COVID-19 condition, and death. Globally, the majority of COVID-19 deaths continue to occur in individuals aged 65 years and older and those with underlying comorbidities.

The TAG-CO-VAC will continue to closely monitor the genetic and antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants, immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination, and the performance of COVID-19 vaccines against circulating variants.

The TAG-CO-VAC will also continue to reconvene every six months, or as needed, to evaluate the implications for COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition. At each meeting, recommendations to either maintain current vaccine composition or to consider updates will be issued.