The COVID-19 pandemic

[ac3r]

Anytime I've had it, it was no worse than a cold. I think some are just lucky, because, considering I know people who have smoked for decades they barely feel anything yet a super healthy hypochondriac may feel like they got the plague.

And indeed, it has seemingly mutated to be much more mild as is par for the course with many viruses. I don't think anyone thinks about it anymore (or bothers to get a dozen boosters a year) since if they get it, they'll probably not be too bad. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.

[plam]

There's no real guarantee that a virus will evolve to get milder.

No guarantees, of course, but it's bad news for a virus if its host dies. On the other hand, an extended period of marginal health with lots of coughing is good news for the virus as it gets to spread its genes further. That's why the probability is for viruses to get somewhat milder--and more virulent.

In part that was why Ebola wasn't so bad. Killed too many people. But certainly there are viruses that have been around for a long time that cause significant health impacts and kill a small number of people randomly. Polio, tuberculosis, even measles did not evolve to be that mild, really.

[tomh009]

I don't think anyone thinks about it anymore (or bothers to get a dozen boosters a year) since if they get it, they'll probably not be too bad. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.

I'm getting the booster again. A family member in a high-risk group so we take precautions (including flu shots as well).

[panamaniac]

I continue to get boosters. A couple of elderly neighbours have had Covid over the past month or so. I one case, she was quite ill for a week and a half.

[plam]

I don't think anyone thinks about it anymore (or bothers to get a dozen boosters a year) since if they get it, they'll probably not be too bad. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.

I'm getting the booster again. A family member in a high-risk group so we take precautions (including flu shots as well).

Yeah, I paid US$150 for the booster when I was in the US in early October before three weeks of travel around North America (a great chance to get COVID); it wasn't clear when it was going to be available in Ontario, and I'm not generally in Ontario this term anyway. It probably helps vs infection to some extent for a limited time after you get it. I also got a flu shot just before taking the bus leaving Waterloo later in the month.