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Natural immunity is like your first layer of sunscreen — it helps protect you for a time. But it’s a long summer, and repeat infections increase your risk of Long COVID.
Find free updated COVID vaccines at https://t.co/jDq2UIHFmT. #WeCanDoThis pic.twitter.com/YvLcAuvacf
— HHS.gov (@HHSGov) June 21, 2023
… We also expect that vaccine manufacturers planning to offer updated COVID-19 vaccines are preparing an ample supply of doses for the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccination campaign that is sufficient to support wide and timely access to the vaccine. Further, we expect that vaccine manufacturers will remain ready to support potential surges in demand and evolving circumstances of COVID-19. Manufacturers are advised that they should plan the updated COVID-19 vaccine supply and regulatory submissions so that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can take regulatory action and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can make recommendations on vaccination by the latter part of September...
This whole post is really good — I owe someone a thank you for the link to Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist:
Yesterday, the New York Times suggested the pandemic is over. We are in a very different place. And, I understand the desire for a “thank goodness that’s done” mindset. And I hope COVID-19 isn’t always on top of your mind.
But COVID-19 is still around. I hope you continue to join me on the scientific discovery ride. Here is your state of affairs.
United States
After a few quiet months, COVID-19 is increasing in the Southern and Western United States. Three early indicators—wastewater, ED visits, and test positivity— are increasing uniformly, albeit from low absolute levels. Using back-of-the-napkin math, this equates to ~1 in 1,180 people infected today. If you squint really hard, hospitalizations are starting to increase, too…This isn’t surprising; we’ve consistently seen a Southern summer wave throughout the pandemic. While the latest Omicron subvariant soup may partly drive this uptick, it’s more likely behavior; people moving inside due to ridiculous heat…
Since late January 2023, excess deaths have reached pre-pandemic levels. This has been a massive reprieve…
International surveillance
Zooming out, eyes are on two particular places around the globe:
– Okinawa, Japan. COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to increase exponentially, surpassing their winter wave and overwhelming hospitals. This is driven by XBB, changing behavior (big holiday), and a large pool of susceptible people— it’s been about six months since their last wave. Everyone is waiting to see if this transpires outside of Okinawa…– Dominican Republic: A new Omicron variant— FL1.5.1— is showing its teeth by exponentially increasing quickly. This variant has the same spike protein as what’s currently circulating (XBB) but several non-spike mutations. It’s in its infancy, so it’s unclear if (and how) it will impact real-world metrics. It’s one to keep an eye on…
Bottom line
COVID-19 is increasing; don’t be surprised to hear more people getting infected around you. I already am. This isn’t enough reason to change my personal behaviors, but that time may come this fall…
US: Hospital emergency department visits for COVID up 10.7% in one week.
Alaska, Florida, and Hawaii reporting percentages that were higher than other states.https://t.co/oJXmp1RTFa
— CoronaHeadsUp (@CoronaHeadsUp) July 17, 2023
Biobot now showing a few weeks of increases. Current estimates:
🔸️280,000 new cases/day
🔸️1 in every 1180 people were infected today
🔸️1 in every 118 people currently infected. pic.twitter.com/JoNuzu7L4R— JWeiland (@JPWeiland) July 14, 2023
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“You can’t depend on others when the world is competing for a resource.”
Demand for Covid vaccines is down but global south researchers have learned their lesson & press ahead w mRNA vaccine development for disease X.
My latest @washingtonpost ?? https://t.co/4w0FLUmhIv
— Amy Maxmen, PhD (@amymaxmen) July 16, 2023
One of China’s most populous provinces has deleted mortality data that offered an indication of the heavy death toll from Beijing’s relaxation of Covid-19 controls at the end of last year.
The statistics reported by Zhejiang province on Thursday showed the number of cremations in the wealthy coastal region during the first quarter of the year jumped 73 per cent from a year earlier to 171,000.
The figure was well above the 99,000 and 91,000 deaths reported in the same period in 2022 and 2021 respectively. By Monday, with the statistics attracting attention on Chinese social media, Zhejiang had pulled the information offline.
Hospitals and crematoria were inundated with Covid patients after Beijing reversed its pandemic policy in December, but Chinese officials have not published detailed and accurate statistics that would allow researchers to better assess the deadly spread of the virus through the population.
For nearly two weeks in December the country reported no Covid-19 deaths in daily updates, even as bodies piled up in hospitals and crematoria. Then Chinese health authorities narrowed the definition of what constituted a Covid death and told local governments to keep “Covid-19” off death certificates to limit reported numbers.
In early January the World Health Organization accused China of underrepresenting the severity of its coronavirus outbreak and the real number of deaths…
But seven months later China has not released any excess death data. Aside from rough estimates of annual deaths by the state planning agency, the local-level cremation data is China’s only publicly available statistic for tracking the number of deaths in the country. Nearly everyone who dies in urban areas is cremated as burials are banned.
Since the fourth quarter, statistics on the number of cremations have been systematically left off the dozens of quarterly reports published by local and national civil affairs bureaus. Some areas have even refrained from publishing the reports themselves, which also include information on the number of marriages, divorces and other population changes…
China’s most recent data on Covid deaths comes from a mid-January report by the National Health Commission, which said nearly 60,000 people had died from the virus in healthcare facilities during the first five weeks of reopening.
Research groups such as Airfinity estimate Covid deaths during those early weeks were roughly 10 times the NHC figures.
COVID-19 cases in Japan are continuing their recent rise, with experts predicting the trend will continue amid high heat, declining immunity and the start of the holiday season. https://t.co/WNyd7W0iCp
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) July 18, 2023
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Detailed thread from @chrischirp looking at a wide range of data regarding #COVID19 in the UK. Overall, she sees no evidence that COVID is making a comeback, with ongoing infection and cases at a low level.https://t.co/1ierniuVeO
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) July 15, 2023
It’s not just the American Midwest…
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“Even though infection numbers have come down considerably compared to 2022, we’re still seeing roughly about six times more infections per day than we were before Omicron and before the lowest period of the epidemic in Canada to date,” Moriarty said. https://t.co/wMmrpkG3qc
— Jess (@MeetJess) July 15, 2023
Some Canadians might be feeling a little panicky:
Long COVID presents ‘unfathomable’ burden as health-care system reaches ‘boiling point’
“And besides the best-known symptoms like fatigue and brain fog, long COVID also appears to increase the risk of stroke, heart attacks and diabetes types 1 and 2” https://t.co/nuMWKFqI6k
— Jess (@MeetJess) July 18, 2023
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Not enough seniors are receiving Paxlovid, or too often physicians wait too long to Rx the medication. It needs to be prescribed early in the illness, bc the drug targets virus replication https://t.co/sXABgoqwrh
— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) July 17, 2023
(*Sigh*)… Since this is still useful information:
The Best Face Masks for Omicron and Its Subvariants, According to Epidemiologistshttps://t.co/4zBUBAJ9Dm
— Global Health Observ (@GlobalPHObserv) July 17, 2023
"In comparison to those who fully recovered, those
who developed PASC [#LongCovid] demonstrated significantly higher maximum levels of #SARSCoV2 RNA, infectious virus, and N-antigen, longer duration of viral shedding, and lower Spike-specific IgG"https://t.co/w47OvlWX3X pic.twitter.com/MhvubXXkrb— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) July 17, 2023
Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19: understanding and addressing the burden of multisystem manifestationshttps://t.co/8o7q0Fd9gL pic.twitter.com/K3cY5VqgDA
— Emmanuel (@ejustin46) July 18, 2023
Study shows dogs can detect COVID-19 faster, better than most PCR tests
Studies show that dogs can detect asymptomatic people, those who had #LongCOVID, and new #COVID19 variantshttps://t.co/LNO4QrwU0V pic.twitter.com/E8d1LOyBFr
— CIDRAP (@CIDRAP) July 18, 2023
3 Years On, Why Don’t We Know the Extent of Long COVID?
H/t @AcrossTheMersey https://t.co/MiwB0L13Vd
— Jess (@MeetJess) July 19, 2023
Always another exciting intriguing new complication!
(link)
Now this important report summarized @Nature by @heidiledford https://t.co/4UJeJTMNSy #LongCovid
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) July 11, 2023
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I did not know that In-N-Out was another ‘Christian’ / GOP-supporting chain:
In-N-Out Burger, the beloved California-based fast food chain, has issued new workplace guidelines that will ban its employees in several states from wearing protective masks.
The use of face coverings is currently optional for restaurant employees. But starting Aug. 14, workers in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas and Colorado will not be allowed to mask as a preventive measure against spreading the coronavirus.
According to a company memo announcing the policy change, the only exception granted will be for employees with valid medical reasons.
In-N-Out’s California and Oregon establishments are exempt from the new policy due to prevailing state laws that safeguard workers’ rights, including the freedom to wear a face covering unless it would create a safety hazard.
“We are introducing new mask guidelines that emphasize the importance of customer service and the ability to show our associates’ smiles and other facial features while considering the health and well-being of all individuals,” In-N-Out said in a letter to its employees. The chain emphasized that this measure would encourage “clear and effective” interactions with customers and fellow staff members…
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sole San Francisco In-N-Out, located at Fisherman’s Wharf, was closed temporarily after it allowed indoor dining without verifying proof of vaccination.
In Contra Costa County, the chain shuttered all five of its locations for indoor dining rather than complying with the county’s vaccine mandate…
In-N-Out, which opened its first location in a Los Angeles suburb in 1948 and remained exclusive to Southern California until the early 1990s, is celebrating its 75th anniversary with plans to expand its operations further around the country. The company is historically known as one of the highest-profile donors of the California Republican Party and is also famous for referencing Bible verses on its packaging.
Spoke to @innoutburger again today and they said they're taking the feedback from everyone calling and are letting their executives know.
Public pressure is powerful friends. Let them know they're going to lose customers. Speak out. #BoycottInnOut https://t.co/IzOMTzSO8R
— Myra Batchelder #KeepMasksInHealthCare (@myrabatchelder) July 15, 2023
When America’s Worst People gather, be sure that Rand Paul will have shoved his way into the crowd…
Jesse Watters: "You know what RFK Jr. is talking about, ethnically targeted bioweapon Covid-19?"
Senator Rand Paul: "There is a lot of information out of China about developing biological weapons that would be based on your genetics." pic.twitter.com/i6i1gDAw2K
— Truechucknorris (@snjegi333) July 18, 2023
On The Road – 🐾BillinGlendaleCA – June in Little Lakes Vally
NeenerNeener
Monroe County, NY:
12 new cases on 07/12/23.
13 new cases on 07/13/23.
16 new cases on 07/14/23.
9 new cases on 07/15/23.
4 new cases on 07/16/23.
8 new cases on 07/17/23.
6 new cases on 07/18/23.
Deaths now at 2291. Only 1 death in the last 4 weeks.
oldster
Thank you, Anne Laurie! That’s an amazing wrap-up of info.
It’s really incredible how much there is to know about a disease that the NYT says is all gone.
More seriously — I had been thinking about getting a booster in late August, when the vectors undergrads return to this college town from their specimen-collecting trips around the world. But in light of the Branswell tweet, perhaps I should put it off to late September. Risks either way….
Matt McIrvin
There is an increase in wastewater counts across eastern Massachusetts, so this isn’t just a Southern/Western thing. It’s not a huge increase, but growth is growth (and high temperatures alternating with rainy weather and occasional smoke from Canada may be keeping people in air-conditioned spaces here too). I’m thinking one of the new subvariants that are proliferating is more transmissible.
Matt McIrvin
I do continue to be annoyed that these government PSAs keep telling me “immunity wanes, so get your booster” but then according to their guidelines I can’t get another booster.
Well, I’m eagerly awaiting the new one in the fall. If this little bump turns into an exponential rise we may be well into a major wave by then.
Lapassionara
What a great post. Full of helpful information. Thanks, AL.
eclare
@Matt McIrvin:
Me too, it doesn’t make any sense.
Matt McIrvin
@eclare: I guess they’re trying to get to people who got the primary series of shots but no boosters after that. But they’re clearly not listening at all–the people who actually pay attention to these messages probably have 4 or 5 shots in them already.
Kay
That’s not what he said though. He said the US, along with China, were developing biological weapons targeted to certain ethnic groups and that they were being developed in labs in Ukraine. He said “China” and “us” were doing this (I assume “us” means “US” unless he means Russia). That’s what he said.
The “just asking questions” crowd are really bad at asking questions. They need to specifically and clearly lay out their theories instead of doing this coy dance where they don’t QUITE sign on but really do sign on.
Matt McIrvin
@Kay: This is real flat-earther/QAnon adjacent stuff, license to jump into the conspiracy hole with both feet.
Yarrow
Great post. Thank you for all your hard work on these posts, AL. They are such a fantastic resource.
It’s been a month since I started feeling bad and tested positive for Covid. I think my energy might finally be returning to normal but I’m not sure yet. I am still pacing myself because previously if I did too much one day I just crashed the next. I am wondering at what point someone thinks they might have Long Covid. A month for recovery seems to be pretty typical from what I call tell from talking to people. So, maybe two months and you’re still not feeling better? I think I’ve read that vaccination helps prevent Long Covid but I’m not sure.
Yarrow
@Matt McIrvin:
Me too! It’s infuriating. I don’t understand why adults can’t get boosters if they want within parameters like X months since your last vaccine. It seems dumb since the number of people who would get vaccinated would be low based on vaccine uptake. Why not allow responsible people to get them?
I couldn’t get another vaccine and instead got Covid and it was bad. Sucks. At least I was a cautionary tale and scared some neighbors into getting the booster they’d been putting off. She had been so sick from every vaccine she had previously that she had just been dragging her feet. After seeing how sick I was they both went and got their booster.
Matt McIrvin
@Yarrow: Here’s hoping you feel better soon!
When I got COVID in January, I took a few weeks to really recover. But one of the problems with “Long COVID” is broad and varying definitions–by the terms used in some papers, you do have Long COVID since you’re not all better already, but then some people use the term mostly to refer to really severe chronic cases. And it can make the literature frustrating to interpret.
Add to that the fact that, physically, “Long COVID” is probably a whole collection of different things–some people have autoimmune issues, some have physical damage from the virus, some may just have a lingering infection that hasn’t completely gone away.
Is vaccination preventative? It seems like the best answer I can find is “yes, somewhat, but not as much as we’d want.”
Yarrow
@Matt McIrvin: Thank you. In my case I had been through a series of exhausting life events and other things over the previous six weeks and was just exhausted. I suspect that meant I was starting from a very low place immune-wise when I got Covid so I’m not surprised I got a bad case when I got it. What I don’t know is how I got it. I’m still extremely cautious. If there’s one person wearing a mask at the supermarket that person is me.
Matt McIrvin
@Yarrow: There’s probably a bias toward not giving people large numbers of boosters based on a lack of clinical data about the effects of that. Even if there’s every reason to believe it’s safe, the people making policy recommendations are probably instinctively going to err on the side of less intervention if they’re not sure.
Matt McIrvin
@Yarrow: In my case, there were a couple of ways it could have happened–my daughter was the first person in the household to get sick and she’d been going to school in person, and, I gather, not usually masking during that time. But we’d also just risked a restaurant visit at a time when, going by the retrospective wastewater counts, it was unwise–we were counting too much on the exponential drop in infection following the 2022-23 winter wave, but there were a lot of bumps in that road.
OzarkHillbilly
Kay, you know the coy dance is on purpose, that way they can imply without specifically saying so. People coming away with the intended perception that there is a vast criminal conspiracy is the whole point.
Kay
@Matt McIrvin:
I think we have to stop saying “flat earth stuff” though because RFK Jr.’s beliefs are close to the beliefs of furthest Right in the GOP now. Hence Rand Paul sort of prissily splitting hairs on whether or not he’s a lunatic. One of the two major political parties. Flat earth is approaching the norm for them and it’s strategic, right? Not just random raving. The effort to discredit Ukraine and the US effort in Ukraine is one of the projects of the far Right. It’s not an accident the “mobile biological labs” are in Ukraine.
Yarrow
@Matt McIrvin: I know someone who has MS. They were able to get an additional vaccine. I think immune compromised people can. Maybe even elderly people. So there’s some allowance for it. Just not adults without those conditions or age.
I feel like they’re kind of winging it on who they let get another vaccine. I know people here had widely varying experiences with be allowed to get another vaccine when it began to be allowed again several months ago.
NorthLeft
Thanks Anne for continuing with these posts. They are not only interesting and thought provoking, but valuable.
My wife and I are in that group that is slowly transitioning to pre-pandemic behaviours. Although we almost never eat indoors at restaurants, still mask based on our read of the environment we are heading into, and aim to stay up to date on our vaccinations. Regarding vaccination, we have decided to wait until the fall to receive the latest COVID and flu vaccines, rather than get a COVID vaccine now (which we are eligible for).
We know we are very much in the minority with our behaviour, but frankly being over sixty-five and retired can be very liberating. I just don’t give a fuck what others think about me when I am wearing a mask or avoid what we consider to be high risk situations.
Kay
@OzarkHillbilly:
I think there are like dopey, wishy washy overly accomodating “centrists” in media and punditry who are not deliberately promoting this stuff but instead are just so weak and vague and imprecise that they end up doing just that. Like what they did with CRT. “Well, they have a point on CRT, whatever CRT is”
I think they are the people who need to be super clear on whch parts of the theories they’re signing on to.
“Just asking questions” isn’t clear enough.
Kay
An old friend of mine has long covid. I don’t see her often – she lives in NY- but I did see her last month and I was a little shocked at how she’s declined. She’s only 52 and she’s on long term disability from work and she was the “main income” in her family. She’s registering for a treatment trial at Cleveland Clinic – she’s tried everything else available because she’s desperate to beat it. Starts in September.
Amir Khalid
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health reported 173 new Covid-19 cases on 15th July, for a cumulative reported total of 5,118,689 cases. All 173 of these new cases were local infections; no new cases were imported. It also reported no deaths, for an adjusted cumulative total of 37,160 deaths – 0.73% of the cumulative reported total, 0.73% of resolved cases.
3,447 Covid-19 tests were conducted on 15th July, with a positivity rate of 3.1%.
There were 13,867 active cases on 15th July, 32 more than the day before. 270 were in hospital. Four confirmed cases were in ICU; of these patients, all four confirmed cases were on ventilators. Meanwhile, 141 patients recovered, for a cumulative total of 5,067,662 patients recovered – 99.0% of the cumulative reported total.
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) administered 85 doses of vaccine on 18th July: six first doses, seven second doses, 54 first booster doses, and 18 second booster doses. The cumulative total is 72,825,523 doses administered: 28,126,630 first doses, 27,540,056 second doses, 16,333,588 first booster doses, and 825,249 second booster doses. 86.1% of the population have received their first dose, 84.3% their second dose, 50.0% their first booster dose, and 2.5% their second booster dose.
Soprano2
The Missouri wastewater site shows lots of red triangles indicating rising counts, so that tracks with what the other wastewater monitoring says. It’s still from an extremely low level, so that’s good. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised I got it, although I’m still not sure I got it from travelling; we went to Maui in October, and we didn’t get sick then. As far as I can tell we’re both completely over it. I was worried about hubby having it because he has diabetes, but he wasn’t as sick as I was, and I wasn’t that sick.
Yarrow, all I can say is that with Covid it seems there is no “normal” recovery. Hubby & I both got over it in less than 2 weeks, but we had mild cases. I think the sicker you get, the longer it takes to fully recover. It’s the weirdest disease I’ve ever experienced.
Fair Economist
I wonder what China will do to cover up COVID deaths when they do another census. 70,000 excess death in just one province (even Zhejiang, population 64 million) is staggering – it supports the guesstimates of about 1 in 1000 dead, so about 1.4 million in all China from relaxing COVID controls.
@Kay: Best of luck to your friend. My experience, and that of my friends who also have Long COVID is slow improvement over time. I wouldn’t be diagnose as sick by a doctor anymore, but I still can’t do what I could before. But it is improving.
Currants
Your Local Epidemiologist might have come from me, @annelaurie. I am so glad it’s useful—but it doesn’t compare to how useful (and comprehensive!) your updates have been for years now. I can’t thank you enough for the work you’ve put in on this. ❤️❤️❤️
sab
My dad’s nursing home in NE Ohio sent out a robocall uesterday that a staff member tested positive for Covid. We hadn’t had one of those calls for months.
I haven’t relaxed on masking because it makes my seasonal allergy issues so much less, but even my husband was starting to comment on me always masking still. Now he’s back on board.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
So, according to The Right, COVID doesn’t exist, so don’t wear a mask, BUT at the same time it’s a targeted and deadly bioweapon, BUT don’t get a vaccination. Just damn, these people are screwed in the head.
It’s really hard to believe these yahoos at some level get they are spewing bullshit. I think Hotez still doesn’t get that, yes their are grifters spreading bullshit, but their target audience wants to be lied too so they can pretend to be smarter than everyone else have an excuse to scream at someone.
sdhays
You know, knowing that fewer people are breathing on your food can be a nice selling point too. And for a place called “In-N-Out”, one would think that they’d be prioritizing a minimum of human interaction anyway. While they’re mandating no face masks, they’re probably also desperately piloting Japanese robot cooks so they can finally fire those “smiling faces”.
I just don’t understand this pathological desire for control that everyone feels entitled to just see parts of other people’s bodies. My other reaction is that this is yet another indication that CEO’s are paid too much, since this one clearly has nothing better to do than try to micromanage his poorly paid employees. In-N-Out would be better off with a part-time CEO paid minimum wage.
sdhays
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: Yeah, if you’re claiming it’s a horrible bioweapon while also arguing against any action whatsoever to counter it, I can only conclude that you’re … pro-China? Or something?
artem1s
I think our recent spike in infections at work is probably related to the July 4 holiday week. Lots of large crowds, traveling, and going out with friends and family. We typically see a spike about 1-2 weeks after most holidays.
It’s been over 6 months since I had my second booster (bivalent). I’m kind of hoping this recent spike means the U allows those who want one to get another booster now. I’d really like another (third for me) but the new bivalent isn’t suppose to be available until fall semester and they are being stingy with the stock they have (out of Pfizer only Moderna left). I’m hoping the new booster is available before the student come back from whatever creeping crud community they reside and vacation in over the summer.
In addition, the air quality (Ontario fires) has meant lots of respiratory issues cropping up in this area. I’m assuming the smog might make some people more susceptible to infections too.
Scout211
In-N-Out is a family owned business and the CEO and president is Lynsey Snyder, the current owner.
I have 3 family members (grandchildren) who are currently or have formerly worked for In-N-Out Burger and I am surprised about this because the company usually is very good to its employees. The pay scale and benefits are far superior to other fast food chains. I guess my family is lucky that we are in California, since they are exempt from this ridiculous rule.
Hopefully, management will pull back this rule. The first hint should have been the fact that they are not allowed to institute this rule in two states. It should have been a red flag for them.
artem1s
@sdhays: I think it’s probably that they are anti-whatever group they think is being targeted. IOW just more GQP antisemitism and racism dog whistles.
Tony G
@Kay: At this point RFK Junior should just be pelted with rotten vegetables whenever he shows his face in public. It’s the least we can do.
frosty
@Kay: You’re describing a friend of mine; same age, just got laid off and is going on disability. She caught COVID in January 2022 and has been diagnosed with brain inflammation. Finding out the cause of brain fog is good but it would be better if they could find a way to treat it.
Keep us posted on how the Cleveland Clinic does. *Somebody* has to figure this out.
sdhays
@artem1s: Right, it’s just throwing shit at the wall. But it’s fascinating that they’re beyond needing any coherence to their shit. It just makes it abundantly clear that it’s ALL total shit. And who wants to look at shit on a wall (or ketchup)?
sdhays
@Scout211: I’m glad they’re typically not so shitty to their employees.
I think my comment about CEO’s not earning their pay stands. I have yet to be super impressed by any that I’ve worked for (and I work for a famous one right now).
Manyakitty
@Tony G: the vegetables deserve better.
Yarrow
@frosty:
Based on how we’ve dealt with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic encephalomyelitis, we do NOT have to figure this out. We can ignore it and where that’s not possible then blame people (mostly women) for their weakness, tell them it’s all in their head, offer them an antidepressant, and tell them they need to lower their stress and exercise more. I’m really glad to see places like the Cleveland Clinic working on Long Covid but in general it’s being brushed under the rug and people pretend it doesn’t exist. Those that have it can tell you all about that.
I know two people personally who have it. One got Covid before we even knew it was here in the US (January 2020) and almost died from it. She got some relief from the second vaccine, but now has developed diabetes and struggles with daily tasks. The other got Covid after the initial vaccine and booster in summer 2021. She has been dealing with Long Covid ever since. What seems to happen is these people disappear from daily life – disability, can’t join in activities, etc. – and become forgotten people.
I really hope some effective treatments can be found. I feel certain that research into Long Covid can help with other post-viral issues as well. They’ve long been in the “blame the patient for their weakness” category.
Glidwrith
@sdhays: I called them this morning and communicated my displeasure. Hopefully they will reverse the policy.
YY_Sima Qian
@Fair Economist: I expect the CCP regime to hold off on releasing data until such a time as when domestic & international scrutiny is reduced, such as a weekend dump of the 2023 excess deaths data on the eve of Chinese New Year in 2024…
~ 1.4M excess deaths from the exit tsunami would on the upper end of estimates, but estimates range from high hundreds of thousands to ~ 1.5M. The would put China’s excess deaths / 100K in between Taiwan & Canada, which makes broad sense.
Sadly, the failure to roll out 2nd boosters (even if they are domestic inactivate whole virion vaccines) to those willing in Fall 2022 meant China missed the chance to perform on par w/ Taiwan (which also failed to vaccinate more than ~ 70% of its elderly population). That failure is entirely on the regime. If China had managed to vaccinate > 95% of its elderly population, as Singapore & New Zealand have done, then it had a chance to perform on par w/ these countries. However, that was unlikely due to strong popular resistance, as had happened in Hong Kong & Taiwan.
Even now, 2nd boosters are only offered to those > 60 y.o. and/or w/ underlying conditions, or those w/o prior infections. Others can only take advantage by lying about their infections from the exit tsunami, which I know many people in fact have done. I managed to escape the much smaller 2nd wave in May- Jun., so I will probably take that route some time in the fall, in advance of the Winter wave. At least the current vaccines on offer are the more advanced tri/quad-valent protein sub-unit ones (analogous to the Novavax) that target strains from the WT to the Omicron (not sure about XBB).
Maxim
@Matt McIrvin: I tried to get a booster the other day, and they wouldn’t let me. So hopefully the new ones in the fall will have looser guidelines. I think the rule ought to be “anyone who wants a booster can have one if it’s been long enough since the last one.”
Thanks, AL, for continuing these. I always read them and often share the information.
Yarrow
@Maxim:
Same here. So I got Covid instead. I fail to see the upside of their decision to limit vaccines.
Exactly, just as I said upthread. The number of people who will get the vaccine is very small based on vaccine uptake numbers. So why not let responsible people stay current on vaccines? I guess they want us to get sick.
Tenar Arha
Thanks Anne Laurie for keeping up with these updates.
For anyone thinking about getting that 4th booster (6th shot), and trying to get around the guidelines. I don’t know if this would work in every state, but it worked for me in Massachusetts.
This spring I knew I absolutely wanted a booster a few weeks before I went to a local 3 day music festival. (My last booster had been September ‘22). I made an appointment midweek midday, & deliberately “forgot” my card. Laughs on me, they could & did look up my state level vaccine record, but they gave me my booster anyway. This fall, I may have to wait to get my booster & flu shot before November, but I’m really glad I just ignored the recommendations & went to the pharmacy anyway. I still, AFAIK based on a couple home tests, haven’t gotten sick even though I was at the music festival mostly unmasked once I got off the crowded trains.
Ruckus
I’ve had 5 shots but then I’m a senior, in my 70s for the entire run of Covid. I didn’t have any trouble getting 5 shots. I still have to mask up at the VA hospital, I see a few people masked up here in SoCal, but not near as many as there used to be. If it’s making a comeback I’m masking and getting any new vaccine variant.
Soprano2
Got a link to this article in my daily WEF news e-mail https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2023/07/14/wisconsin–cdc–national-center–wastewater-surveillance–uw-milwaukee–uw-madison
dnfree
@Yarrow: I’m still masking at the grocery store too. Also at community meetings. Even though by now I’m one of very few, no one has said any to me until this past week, when a couple in l8ne before me asked why I was still wearing a mask. They seemed genuinely curious, not hostile. I told them, “Because this thing isn’t gone yet.”
Kayla Rudbek
I’ve had six shots and I just scheduled my next one for Monday. Mom and dad are talking about having me come up to Minneapolis for the State Fair and I think it would be our last one as they plan on moving to Indiana by the end of this year. So another shot in the arm for me.
Matt McIrvin
@Yarrow: As far as I can tell, one of the worst forms of “long COVID” simply is CFS/ME. It seems to be on the list of viruses that can cause it.