The dreaded virus keeps morphing and just won’t quit.
The above title grabbed my attention in The New York Times. I had to find out what was going on.
Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron — are all variants of the Covid-19 virus. What could be next?
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is constantly changing. New variants are an expected part of the virus's evolution, according to Yalemedicine.org. They add that "monitoring each one that surfaces is essential in ensuring the U.S. and globally are prepared."
Omicron is more transmissible than Delta was. However, Omicron is less severe. Yet, more data is needed to assess this variant's potential to cause severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
I don’t usually write about current happenings, yet Covid has been the exception. I first wrote about it in my article; A ‘Very, Very Contagious’ Coronavirus Subvariant Is Causing Cases to Rise Again, published on Medium on May 6, 2022.
Covid and me
I had Covid in early May, despite having two Pfizer vaccines and one booster. The advice is that we all should get the second booster.
I was holding out for the second booster as the information I gathered was that it may not be effective if another variant appeared. It could weaken our immunity to fight it off. Now, I wonder if this information was valid.
I had a fever of 99–101, for three days, with chest congestion and coughing. It has taken three weeks to feel the chest congestion ebbing and cough, too.
I am a robust, active senior who eats a healthy diet and exercises daily. I suspect this helped me have relatively minor symptoms.
Omicron symptoms were mild for most
The New York Times reports that the Omicron variant killed more older people during this winter's wave than it did last year. Many had long delays since their previous vaccine. This is even though Omicron’s symptoms are milder than the earlier variants.
While overall per capita Covid death rates have fallen, older people account for a greater share.
According to Andrew Stokes, an assistant professor in global health at Boston University who studies age patterns of Covid deaths: "This is not simply a pandemic of the unvaccinated. There's still exceptionally high risk among older adults, even those with primary vaccine series."
Due to this increase in deaths in those 65 and older, from Omicron, we are now strongly encouraged to get the second booster. Regardless of the information, that it could weaken our immunity should a new variant appear? It does get confusing.
Had I had the second booster, would I not have gotten Covid?
"I think we are going to see the death rates rising. It is going to become more and more risky for older adults as their immunity wanes," according to Dr. Sharon Inouye, a geriatrician and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
There you have it — the second booster is recommended.
We need to keep our immunity strong — at any age, but especially for the over 65 age bracket.
Anti-Covid pill as Omicron surges
Older adults and people with underlying conditions now have another way to fight Covid — Paxlovid. It is an antiviral drug that is now widely available through your physician if determined you are at high risk.
However, health officials are letting physicians know that they no longer need to restrict prescriptions to the highest-risk patients. Your symptoms do not have to be severe.
I asked my doctor today (I am recovered for four weeks) what her thoughts are about Paxlovid. She doesn’t advise taking it. Apparently, it lessens your symptoms the first few days but when one has finished the prescribed amount, symptoms may return.
It’s a conundrum — should we or should we not take Paxlovid? Everyone should always check with their health care professional for their opinion. The choice is always yours.
Masking up is always wise as you may be asymptomatic and unknowingly pass the virus on to unsuspecting people.
We must stay vigilant to stay safe.
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