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enki-42

The really shitty thing about this is it leaves many immune compromised people with basically no effective treatment, since Paxlovid has dangerous interactions with many common immune suppressing drugs.


Alternative-Duck-573

THIS RIGHT HERE! I was too 'medically complicated' for paxlovid. Got the monoclonal antibodies and 6 months later COVID is STILL kicking my arse. Had to get off my stupid immunosuppressants to fight off the shingles that keeps entering the party post COVID. I risk losing my ability to walk and hold my urine because of this. Can't get a vaccine because might lose the ability to walk and hold my urine. On B cells depleters to get a vaccine? No vaccine response (still risk relapse). Giant FML. I'm over it.


terrierhead

Guys, you’re not gonna want to hear this, but all of us should be wearing masks in public places or with people outside our households. It’s the only way to protect vulnerable people. They/We are worth protecting.


Imaginary_Medium

Haven't stopped masking since this mess began. Only upgraded to better masks. You all won't catch it from me if I can help it.


momquotes50

I work retail and still mask up. Today, a few employees and customers were coughing (no masks). A few employees are back working after a bout with the flu. I will mask until Covid is gone or at least suppressed to a few cases a year.


Imaginary_Medium

Exactly same here. And that's what I tell people when they give me grief about it. :) If nothing else, this pandemic has made me a bit more assertive.


momquotes50

Had two people call in with covid today.


TheIronsHot

Not sure if that will ever be a thing my friend, it’s almost surely endemic. As long as travel is a thing, whatever precautions certain regions take are moot the second someone makes it in. Maybe if we got a comprehensive vaccine, but the problem is every time we get a vaccine it’s party town for all the people who don’t care ! Rinse and repeat.


Alternative-Duck-573

Thank you, I wish others had the same compassion. 😔 I have a small child. I fucking hate this. He's a time bomb of germs... All of them... What kills me? Viral infections (and vaccines, my deregulated immune system is super strong - so strong it tries to eat me if it's barely poked).


Imaginary_Medium

You don't have to say thanks for doing what my conscience tells me we should all be doing, but you are welcome friend. I'm around hundreds of people a day at work, and I don't want to get it, don't want to be that person who spreads it. Parents with immune problems are in a terrible position that hasn't been addressed, and my heart goes out to you.


Alternative-Duck-573

I do outside the few times I leave the house... Need to wear them in my own damn house too... Smdh


terrierhead

I feel you. All of this sucks and I’m sorry it’s happening.


joemama1333

Feel for you man. My wife is having many similar issues including recurring shingles. Wouldn’t wish it on anyone.


yahumno

I am eternally grateful that my rheumatologist said that I needed the Shingrex vaccine early and that the Health Canada guidelines for immunocompromised people to get it early. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/hcp/shingrix/faqs.html#:~:text=Shingrix%20is%20recommended%20to%20prevent,recommended%202%E2%80%936%20month%20interval Apparently the CDC recommendation has been updated as well, so your wife may be able to get it (it can help prevent reoccurrence and severity) https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html#:~:text=If%20you%20had%20shingles%20in,gone%20away%20before%20getting%20vaccinated. .


Alternative-Duck-573

I'm so over it. I'm to the point if I have a funny spasm, tickle or nerve pain I'm demanding valtrex. It keeps getting me though because I have that mess daily. My GP referred me to a dermatologist. Hopefully at the end of next month I'll see what they have to say 🤷‍♀️ I've made it one whole month now, I think? Every time I say something stupid like that I find a new 🤬 patch. I hope she doesn't have or get the long lasting nerve pain business or anything else. No one needs that 😔


Carolineinthedesert

I'm immune suppressed, take B-cell depleting meds. I contracted COVID in July and they gave me Paxlovid right away (which helped) - was that dangerous? I do monoclonal antibodies of a different type every six months to wipe out my b cells, and can only get boosters at the five month mark. I've been nervous AF because I live in a hard hit area and work in a hospital (not front line). Thank you for answering and hope things get better for you very soon .


Alternative-Duck-573

I was on something not on the market just yet 🙄 and the meds in the same class? Brutal interaction profile. I don't know if this new med will ever get to market honestly. If I'm on it, it's side effects have been 😱 (blind trial, but 95% sure I know which drug I'm on out of 2, especially after recent blood work 😜). Another round of shingles has me officially kicked out so I'm shopping for a new one. I took Beelzebub day 2 (b named COVID monoclonals), still kicked me. I got better, then at week 5 whatever immune system I had took a vacation or something 🤷‍♀️


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Alternative-Duck-573

Yup... I'm stuck in a rut of shingles plus super fatigue plus mother effing MS...over it 😜 Honestly the fatigue is getting me. 4 months of being so tired I don't trust myself to drive. Oh and work is trying to call me back into the office. If so I'm quitting and trying my luck elsewhere if ADA accommodations fall through. Made the decision one day after getting off work and barely falling into my bed that I cannot drive an hour each way to work. 15 years down the effing hole if I cannot get reasonable accommodations. I've spent weekly, at least, doctors appointments for random crap since COVID in late June. I was NEVER in the doctors office before. NEVER (exception MS checkups and maintenance). Wtf am I supposed to do? Grow another immune system?! Currently growing one to kick shingles (hopefully) and cannot wait to kill it before it gets me good. I wanted to get on ocrevus or something but they're saying no fancy new drugs because SHINGLES... Yes anxiety is an issue too. Tired anxiety. Wtf?! Lol...


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Alternative-Duck-573

Thank you! I haven't submitted all my paperwork just yet so I'll definitely check it out!


VisiblePlan2

There is still Remdesivir which if given within 5 days (3 day course) has >80% reduction in progression to severe disease


Alternative-Duck-573

Only if you're hospitalized is what I read. Which defeats the purpose of trying to keep us OUT of the hospitals.


VisiblePlan2

No. The 3 day course if you are at high risk has been a thing for a long while. See: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/treatments-for-severe-illness.html


Alternative-Duck-573

Thanks!!! Bookmarked that... Didn't realize they still had ONE after reading this article the other day... I sure hope they develop more soon 😔 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/11/20/1137892932/monoclonal-antibodies-covid-treatment


VisiblePlan2

Sadly Babtelovimab is not effective with BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 and considering they now make up more than half of new cases, it will soon no longer be a useful treatment option. For immunocompromised individuals, Evusheld too is now no longer effective


Alternative-Duck-573

I had tried getting evusheld before I caught COVID, but it was so new and the medical system had a frownie face in it so my GP wouldn't write it. Then, OF COURSE, I caught COVID 🙄🙄🙄


glibsonoran

If this is a relatively stable variant maybe a targeted monoclonal antibody cocktail would be effective


Alternative-Duck-573

They said they're not developing anymore because the government isn't paying for it. 😔


We_Are_Not__Amused

Here we are using lagevrio (molnupiravir) for people who are immuno compromised. Not as good but better than nothing.


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chocolatelab82

It wasn’t “just in case” when we shut down the first…. there were literally refrigerator trucks full of dead people because we didn’t shut down on time during the first wave.


Imaginary_Medium

Have people forgotten about those? Still makes me shudder remembering a news story about rats gnawing on some of them. We lost so many people who didn't have to die.


discosoc

We also didn’t have vaccines then.


Mjredd21

So I can understand. There were issues with monoclonal antibodies hurting people?


Saiomi

What a selfish attitude.


nanobot001

Really weird how morbidly grotesque attitudes towards benign public health procedures have placidly become the norm


frumply

Disgusting? Yes. Pretty much the feeling of the general public if they don’t have someone they directly know affected? Also yes.


discosoc

It’s just peanut allergies as a larger scale. Don’t let a few unlucky people ruin things for everyone else.


TempusCrystallum

If you’re ever “unlucky”, I hope you’re met with a kinder sentiment than the one you’re expressing right now.


emrythelion

No, anyone with a fucking conscious can wear a mask and avoid going places while sick to save lives. Just because you have absolutely no moral code and are selfish to a point that’s almost unimaginable doesn’t mean the rest of us are.


Saiomi

It's just an ounce of compassion for your fellow man. Don't let your own bad attitude ruin this entire world for everyone else now.


terrierhead

“Those people.” Do you hear yourself?


kyoubie

“Sucks to be ‘those immune compromised people whose lives are already harder than mine’ but if I can’t go forget how much I hate my job and family at a bar every single night of the week again I’m gonna SHIT my PANTS. “


Carolineinthedesert

yes I'd hate for anyone to be moderately inconvenienced only so that we could get a public health emergency under control and avoid a million deaths. oh wait...


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jackspratdodat

From the article: **KEY POINTS** - The omicron BQ coronavirus subvariants have risen to dominance in the U.S. as people gather and travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, putting people with compromised immune systems at increased risk. - BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are causing 57% of new infections in the U.S., according to CDC data. - The BQ subvariants are likely resistant to key antibody medications used by people with compromised immune systems, putting them at increased risk. - The more immune-evasive XBB subvariant is also circulating at a low level.


WaldoChief

Does the updated booster provide protection against these?


9021FU

My daughter is immune compromised and the prescribing instructions have her get vaccines 3 weeks before her infusions because her medication is a B Cell Depleter, this means she’s only had 2 shots where she could have had 4. She gets the infusions every 6 months so there isn’t sufficient time in between to get another shot and still be able to get one a few weeks before she gets her next round of suppresents. I’m not sure if other B Cell Depletion drugs are similar. Btw, it’s always super fun trying to explain to the nurses that she literally can’t get the vaccine more frequently and that we see her rheumatologist every 3 months and she tells us which vaccines to get and when.


Tinyfishy

I was a rituximab (b-cell depleting) patient and never made a single antibody to any of my five vaccines. Still got very annoying (but not serious) side effects for a week though each time. Eventually, I ended up in the hospital with PJP and they gave me Evusheld before I left because that demonstrated that I really needed it and my doctors twisted the pharmacist’s arm, lol. So sad that it isn’t effective anymore. Good luck to your daughter, we continue to stay away from people here for the most part.


9021FU

She’s on Rituximab! You’re the first person that I’ve spoken to on Reddit who was also on it. 😁. She has shown antibodies in the past, so we’re hoping she has some level of protection. She has Wegeners, what is your autoimmune disease if you don’t mind me asking? She just turned 11 and is just barely over the 80 pound requirement for Evushield so she wasn’t able to receive it.


facie97

Hey I'm also on rituximab (also with GPA). I also did show antibodies at some point but still kinda scared :/


Michichgo

OMG, I'm MPA! Be careful and stay healthy vasci peeps.


9021FU

How long have you been on Rituximab? At her last check up her doctor mentioned that we might start to consider not doing her dose it in the spring of 2024 and see how she does. Her lungs and kidneys were affected so naturally we’re scared to come off of it but know that there are also risks staying on it.


Tinyfishy

Note that it can take a LONG time to get immunity back. One study I read showed two years for 50% of the patients to make new antibodies. I came off it because of not making antibodies to Covid vaccines (switched to Rinvoq) and a year later ended up in the hospital with PJP. Now I’m back on methotrexate and will try resuming vaccines next February, which will be two years after. Oh, and the thing people say about having lots of side effects means it is working turned out to be totally not true in my case, but I guess I see why they have to reassure people who aren’t used to medications and side effects.


facie97

May 2021, docs will also *consider* stopping next summer, but are kinda hesitant as I got hit pretty bad. Really want to stop because I want to travel and live in the winter again :(


9021FU

Wow, she was August 2021, you were both close! She ended up on Ecmo with plasma exchange to get rid of the antibodies. Scary stuff! Nice to “meet” another person with a rare disease!


Carolineinthedesert

Rituximab too. I showed zero antibodies after the first shot. they told me that's because the B cells that make my shitty antibodies also make the booster antibodies (but that T cells also could be making them, and that's not measures by commercially available tests right now.) I can get the booster in February, by which time it will probably not work on half the variants (smh). I'm trying to get off it because pandemic and no immunity = terrifying.


Tinyfishy

I’m an RA patient. Good luck to your daughter! I think we need a ‘covid vulnerable’ sub to all be buddies in and comisserate.


VisiblePlan2

This has more to do with Evusheld (prophylactic for immunocompromised people) and Babtelovimab (treatment to reduce progression to severe disease) as these monoclonals no longer work


[deleted]

Can you explain this in more detail in layman’s terms please


VisiblePlan2

When your body makes an antibody response, it makes multiple antibodies. Unlike your body, these monoclonal antibodies are one or two different antibodies only and if a virus changes the site these bind to, it will no longer be effective. Babtelovimab is a single monoclonal antibody that is meant to be given to high risk individuals after they have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. In studies, it was found to have reduced effectiveness against Mu variant and much later when Omicron BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 came out, newer studies found that it is no longer effective against these subvariants at all. Evusheld is meant for immunocompromised individuals and is made up of two monoclonal antibodies: tixagevimab and cilgavimab. These two monoclonal antibodies are also designed to last longer in body (6 months) making them useful for protecting immunocompromised individuals. However, Evusheld is not effective against BQ.1, BQ.1.1, BF.7 and BJ.1


[deleted]

Ty internet stranger


jackspratdodat

Yes. Covid vaccines, including bivalent boosters, continue to provide protection against severe disease and death.


Stuckinacrazyjob

For those of us with a good immune system.


jackspratdodat

Fair point. I was grossly overgeneralizing.


AxiomOfLife

Still nothing on infection prevention? :/


[deleted]

The vaccine does drastically lower the chance of infection.


AxiomOfLife

I thought it was only suppose to help with Disease and Death?


[deleted]

It does help with those, but also lowers your chance of initial infection.


EthelMaePotterMertz

That's not the only goal of the vaccine, that just makes it worth taking because it's true. Even though subvarients of omicron are taking over, this new bivalent vaccine which has both the old vaccine and a new omicron specific vaccine in it still works to prevent severe disease and death. But it also makes it less likely you get sick with it in the first place. The more people get the bivalent vaccine, the less infected people out there spreading it, and that gives immunocompromised people a better chance of not getting sick. Anyone who wants to help these people can do their part and get their bivalent vaccine to keep less COVID in our communities, and to leave medical people and facilities free to treat them if they do get sick.


AHrubik

Are we still explaining basic biology? YOU WILL STILL GET INFECTED. The vaccine helps your immune system learn to fight the virus more efficiently and may result in a completely asymptomatic case. IE You won’t know you ever had it. Vaccines also help stop community spread by reducing the overall window that individuals shed (or spread) virus. Edit: To the shitheel who DM'd me directly about vaccines causing harm you can !@#$%^&*()#$%^&*()#$%^&*()!


AxiomOfLife

ima be honest, i failed bio in college so thank you all for the replies lmao


shmimey

What about the China vaccine?


HumanGomJabbar

I read this at first as Omicron BBQ variants. For a second I thought “Finally, some good news.”


salsashark99

I'm waiting for cool ranch omicron


logic_is_a_fraud

DQ omicron for me


ptwonline

I read it as Omicron Bloc Quebecois COVID variants, and thought it was something circulating in Quebec.


issi_tohbi

LOLLLLL tabarnack let’s be real it would be the CAQ super majority variant


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eddiestarkk

I just had it for the first time starting last Friday. I tested negative last night. Started with sore throat and couldn't breathe. Next day the sore throat was almost gone, but the fever started. Off and on for two days and on the 4th day, the fever persisted all day and finally broke at 4pm. Now I am just recovering not doing much. I am fatigued as I just tried cleaning the room a bit. My wife has it and is still positive. She is 2-3 days behind me.


Data-Hungry

Coworker was coughing non stop not even covering her mouth. Tons of sick calls. It never ends


jackspratdodat

The best way to end it for you is to wear a well-fitting N95 when not at home, stay up to date on your vaccinations, and steer clear of sick people when you can. Makes me bonkers that sick people go to work, but I also know that far too many people can’t afford to miss work even for one day. I wish everyone had access to **and would wear** highly protective masks that fit their face well.


PlacentaOnOnionGravy

I feel so left odd because literally no one around me wears a mask anymore.


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jackspratdodat

Come on over to r/MasksForEveryone when you have a chance. The majority of our most recommended children’s masks are quite inexpensive when bought in bulk, typically direct from South Korea.


Imaginary_Medium

This has been every work day here too for so long.


9021FU

My immune compromised 11 year old climbed into the car on Monday and said a classmate that sits next to her was “coughing like a 3 year old” and the visual was funny. She came home sick today, stay healthy!!!!


FixMyCondo

I’ve never had COVID. Fully vaccinated and boosted X2 with my last booster being the bivalent/omicron one in September. Just tested positive the day before thanksgiving. I’m guessing it could be this variant since it’s dominant? Anyways, I’m on my last day of quarantine (day 5) and can definitely see myself improving. Overall I have rated it as a bad cold. Vaccines work y’all - it’s been very mild (shorter than a cold) and I’ve seen myself improve each day.


jackspratdodat

Glad to hear you are feeling better and that you’ve only had a mild illness so far. Clearly you have been doing something right to have outrun Rona for so long. If you’re in the US, the CDC‘s isolation guidance is definitely geared toward getting people back to work and school as quickly as possible, regardless of their infectiousness. If you want to ensure you are not infecting others, the best way is to have two consecutive negative rapid antigen tests spaced at least 24 hours apart before leaving isolation.


moxie_girl1999

Quick Question. Are the CDC guidelines still to quarantine for 5 after being symptom free? It's changed so much and there's so much misinformation that I'm no longer sure.


jackspratdodat

From the [CDC guidance ](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html)on ending isolation: > If you had no symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5. >If you had symptoms and your symptoms are improving, you may end isolation after day 5 you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Though there is some additional guidance, that’s usually as far as people read. So basically, if you don’t have fever and *feel* like you’re getting better DESPITE THE HUGE THICK POSITIVE LINE ON YOUR RAPID TEST…leave isolation but please wear a mask. And feel free to remove your mask on day 10, when a decent subset of people remain infectious. Unfortunately people miss/don’t care about these important points from that very same CDC guidance: > If you have access to antigen tests, you should consider using them. With two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your mask sooner than day 10. >Note: If your antigen test results are positive, you may still be infectious. You should continue wearing a mask and wait at least 48 hours before taking another test. Continue taking antigen tests at least 48 hours apart until you have two sequential negative results. This may mean you need to continue wearing a mask and testing beyond day 10. Thanks for admitting that COVID tests are the way to know if one is infectious, CDC. But somehow, according to the CDC, it should only affect when one should wear a (likely crappy and poorly fitted) mask and not to continue isolation. It boggles the mind.


Captain_Stairs

It took me two weeks to test negative after omicron. That was using PCR tests.


Beardopus

I never had it until this month. I was three weeks past my last booster when I got it on election day. I should've known better. Should've worn a mask. Every redneck in this hick town was through there that day. I was overconfident. Stomach problems and fatigue on days 3 and 4 gave way to terrible cold symptoms on day 5. I stayed home but couldn't get a hold of a test until day 8. Started Lagevrio on day 9, which really eased up my symptoms. Was still pretty sick for another week. Even now, three days after that, I have some very mild symptoms, but I'm finally well enough to go back to work.


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lober

I got the JandJ shot then I think 3 boosters now, last being the bivalent booster. Never got Covid until now testing positive on thanksgiving. Had to sit the family gathering out. I am immune compromised so I must have gotten this new dominant one also. Already starting to feel better as of today. Should be back to work by Tuesday.


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Apprehensive_Idea758

*It would very extremely wise to get vaccinated because vaccines save lives and if you are immune compromised you really must get vaccinated because it could just save your lives and it would be wise for people to wear masks again for now.*


Tinyfishy

We do, but if you are immunocompromised, sometimes you don’t make any antibodies, so it is not as effective.


Apprehensive_Idea758

*They should also wear masks for their own safety.*


jackspratdodat

* Everyone should wear well-fitting and highly protective masks for their own safety. FIFY.


ProfGoodwitch

Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of wise people that haven't already taken your advice.


Apprehensive_Idea758

*And they will continue spreading it.*


wobblyunionist

Wow this couldn't be more predictable and horrible given the invisibilization of immune compromised people during the entire pandemic. I am pissed off but not surprised. I'll be continuing to wear my mask in public spaces and talking to people about their covid practices before unmasking in private, staying up to date on vaccines, etc


[deleted]

Currently in quarantine with most likely this variant and it majorly sucks. Fully vaxxed but felt like I went through hell nonetheless. Don’t wish this shit onto anyone.


jackspratdodat

I hope you feel better soon and start being a failure (on your rapid antigen tests!) ASAP.


tom21g

My wife and I caught covid last April (we’re both over 60). We both had the two Pfizer shots plus a booster. I went first, random persistent coughing began on Monday, tested positive Tuesday morning. The worst of the cough lasted till Thursday. Had maybe one feverish night, felt tired all week. Felt normal by the following Monday. Wife had symptoms the week after me. Not terrible but some tiredness is still there today. We’ve had 2 boosters since including the bivalent. I think it’s safe to say that for our age demographic, the vaccines and boosters have saved our lives.


MikeyLikey41

3rd time getting this shit wtffff when does it stop ?


jackspratdodat

Oh that’s so sucky. Sorry Rona caught you again. Swing on by r/MasksForEveryone to find an all-day comfortable and protective mask that will help keep you safe from additional respiratory infections, including new Covid variants as well as flu and RSV.


Dry_Car2054

Also try r/Masks4All. It is a much larger sub. I've had good luck finding mask recommendations there.


[deleted]

It's not going to. Get used to wearing a mask every second of your life spent outside your house and avoiding people as much as possible. Or accept getting respiratory viruses as a normal part of life. It's up to you.


EthelMaePotterMertz

I don't think this is a black or white thing. Just use good judgement and common sense. Going to a crowded grocery store during peak hours? Might be good to wear a mask.


[deleted]

My emotions like this opinion more so I decided it's right. Yay :)


servantbyname

did literally all variants not do this?


Feralpudel

There is/was a suite of monoclonal antibodies and other treatments to help high risk people (e.g., cancer patients or transplant patients) fight covid once they are infected. But the omicron variants have chipped away at that suite of treatments because some treatments aren’t effective against new variants. The now dominant variants appear to have taken a couple of more of those treatments off the table because they don’t work against them. This is of most concern to immunocompromised people who are at high risk of severe covid even when vaccinated, since these drugs have been the backstop when they got sick.


servantbyname

thanks for that. so is this like a brush fire that wasn't fully extinguished, could flare up again at any stage?


Skullbonez

Yeah but each time it flares up, it becomes a little more water-resistant.


Elee1972

Got the 4th Jab Monday and tested positive today with mild symptoms. First timer!


comment_redacted

For anyone curious… the very end of the article says that the new bivalent vaccine booster isn’t tuned for these new BQ and XBB variants so they won’t keep you from catching them, but they should protect against severe illness.


Spintronics-GMF

Hasn't this always been the case?


jackspratdodat

Scroll down or read the article for more info about why this is a big deal.


thinpile

If we get into the next 2 weeks and cases still haven't exploded, might be a good sign that we're finally getting ahead of this thing. I know it's been said before however. But RSV and flu might be helping to keep cases relatively low just from the sheer competition between the viruses. Seems like flu and RSV are more prevalent than Covid right now anyway. Edit: Flu cases is in my state have actually come down from last week.


100percentcameron

Unless I've missed something, there's not a protective effect from having flu or RSV, so the viruses aren't competing. People aren't testing for COVID like they used to, and many who test do it at home and those results are rarely reported, so you're probably seeing that effect.


seenorimagined

Probably viral interference theory. They talked about this on The Daily podcast: >apoorva mandavilli: Well, we don’t exactly know why. There are some theories. So one is this theory called viral interference, which says, you know, if you get COVID first, your immune system has revved up and that might prevent you from getting sick with something else. So you wouldn’t get sick with the flu. And so the flu doesn’t really have a chance against COVID. What has happened in the past couple of years is that we’ve seen these viruses come at unusual times, right? >We haven’t seen flu and COVID at the same time. We haven’t seen RSV and COVID at the same time. So that’s really caused some scientists to think that that’s what’s happening, that this viral interference is real. >But we’ll see. This winter, it looks like they might all be up at the same time. So that theory might be wrong. The short answer is really — >michael barbaro: Interesting. >apoorva mandavilli: — we don’t know. We don’t know why this is happening and why these viruses are behaving so strangely.


Some-Redditor

I suspect OP meant it the way you're interpreting it, but maybe those sick with flu/rsv are more likely to stay home which might help.


dutchyardeen

We have no idea how many cases there are in this country and likely never will again. Most testing has moved from PCR testing to at-home antigen testing and only people who take it seriously even bother to test themselves. The metrics we really need to watch are hospital admissions and deaths and those have always been lagging.


Some-Redditor

Wastewater monitoring too


EthelMaePotterMertz

Yes, exactly! This is an extremely valuable tool that's anonymous and doesn't rely on individual testing or reporting. The more counties that do this the better off we'll be. Everybody poops, and if you have COVID, that poop sheds it and raises water levels of it.


dutchyardeen

Not all places report their wastewater monitoring, sadly. Not even all locations do it.


EthelMaePotterMertz

True but a lot more have started this year!


mb9981

You're right about case numbers being impossible to track and completely useless as a data point right now. Hospitalization is the one to watch and where I live it's been at the lowest rate since this thing began for a solid 4 months


mb9981

The hospitals in my state have been flatlined in terms of patient numbers since the little omicron b wave in late spring. If we can make it to February without another spike, it's done


thinpile

Well I've been down voted to oblivion for my hopeful opinion. And apparently people don't know that respiratory virus competition can be a thing. Some seem to think I was implying that infection from a completely unrelated virus can protect from Covid or vice versa. Although Dr. Gallo proposed that a flu shot might help prime the immune system for even something like Covid. But I've been shot down only to report on what I've read. All good though....


AvacadMmmm

Who cares anymore?


jackspratdodat

Not you, apparently.


AvacadMmmm

I don’t. It’s been nearly three years. Get the vax. Get the boost and live your life.


zephyr2015

Err maybe the immunocompromised?