So much for herd immunity then.

[2boysand1princess]

I now know 12 people personally who have got covid (most likely omricon) again!
Most have caught it after a year or more, but some have caught it within a few months! I’m really shocked at how this new variant is invading any natural immunity.
Scary to think that perhaps in another 6 months time there may be a another new variant that repeats this cycle all over again.
Anyone else feel just totally defeated and feel like no matter what we do (vaccines etc) this is going to be the way of life now?

@Tippexy yes. Initial research shows it to be a powerful variant but after a few months is shown to be barely effective or noticeable.

That's nonsense. The flu can present mildly, not requiring bed rest

You would've thought after a couple of years of education on a respiratory illness that is both very deadly and extremely mild, people would've realised it's the same with other respiratory infections. A respiratory illness which is only extremely severe doesn't do very well, everyone's in bed not spreading it around.

www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/influenza/seasonal-influenza/burden-of-influenza

During the winter months, seasonal influenza can infect up to 20% of the population, depending on which viruses are circulating, and can cause substantial mortality

Aside from vaccines I think we should also hope for a widely available over the counter drug that can stop the worst of the disease in it's tracks. That would be a game changer on a par with vaccines.

@ArblemarzipanTFruitcake

Omicron is less severe, plus whatever variant you've had, you'll retain some residual immunity - your system won't be blindsided by a totally alien virus - so if you get a future variant it's more likely to present as a cold or at worst, flu.

Unless you are left with any lingering issues from your previous infection. In that case, you'd be termed as having a "pre-existing condition" and told to stay home.

@sirfredfredgeorge

Did you quote the wrong person? I said flu can present mildly. What's that got to do with your follow up comments?

I was agreeing with you @kittensinthekitchen and providing some more evidence from The WHO, sorry if it looked like I wasn't agreeing with you!

What a silly statement! We have had a national vaccination programme against flu for years, to try and protect the vulnerable.

Yes we do, but we don't get daily updates about how many people have died from the flu, or have it plastered all over the news about the latest flu variant.

@Bouncer500

It's very mild. Move on.

Well, it was really worth you posting that.

Read the post before yours and at least try to understand that it's not mild for many.

Repeated infections and the potential long term damage to health is the elephant in the room right now. People rightly want it to be "over" but if herd immunity is out, it will continue to infect and mutate over and over again. Hopefully to be nothing but a "sniffle" but there are no guarantees. And even in its current form, it will continue to be a real threat to the elderly and CEV, but again, it seems most people don't want to have that conversation either.

But this is exactly the same with flu, and flu can be very dangerous for under 5s - which COVID doesn't seem to be - as well as the elderly and CEV. A bad flu season can see around 10-25,000 deaths to flu and of course all the secondary infections.

Things like CFS and ME are probably responses to exposure to viruses and finally the UK has proper clinics for people who need treatment for these conditions.

Maybe not immunity but resilience as we have with the cold; which when invaders introduced into remote groups of people had a devastating impact.

Unless you are left with any lingering issues from your previous infection. In that case, you'd be termed as having a "pre-existing condition" and told to stay home.

Yes, that's true - but viruses have always had the potential to leave people with long-term, sometimes chronic illness. Unfortunately that's not unique to Covid19.

I agree with those who predict Covid19 will eventually be seen and managed in the same way as flu, with annual vaccinations incorporating the latest strains; and the mortality/long-term-illness impacts will eventually be similar to flu.

I've had it multiple times. The wuhan strain at the start was the worst and left me with long covid. I've had the Kent, delta and omicron just before Xmas. Each in turn milder. The latest was slightly worse than felt rough for a few days, body aches the worst. Kent strain I didn't know I had, the cat was ill which was my only clue. I think the more people get it over and over the less of a threat it will be.

[quote Bobholll]@Diddytv - the loss of taste & smell is not something in your brain. Covid doesn’t invade your brain. Early on they were concerned it might be the case but studies have shown otherwise. I’ve attached a pretty decent explanation. Essentially covid infects sensory support cells in your nose. Taste is intrinsically linked to your sense of smell.[/quote]
I’ve had Covid twice. The first time (Christmas 2020) I had a severe migraine for almost a month, horrible dizziness and at its worst I could hardly string a sentence together and was spaced out as the brain fog was so bad.

My sense of taste altered so that all food tasted and smelled like nail varnish remover. This was followed by 6 months of brain fog that was so bad I could barely do my job.

Covid definitely affected my brain!

I was terrified of catching it again but 2nd time around thanks to being triple jabbed and probably because I caught Omicron, it was fairly mild. Still had a horrible headache though.

The long-term affects of numerous infections does worry me.

I think most people realise that daily reporting isnt going to continue forever, but I do feel the data is still important for now and that scientists and governments still need to be watching the data carefully.

Hopefully, this will ease up in due course but for now there are still concern especially with hospitalisations and the situation in hospital is dire

Covid definitely affected my brain!

I would add that it affected your brain as a by-product of infection, not directly. Brain 'fog' is a symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency and I believe it's possible your body's immune battle with Covid likely dropped your levels so that you became deficient. Couple that with other nutrients that probably plummeted as well. This is what I believe causes Long Covid (or indeed any post-viral illness) - depletion of essential nutrients.

I think the reason Covid is causing such issues is that we are, rightly, trying to stop those who are CEV from not getting it.

If, hypothetically, nobody was CEV, we'd have dropped the testing and isolation by now... and it's that which is causing the staff absences and cancelled bookings which are causing so many issues in the main, not the actual illness itself now we have both vaccines and a milder omicron variant.

The focus of our efforts moving forwards needs to be with those who are CEV, specifically those who are immuno-compromised and for whom the vaccine doesn't really significantly reduce the risk. In my opinion those who remain at high risk despite vaccines need to be identified and measures put in place to support them so their risk exposure is minimised.

Trying to reduce the infection risk to the whole of society to a risk that's acceptable to those who are most at risk is probably unrealistic, and any attempts will result in permanent severe restrictions that are unsustainable and they will ultimately just get abandoned as unworkable with the CEV remaining exposed... goodwill lost and the economy further damaged.

I'm thinking of things like free provision of top quality masks, support to be in employment in safer environments (ie home-based rather than a nightclub!), special times for shopping, sealed areas in cinemas/theatres etc. This will protect them against flu and other nasty bugs too...

Also, a realistic assessment of risk is needed the more we learn about the virus... Many CV/CEV have had Covid with barely any ill effects, and in hindsight had been scared and isolating unnecessarily.

@CrunchyCarrot

Covid definitely affected my brain!

I would add that it affected your brain as a by-product of infection, not directly. Brain 'fog' is a symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency and I believe it's possible your body's immune battle with Covid likely dropped your levels so that you became deficient. Couple that with other nutrients that probably plummeted as well. This is what I believe causes Long Covid (or indeed any post-viral illness) - depletion of essential nutrients.

I take a lot of supplements and eat a very healthy balanced diet. I also had my iron, Vit D, B12, thyroid and hormone levels checked so it’s not that.

@sirfredfredgeorge

I was agreeing with you *@kittensinthekitchen* and providing some more evidence from The WHO, sorry if it looked like I wasn't agreeing with you!

Ah sorry, my mistake. Was very confused 🤣

@treeflowercat

I think the reason Covid is causing such issues is that we are, rightly, trying to stop those who are CEV from not getting it.

If, hypothetically, nobody was CEV, we'd have dropped the testing and isolation by now... and it's that which is causing the staff absences and cancelled bookings which are causing so many issues in the main, not the actual illness itself now we have both vaccines and a milder omicron variant.

The focus of our efforts moving forwards needs to be with those who are CEV, specifically those who are immuno-compromised and for whom the vaccine doesn't really significantly reduce the risk. In my opinion those who remain at high risk despite vaccines need to be identified and measures put in place to support them so their risk exposure is minimised.

Trying to reduce the infection risk to the whole of society to a risk that's acceptable to those who are most at risk is probably unrealistic, and any attempts will result in permanent severe restrictions that are unsustainable and they will ultimately just get abandoned as unworkable with the CEV remaining exposed... goodwill lost and the economy further damaged.

I'm thinking of things like free provision of top quality masks, support to be in employment in safer environments (ie home-based rather than a nightclub!), special times for shopping, sealed areas in cinemas/theatres etc. This will protect them against flu and other nasty bugs too...

Also, a realistic assessment of risk is needed the more we learn about the virus... Many CV/CEV have had Covid with barely any ill effects, and in hindsight had been scared and isolating unnecessarily.

The biggest risk factor is age though.

I take a lot of supplements and eat a very healthy balanced diet. I also had my iron, Vit D, B12, thyroid and hormone levels checked so it’s not that.

I wouldn't be so quick to be certain of that. Are you aware that 'normal' lab ranges are often far too low (and that included thyroid, of which I am only too well acquainted)? Are you aware that B12 blood test results can be very misleading and inaccurate? I have seen so many people claiming they have 'normal' values (this includes myself before I was aware) only to find out they are far from optimal levels.

I suggest you read through this article documenting one woman's recovery from Long Covid and the info re vits/minerals - it's quite an eye-opener.

www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/long-covid-patient-in-cambridge-tells-how-simple-treatment-t-9203620/

Things like CFS and ME are probably responses to exposure to viruses and finally the UK has proper clinics for people who need treatment for these conditions.

@Darhon

Parts of the UK have treatment for these conditions

@herecomesthsun

Is age still the biggest risk factor? I would have thought it might be vaccination status as the biggest risk now? Or health condition?

Apparently HbA1c being raised is a big risk factor. So longer-term blood sugar value - indication pre-diabetes or untreated diabetes.

A quick trawl of meta analyses (up to October 2021) on risk factors for poor outcome in covid still suggests that age is the biggest risk factor (ie over 60).

You're quite right though that vaccination status and comorbid conditions are also very significant considerations.

And it is an interesting point that our understanding of risk factors could change with time and with different interventions that are reduced.

Another important factor is high exposure of course, which is why healthcare staff were a priority for vaccines and boosters.

I’m optimistic on here immunity & like many, think CV will fade into the background.

I do hope though that the plastic screens in supermarkets & similar & the cabins outside pubs stay put. Don’t expect people say outside in January but nonetheless the screens & cabins are a fantastic public health development as far as I’m concerned. I’ve not had a Cold since Covid started. Flu is massively down. Win win as the firms benefit from less staff absence also.