The conclusion the reporter has drawn is not supported by the TAG-VE's own statement. The TAG-VE is not going to add new labels and it does not see these variants as significantly differing from previous variants.

The reporter indicates opposite, that the new variants ARE going to receive new labels: "[...] based on the statement by the TAG-VE group, the BQ.1 and XBB phenotypes are genetically diverse [...] to warrant novel VOC designation and label assignment."

However, the TAG-VE's statement actually reads that they are NOT to receive new labels: "Based on currently available evidence, the TAG-VE does not feel that the overall phenotype of XBB* and BQ.1* diverge sufficiently from each other [...] to warrant the designation of new variants of concern and assignment of a new label."