LizzieLouME t1_jd6aikz wrote on March 22, 2023 at 3:19 AM

For those of us who got boosters as soon as they were available it's possible that we have little immunity left as the CDC tries to switch us to a yearly vax without really talking about it. We are very early in this. It takes a while to do science, to get it peer reviewed & get it to the public. It doesn't help that we -- the public -- are a huge variable. I think I had COVID in March 2020 before there was really testing. I'm over 50. By some guidelines that makes me high risk (over 50 + had COVID once). But you have to dig through scientific literature to find that. Very few people have had their full series including the multi-variant. Many people now don't have the sick time they need -- leading to move spread & more variants. Even if large numbers aren't dying, people are dying. People are becoming disabled. And people are dying from "unexplained" heart attacks & strokes. It's too early to know what long COVID might do -- we shouldn't put that burden on future generations when we can wear masks & better filter air in schools + public buildings.

CYBarSecretGloryhole t1_jd7j7aa wrote on March 22, 2023 at 12:20 PM

I’ve been vaccinated and double boosted and had Covid before with very mild symptoms, but this year it kicked my ass. Bed ridden for a whole day and then the rest of the week I just felt like a husk. Granted I’m better now but it was definitely the worst bout of sickness I’ve had in a very long time.

Fearless-Factor-8811 t1_jd7sh5y wrote on March 22, 2023 at 1:34 PM

Very very few vaxed and boosted people are dying from covid. Unless you're have stats otherwise.

For the record the bivalent booster focuses on strains that are not really predominant anymore AFAIK. Omicron strains. It mostly functions as a general booster, which is probably good.

People are testing positive for covid, certainly some people are getting sick, some people are getting disabled, sure. Rare things are happening. Long covid is real but fairly rare. In the meantime, other awful health outcomes are happening that are as common that have nothing to do with covid. Cancer, heart disease, flu, etc.

I'm an ER nurse working in Maine. In the last 3 months I can't think of a single vaxed and boosted patient we admitted primarily for a covid diagnosis. Many people coming in for unrelated things that ended up positive for covid. Many asymptomatic people in the community probably testing positive for covid if you tested then. Likewise flu, cold etc.

Long story short: covid sucks, vaccines work amazingly well considering how bad things were, get used to living with it. If the cdc is sort of unclear how to approach a disease that has only existed for 3 years, cut them a little slack. I am very happy to get a boost every year. Why not?

Counting my initial Astra zenica shot I got in a trial prior to any vaccine being available I have had 5 shots. I've been in the room with a surgical mask with patients coughing up a lung in my face only to find out later they had covid. I've never gotten it. I am very lucky, also I think the vaccines work. I made a point of getting 3 different brands. Who knows?

LizzieLouME t1_jd7wkp9 wrote on March 22, 2023 at 2:04 PM

I think that's true but you don't want to be the person who dies or whose loved one dies because they have another condition & needed to go to the grocery store or doctor.

I also think many of us 1) don't have sick time or adequate sick time 2) don't have disability insurance 3) can't afford co-pays or otherwise access healthcare. There are lots of complications.

I see prevention as key. I don't see it as it's going to stick around & I don't want to die from it but its going to stick around and there are ways to lower the risk of contracting and spreading it while still living my life if others will also engage in prevention activities.

These are death stats. Likely undercounted because there is a lag time & lots of COVID related operations have been shut down.

I think, for example, wearing a high quality mask correctly in places where others have to be makes sense. (I also believe they should be provided free to people) If you want to go to a restaurant or bar or concert, unmasked, that's cool. It's not a "must do." But elders and immunocompromised community members need to grocery shop & go to the pharmacy & may even want to go to Target. Why put them at risk?

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklydeaths_select_00

vgallant t1_jd7kk7l wrote on March 22, 2023 at 12:31 PM

I haven't had covid yet, even though literally everyone I know has by now. I've gotten 6 covid shots so far, which I like to think has helped me. When my 7yo had it, I should have had it. He literally puked all over me, we slept on the couch together and shared the same drinks/straws but I never tested positive or had any symptoms.

Anyway, I think my son and I could have had it back in Feb 2020. We were both felt like death for a week. It was like the flu but omg so much worse. Right after we got better, covid news started to come out. But my SO never got sick, but he also avoided us like we had the plague.