So, my son has tested positive for COVID-19. Again!
He is not alone. Many folks believed that, having been infected by COVID-19 once, they’d develop immunity to subsequent attacks.
With the initial appearance of COVID-19 (Wuhan, Alpha and up to Delta), reinfections were rare. They occurred, but rarely.
It was the development of the omicron variant that the nature of the pandemic changed. (By the way, scientists believe that the omicron variants are not developing in the wild, but are emanating from folks who are experiencing COVID-19 now- and multiple variants emerge from the same folks who are suffering with the disease.) Moreover, the omicron variant has different surface structures, which is why the immune system does not recognize them as readily- and marshal the body’s immune system against them.
This may explain why reinfections have ballooned from some 2% of cases to over 25% today. (These are UK figures, not US data.) In effect, the superpower of the omicron variants is their ability to reinfect.
Moreover, the antibodies that we develop- either from the infection or from the vaccination- dissipate over time. They certainly are not active over 12 months, as we had hoped. Instead, their utility may only last for 4 to 6 months. And, suffering an infection only seems to yield 8 to 12 weeks immunity. (That would explain my son’s second COVID-19 experience.) That means we have diminished immunity against the disease. Moreover, those who have never been immunized have a much higher chance for reinfection from COVID-19.
Reinfection (using the data from 5.6 million folks in the Veteran’s Affairs Health System) has exposed the fact that reinfection can double and triple the risk of death. And, those who are reinfected tend to be older and sicker (i.e., immunocompromised) that those who don’t get reinfected.
Moreover, once infected, Paxlovid and monoclonal antibody therapy should be instituted within five days of symptoms. These therapies preclude severe sickness, death, and long-term COVID.
You’ve been warned. Mask when indoors. Take precautions. Get boostered.
The gift that keeps on giving 🙁
How is your son feeling? Tell him “speedy recovery”!
PS: as per yesterday’s post, here’s todays headline: Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigns
Yes, Tamara, I saw that news, too.
My son is feeling better (day 5 of Paxlovid), and hopefully will not be subject to long-term COVID.
Thanks for the well wishes.
I just got Covid this year – the omicron variant. This variant felt like the flu for me, and I was given Paxlovid. Because I hadn’t had Covid before, it’s hard to tell if the meds worked in any way, but better safe than sorry, even though it gave me the most awful metallic taste in my mouth!
I am presuming you are not subject to long-term COVID, either. That seems to be the big advantage of receiving Paxlovid.
Sorry to hear about your son. I wish him a speedy and easy recovery from his second bout with COVID.
Personally, I am happy that I am vaxed and still taking precautions. I have not yet contracted COVID, and I look forward to staying as healthy as possible.
I still have not elected to eat INSIDE a restaurant. (Admittedly, I am not a big patronizer of said establishments.) I eat out on the porch or outside.
I mask when going to any store, building, or post office.
Safety first.
I’m sorry to hear about your son and hope that (now that it’s several days after you posted this) his recovery has continued with no rebound from Paxlovid. So far, so good, as far as my spouse and me – I hope we’re not jinxing ourselves in saying that. Sadly, in my part of New York State, mask wearers are still a minority but our governor is holding off on a mask mandate. Just coincidentally, she is running for reelection.
He is almost back to normal. Glad you are not subject to COVID, either, Alana.