As we approach end of 2024 — COVID-19 💉🦠😷🏥

[countessalmirena]

For most people, COVID is not a current issue on their minds. COVID belongs to 2020 - 2022… but it’s still an ongoing problem that lies underneath the everyday.

If you’re under 75 and not immunocompromised, you are able to be vaccinated once every 12 months. (I consider this ridiculous. Six months after vaccination, protection has dropped to practically nil.)

If you’re 75 or over, or are immunocompromised, you can continue to receive a vaccination every six months.

Current COVID situation

COVID is on the rise again - particularly in Victoria. 

❝Health experts say waning immunity from previous vaccinations and the adaptation of COVID-19 variants are reasons COVID-19 cases are again rising.

"It's just reaching that tipping point where there's enough susceptible people in the population and enough pressure from the virus to start to see numbers go up again," Dr Looker said.

"And each new variant is slightly better at escaping previous immunities than the older subvariants."❞

New vaccine

The latest vaccine - approved to be available from 9th December - protects against at the dominant variant of the virus. If you’re eligible for your next booster, this is the one to get. Read more about it on The Conversation.

Stay safe.

[springyzone]

I don't think covid is going to go away.

It is with us, just as flu is.

Some types are going to be worse than others. Weare just lucky that the variant at the moment is reasonably mild for most people.

[domino-710]

DD brought Covid home for the first time - about a month ago - after having to spend - now - 50% back in the office.

Seems the younger who have now had Covid a number of times - don't bother to stay home if unwell - nor do they bother to even test anymore.

It doesn't enter their head - it may be passed on to someone compromised.

It must have been the 200 odd disposable gloves worn - and chucking her the occasional packet of Tim Tams - neither the other two in the home got it.

Covid is going nowhere - it's here to stay.

[springyzone]

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@domino-710 wrote:

DD brought Covid home for the first time - about a month ago - after having to spend - now - 50% back in the office.

Seems the younger who have now had Covid a number of times - don't bother to stay home if unwell - nor do they bother to even test anymore.

It doesn't enter their head - it may be passed on to someone compromised.

Covid is going nowhere - it's here to stay.

---

Do you remember back in the pre covid days, there used to be an ad on TV with a jingle, soldier on, with codral, soldier on etc

The expectation was that if you had a cold or flu it was your duty to relieve symptoms and head off into work.

The one good thing that covid did was to turn that on its head and introduce the concept that yes, if you are sick, you could pass that on to others. Stay away.

But that lesson seems to be fading into the distance with some young ones. Memories are short.

[not_for_sale2025]

It's not just the young ones who have forgotten lessons learned from the past. I haven't stopped wearing a mask in the community since 2020 and still clean my hands with antibacterial gel before getting in the car after every grocery shopping outing. I'm not just trying to protect myself and others from Covid 19, I am also trying to protect against the flu and RSV. Yet so few people seem to be doing these things now.  While I think I am being sensible, I am grateful that people might be steering clear of me because they think I might be infected. Given the complacency at the moment , keeping one's distance is actually helpful.