The Indomitable Covid Virus

ShiroKuro

Oh no @Mik hope you feel better soon!!

wtg

Bummer. Hope it doesn't get any worse/last very long.

Mr wtg is having knee replacement on Monday. We've been masking when we go out, and I decided to just completely avoid stores for the next week or so. We both got sick last year around this time, our first time. I'd prefer to skip a second iteration, especially since he'll be recovering from surgery and doesn't need a case of COVID on top of TKR to feel extra-miserable.

Mik

Wise approach. According to the test I have a very high viral load. Cannot for the life of me figure out where I may have gotten it. We’re pretty careful.

wtg

@Mik said in The Indomitable Covid Virus:

Cannot for the life of me figure out where I may have gotten it. We’re pretty careful.

That was us last year. We were still masking in stores back then and weren't going out to restaurants or other indoor venues with people. We had gotten together with a couple of friends shortly before I came down with it. None of them were sick or got sick.

It's a mysterie.

wtg

Free COVID test kits will be available in September.

U.S. households will be eligible to order 4 free COVID-19 tests at COVIDTests.gov. The COVID-19 Tests will detect current COVID-19 variants and can be used through the end of the year.

That second part sounds like they're getting to the end of their shelf life.

https://aspr.hhs.gov/covid-19/test/Pages/default.aspx

Mik

I used one with an expiration 9/2026. It was lightning quick.

wtg

You must be teeming with virus.

Mik

Yep. Turned deep red within a few second. Feeling better today. Not great, but not like I’d been hit by a truck.

AdagioM

Wishing you a quick and easy recovery, Mik! Did you take Paxlovid, or are you winging it?

AdagioM

@wtg Looks like they won’t be available to order until the end of September.

We’ve used all but ONE of our tests, including the party pack of 30 that must have been intended for school or workplace. I just ordered more from Amazon, but they won’t arrive til the end of next week.

Our kids are Covid virgins, and we all test before they come for dinner.

CHAS

Thanks
Ordered tests

Mik

@AdagioM said in The Indomitable Covid Virus:

Wishing you a quick and easy recovery, Mik! Did you take Paxlovid, or are you winging it?

I have some from a couple years ago but I probably won’t take it. I’m already better than I was yesterday.

Jodi

@Mik said in The Indomitable Covid Virus:

Yep. Turned deep red within a few second. Feeling better today. Not great, but not like I’d been hit by a truck.

That’s what surprised me when we got Covid last October, how fast the positive line turned dark red. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

DougG

I was able to get the updated Covid jab today along with my usual flu shot.

I know so many people who’ve gotten Covid in the last 3 or weeks that I was starting to feel stupid for having waited for the new shot , so this is a relief.

I hardly noticed the Covid shot, but my flu shot arm hurts like hell…

ShiroKuro

I'm trying to decide on the timing of getting the shots. Last year I got the flu and covid shots together and just felt absolutely awful. So I think I'd like to space them out this year. I also need to get the shingles series...

wtg

The CDC says it's safe to get the shots together but they don't say it's optimal. I think the "one visit and done" recommendation targets people who might get one shot and then not go back and get the other.

From what I read, for best protection, get COVID now because there's a lot of it going around. And hold off on the flu vaccine till September/October, because that season is later.

This article from Yale goes over all of the above, plus RSV.

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/updated-2024-2025-covid-vaccines

ShiroKuro

Yeah, I got them together because it was convenient and “safe.” Well, it probably was safe but I was so, so sick afterwards. So this year I’m going to space them out.

@wtg said in The Indomitable Covid Virus:

From what I read, for best protection, get COVID now because there's a lot of it going around. And hold off on the flu vaccine till September/October, because that season is later.

Makes sense to me! I just scheduled Mr SK and myself for covid shots on Sunday.

CHAS

The flu shot lasts for about five months. I think it is too early for it.

wtg

The Novavax vaccine should be available in pharmacies soon.

https://wtop.com/business-finance/2024/09/new-novavax-covid-vaccine-now-headed-to-pharmacies/

wtg

If you're considering the Novavax vaccine, here's the page to check to see when it is available at various outlets:

https://us.novavaxcovidvaccine.com/find-a-vaccine