Coronavirus

[G. Keenan]

No. That makes sense. That said, when you had COVID, it was only detected through testing, right? Or did you get a later symptomatic case? It’s possible an asymptomatic case could be a very low level exposure that didn’t generate a big immune response. And you don’t actually know what exact variant you got or what the exact cross immunity is to whatever is currently circulating, though in general symptomatic cross immunity among the various omicron flavors is good and of course strongest with recent exposure.

In any case, I wouldn’t stress too much about these kinds of predictions. No matter what you or anyone else does, you’re going to be exposed to COVID multiple times over your lifetime. With vaccination and/or prior exposure, the risk of severe disease is a very low/normal risk like all those associated with being alive, though you may or may not have some level of cold/flu type symptoms depending on a variety of somewhat unpredictable factors. Fighting off exposures to different versions of bugs that it’s seen before is what your immune system has been doing for your entire life mostly without your notice and is what it is best at.

I detected it with an antigen self-test (multiple) but had mild cold-like symptoms which are what prompted me to take it: runny nose, scratchy throat, some congestion. Never ran a fever though. So I'd say there was some degree of immune response.

My thinking is exactly as you describe. Repeated exposures are inevitable, even when masking, so why not allow my system to "see" the virus while the memory of it is relatively fresh vs. try to avoid exposure through masking when there isn't much reason to fear severe illness? I'd rather breath in BA5 on the bus now just 3 months post infection than in the fall when 6 or 7 months will have passed since the last peak of my antibodies.

Got exposed big time yesterday, I've just learned this morning. My office coworker who I was sitting near/talking to all day yesterday tested positive this morning, so this will be a test.

[cardinalkarp]

Read the whole thread, but:

In general, as the harms caused by COVID have drastically dropped with widespread immunity, most people have moved on, and the percentage of online discussants still highly engaged on the topic has become much more concentrated by those with deranged over the top views of the risks. Some truly wild nonsense like everyone will be infected every few weeks until your body dissolves being passed around right now. Would be best to ignore but also sad to see the unnecessary anxiety and harmful responses still being generated.

Just noticed this post, but it’s just hilarious now that if someone is still concerned w/ the implications of COVID and the potential risks of getting it over and over again, they are now crazy people.

[Arthur Dent]

Much like Howard Hughes, yes. Infectious disease is part of life and with population immunity and effective medical tools, COVID has largely become like those other facts of life bugs for most people, and extreme measures to avoid exposure are no longer sensible.

As you are unvaccinated with no prior infection, you are part of the small minority where higher fear is rational, but also avoiding eventual exposure is mission impossible, so do with that what you will.

[cardinalkarp]

Much like Howard Hughes, yes. Infectious disease is part of life and with population immunity and effective medical tools, COVID has largely become like those other facts of life bugs for most people, and extreme measures to avoid exposure are no longer sensible.

As you are unvaccinated with no prior infection, you are part of the small minority where higher fear is rational, but also avoiding eventual exposure is mission impossible, so do with that what you will.

I would say what we know about the disease right now is still in its infancy. Whether you choose to believe this is a naturally occurring virus or something that was lab created (I believe the latter), we have no idea what severe implications this can cause down the road. And IF it is lab created there is really no way to know what has been done to it, or the damage it can cause.

I by no means Howard Hughes myself off from the world. I will go out occasionally when needed, and in doing so I get in and out of where I need to be pretty quickly. I do my best to remain outdoors for most things (and avoid large crowds, which honestly I’m fine w/ anyway). I guess if that’s considered “extreme”, so be it.

Yes, avoiding exposure forever is “mission impossible” as you put it….but again, this disease is so new no one knows what multiple infections is doing to the body long term (there has been suggestions that it can cause organ damage and compounding infection after infection would seem to only worsen that potential), so to just be of the mindset of continually exposing yourself as if it’s no big deal is very foolish imo.

[cardinalkarp]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/05/health/ ... index.html

[Arthur Dent]

COVID is not hugely different from already existing respiratory viruses including other endemic human infecting coronaviruses. The long term consequences from respiratory viruses are pretty well known and can certainly be significant in the case of a severe infection. Fortunately, the chance of severe infection is now comparable to ordinary flu with vaccination and available treatments.

The lab leak stuff is important but irrelevant here. Whatever its origins, its nature is now not driven by engineering but by ongoing natural viral evolution just like every other virus.

[cardinalkarp]

Well, we can agree to disagree there.

I don’t have any problems w/ people doing whatever they feel is right for them.

[Arthur Dent]

@cardinalkarp, I don’t know whether it would be of any interest to you, but it looks like there will soon be a more traditional (not mRNA) COVID vaccine available in the US soon: Novavax. Something to consider if you’re open to it.

[cardinalkarp]

Yeah, definitely fully aware of Novavax. Glad to see there is more of your “traditional” vaccine soon to be available (at least I think it just got an EUA).

If it ever comes to a point where I’m forced to get a COVID vaccine that would be what I would look at, but it’s definitely not going to persuade me to run out and get anything.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Anecdotally, I've long since stopped caring/keeping up with all the latest and greatest about covid. Don't necessarily go out and lick doorknobs, but also don't really care if exposed.

There aren't many questions left to be answered from a treatment or pathophysiological (?) standpoint from what I remember.

The only questions I still have are:
1. Is this little [expletive] face going to cause widespread infection every 6 months or so perpetually as it has for the past couple years?
2. Where did this thing come from and how can we both better prevent and be better prepared for something similar in the future?

Also, I did hear Eric Topol say that nasal spray vaccines are needed, playing whack a mole with vaccines against specific variants is destined to fail as it mutates too quickly (paraphrasing). And, a nasal spray vaccine that is all encompassing and prevents infection instead of limits symptoms shoujld be developed. He also said there is no push to get this done (I think).