Covid Dec 2022 ..mass china outbreak!?

[openspaceman]

Meanwhile over here, the COVID-booster programme has also seen a rather low rate of uptake.

Get vaccinated people.

I decided, this time, not to take the booster.

I declined the booster as I developed a blood clot last year despite being only slightly high in cholesterol and no history of thick blood.

I tested positive LFT this evening after developing a cold over the last three days. I am quite pleased really as so far this, my first covid, is less of a problem than the jabs.

[Mr Gus]

This is day one then, Dec 27 & 28 is your lateral flow re-tests, has the house got it or just you?

Isolation time, maybe the calmest xmas for you in a while, ..dare I say, "enjoy it" (if symptoms stay mild & low in your system)

[Countrypaul]

In Dec 2020 my wife developed symptoms on the 21st and got steadily worse, I was a day behind her. She ordered a test kit and I duly posted it, but due to the various delays, such as not arriving until 4pm next day, not posting it Christmas eve or Christmas day she didn't get confirmation until the 27th, but hadn't got out of bed on the 26th and stayed in bed unti New years day. She found out later that had she spoken to the Dr her O2 level was that low she would have been straight into hospital. I wasn't quite so bad, and out youngest (8yo at the time who had brought it from school) seemed to have a slight cold for one day and that was it. It was a bad experience, and I am not sure I have fully recovered yet.

Hopefully if you have had a least one jab, you should not suffer that badly.

I had the booster a couple of months back other than having a slightly bruised arm no problem, but my wife did end up in bed for two days.

[openspaceman]

This is day one then, Dec 27 & 28 is your lateral flow re-tests, has the house got it or just you?

Isolation time, maybe the calmest xmas for you in a while, ..dare I say, "enjoy it" (if symptoms stay mild & low in your system)

Day 6 I would have thought, having avoided it so far I am kicking myself for attending a xmas dinner on 14th, first symptoms on 16th and only tested because my daughter 50 miles away had it, I assumed just a cold.

Wife positive today which was worrying as she has some health issues.

It was going to be a quiet period anyway but now granddaughter must keep away she will have to sort out Xmas dinner instead of being with us.

I am pleased that it is no worse than a cold and will have boosted immunity for a while without needing further jabs.

I may be forced to walk up and downstairs a few times as I cannot go for a dog walk or cycle.

I will have to get some tests as wife used the last.

I won't miss not seeing anyone till new year

[nowty]

Was recently in a zero internet zone for 3 days due to travelling. When radio silence was over both my daughters household and my mother in law’s household, each in a different continent was rife with covid.

Most are fully vaccinated but one of my brother in law’s in the overseas household is an anti vaxer and in his late fifties.

[Oldgreybeard]

To some extent, anti-vaxxers will benefit from the reduction in the number of infectious people, and the reduced infectivity or those that are infected, within the population, as a consequence of most having some degree of immunity by now. The vaccinated and those that have been ill and recovered, will most probably not be as infectious, or for so long a period, if they get infected again. In the early days I read an estimate that the average period when someone with no immunity remained infectious (i.e. was likely to infect others by actively excreting large numbers of virions in their breath) was around 5 to 6 days.

Those with degree of immunity may well only be infectious to others for a day or two, as their immune system will have acted quickly to shut down viral reproduction soon after they are infected. So someone with no acquired immunity, either from vaccination or previous infection, and who isn't one of the lucky few that seem to have innate immunity to this disease, is probably less likely to encounter someone infectious enough to be able to infect them.

Unfortunately, this numbers game is one of the justifications anti-vaxxers use when arguing against the benefit of vaccination.

I remember having to go to a chicken pox party when I was a small boy. Apparently, as soon as there was a case locally all the mums got together to arrange parties so we'd all get infected and "get it over with". I think the view was that it was better to get it when you were young, as this provided some acquired immunity if you were infected again later in life. I suppose this was just another early form of vaccination, but I don't remember anyone objecting to it.

[AE-NMidlands]

I remember having to go to a chicken pox party when I was a small boy. Apparently, as soon as there was a case locally all the mums got together to arrange parties so we'd all get infected and "get it over with". I think the view was that it was better to get it when you were young, as this provided some acquired immunity if you were infected again later in life. I suppose this was just another early form of vaccination, but I don't remember anyone objecting to it.

I suspect there is some justification in that... except that when you have had chicken pox it goes to ground in your spinal nerves. No problem until in older age you get run down or stressed when it re-surfaces as shingles, a really nasty complaint. Apparently there is a vaccine against shingles now - that a friend paid to have after repeated bouts as the doctor didn't think she needed it, or the NHS said she wasn't old enough to be given it automatically! You wonder how doctors come to these decisions...

[Bugtownboy]

I suppose there has to be some sort of restriction on a cost : benefit type approach -

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinati ... ccination/

At least if you develop shingles and can be seen by your GP quickly, ant-virals (Aciclovir I think) can be very effective in limiting its impact.

[Oldgreybeard]

I remember having to go to a chicken pox party when I was a small boy. Apparently, as soon as there was a case locally all the mums got together to arrange parties so we'd all get infected and "get it over with". I think the view was that it was better to get it when you were young, as this provided some acquired immunity if you were infected again later in life. I suppose this was just another early form of vaccination, but I don't remember anyone objecting to it.

I suspect there is some justification in that... except that when you have had chicken pox it goes to ground in your spinal nerves. No problem until in older age you get run down or stressed when it re-surfaces as shingles, a really nasty complaint. Apparently there is a vaccine against shingles now - that a friend paid to have after repeated bouts as the doctor didn't think she needed it, or the NHS said she wasn't old enough to be given it automatically! You wonder how doctors come to these decisions...

By coincidence. I was offered (and accepted) the shingles vaccine when I went to see the practice nurse for a routine blood test a few weeks ago. They are offering it to everyone over 70 now (at least that was what I was told).

[AE-NMidlands]

I remember having to go to a chicken pox party when I was a small boy. Apparently, as soon as there was a case locally all the mums got together to arrange parties so we'd all get infected and "get it over with". I think the view was that it was better to get it when you were young, as this provided some acquired immunity if you were infected again later in life. I suppose this was just another early form of vaccination, but I don't remember anyone objecting to it.

I suspect there is some justification in that... except that when you have had chicken pox it goes to ground in your spinal nerves. No problem until in older age you get run down or stressed when it re-surfaces as shingles, a really nasty complaint. Apparently there is a vaccine against shingles now - that a friend paid to have after repeated bouts as the doctor didn't think she needed it, or the NHS said she wasn't old enough to be given it automatically! You wonder how doctors come to these decisions...

By coincidence. I was offered (and accepted) the shingles vaccine when I went to see the practice nurse for a routine blood test a few weeks ago. They are offering it to everyone over 70 now (at least that was what I was told).

That's all well and good, but the point that I was making was that it seems silly to deny the vaccine to a 65-year old (who has suffered with it repeatedly) just because she hadn't reached 70. I bet antivirals (or just doctors appointments and soothing creams) would have cost a lot more than a jab - and would have prevented her suffering as well. She has been OK since paying for it herself...