Moderna’s updated COVID vaccine appears to generate “a strong human immune response against the highly mutated BA.2.86 variant,” the company said Wednesday, citing new clinical trial data.

Data from recent research on the drug maker’s new vaccine booster showed “an 8.7 to 11-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies against circulating variants, including the BA.2.86, EG.5, and FL.1.5.1 variants.”

EG.5 currently makes up for nearly 22% of new COVID cases in the U.S., while FL1.5.1 accounts for around 15% of new cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Moderna’s new booster, which is pending approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the fall 2023 vaccination season, appears to be highly effective in protecting people against the new variant, providing an 8.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies in humans against it, the company said.

The Environmental Protection Agency is delaying plans to tighten air quality standards for smog despite a recommendation by a scientific advisory panel to lower air pollution limits to protect public health.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan’s decision means one of the agency’s most important air quality regulations won’t be updated until after the 2024 presidential election.

The decision avoids an election year battle with industry groups and Republicans who’ve complained about what they consider overly intrusive EPA rules on power plants, refineries, automobiles and other polluters.

It’s the second time in 12 years a Democratic administration has put off a new ozone standard before an election year. The ground-level ozone rule also was delayed in 2011.