Article: Not enough data to support multiple annual COVID boosters, U.S. CDC advisers say

I guess I’m one of the very few who hasn’t taken any boosters. Every six months I’m given evusheld . I think that is how it’s spelled. Monoclonal antibodies. Had covid two months ago. Mild case. I had every injection otherwise.
Faith

Hi, all. Keith, you note "I’ve seen news reports that we’re much more susceptible to colds, flues, and other viruses because of the social distancing and masking for a few years. Our immune systems lost some of their knowledge and abilities." I just wanted to chime in and say that the debate over increased and worse illnesses is pretty hotly debated (and politicized), and I'm not interested in those fights. BUT there's increasing research to suggest that the phenomenon we're seeing of more / worse / longer illnesses recently isn't so much because of isolation as it is because COVID itself causes immune system dysregulation. (Part of what's convincing on this side of the argument, in addition to the medical studies, is the fact that there have been worse strep / influenza / RSV / stomach bug waves in regions and nations that did NOT have lockdowns or isolations, not just in places where people isolated.)

Evidently, the immune system isn't like a muscle that we exercise. I didn't know this before. (Here's a popular press article: https://www.salon.com/2022/12/04/does-your-immune-system-need-a-workout-the-science-behind-immunity-debt-explained/)

I'm less concerned about the acute phase of covid now and more worried about post-covid problems: not just immune system troubles but all the vascular effects (also fully supported by research) and long covid risk. I've known too many people who've had neurological, cardiovascular, chronic fatigue, and other problems after covid. And it's disproportionately women. I saw a study last week that folks who've recovered from covid have a 40% higher chance of developing a new autoimmune disease, too.

The question I keep wondering about is WHY aren't more of us hearing more of this information about the actual risks? Here's an article just posted today about why the news might not be doing a great job of covering the full picture: https://morganstephens.substack.com/p/news-colleagues-were-failing

I think there's a way to be critical of what's going on without falling into conspiracy thinking. I always try to walk that line.

Just thought I'd share, because this forum is such a helpful place for keeping each other informed so we can make good choices.

I haven't had covid....as far as I'm aware.... just lots of colds... (and yes I test myself daily when I'm symptomatic). I did not catch a single cold or other respiratory infection (or experience symptoms thereof) for 3 years. I isolated myself carefully (some would say neurotically) when covid was more dangerous than the current mutation. As soon as I started to mix with people again, I started getting sick again.

I had 6 covid vaccines, including mixed vaccines (astrazenica -pfizer) at the beginning. I feel that may have played a role in having avoided covid thus far.

Post Edited (poopydoop) : 3/6/2023 11:08:37 AM (GMT-8)

poopydoop said...
I haven't had covid....as far as I'm aware.... just lots of colds... (and yes I test myself daily when I'm symptomatic). I did not catch a single cold or other respiratory infection (or experience symptoms thereof) for 3 years. I isolated myself carefully (some would say neurotically) when covid was more dangerous than the current mutation. As soon as I started to mix with people again, I started getting sick again.

I had 6 covid vaccines, including mixed vaccines (astrazenica -pfizer) at the beginning. I feel that may have played a role in having avoided covid thus far.

I test when I have symptoms, I never had Covid until last month…. That I know of.

Back in November I got the flu or something, and it’s probably the sickest that I’ve ever been as an adult (not counting UC). It was brutal.

Flu rates were very low when people were practicing more masking and social distancing.