Re: Covid-19 Vaccine updates

[Agartha]

Much better than having to fight either of those viruses for real 

Absolutely!

[Agartha]

Replying here instead of the game thread:

(We’ll see, I guess... They didn’t become part of life after the 1918 flu, for example, which was a much deadlier pandemic than this one. If this way of living does end up continuing indefinitely, I guess I’ll be able to change with it. I just find it pretty difficult to believe that this pandemic won’t die out like previous ones did)

Comparing the 1918 pandemic with covid19 is like comparing apples and oranges for many reasons. The main one being how they both caused deaths: the Spanish Flu killed with pneumonia, Covid kills by causing an overactive immune response that ends up causing multiple organ failure. Also covid lasts a lot longer than the Spanish flu, people are ill for longer. We also have 'long covid' with many individuals, including children, which we didn't have with the Spanish flu. 

Yes, probably 50 millions died with the Spanish flu, but it was 1918, medical facilities and treatments were very poor. If it was to happen today, you wouldn't see that amount of deaths. 

You need to remember that viruses don't just disappear, we become more immune to them, we made meds to help us survive them. The old Spanish flu virus mutated and it's still around us actually (I can't remember the new code name for it) and if anybody catches it now it would be like any common flu. With time the whole world population will become sort of immune to Covid, this is my personal opinion, but there is no way we can predict how long that will take. It may take 2 years but it may also take 15... you can't put your life on hold because by the time it's over, it may be in a long long time. 



Pictures for reference. Patients with the Spanish flu in 1918:






Patients with Covid 19:






Imagine how deadly Covid19 would have been in 1918. Regarding masks etc, yes, in the future people will forget about having to wear masks or try to keep a distance, but we still don't know how long we'll have to apply these rules. We are able to go anywhere now, even concerts, so I don't really feel that I have to put my life on hold.

[TrueCrazyLion]

That’s a good idea TBH, posting here to stop that discussion hijacking the game thread.

Think I’m still learning that you shouldn’t start a heated debate with the Aggie. Just don’t do it! 

You make excellent points, and I think you’ve explained the whole situation very well(Including with the photos!).

You’re right about the living conditions and medical treatments in 1918 being nowhere near as good.

I was thinking about the increase in world population since 1918 too, from 1.8 billion to 7.8 billion, and the corresponding increase in the number who would’ve died if the same percentage of the current population would’ve come down accordingly with it(50 million then, roughly 216 million now, although as you say, living conditions worldwide generally aren’t the same) and then thinking of the 5.4 million who’ve died of Covid so far.

But yes, there’s the issue of long Covid as well, and like you say, that kind of thing seems not to happen with flu.

I think I’ve been so keen to compare the two pandemics because although the coronaviruses and H1N1 viruses harm the human body in fundamentally different ways, their diseases are spread in the same way and have similar levels of infectiousness. 

I’m hoping that with the combination of vaccines and other treatments being developed, we’ll be able to go back to a much more normal way of living within a year or two, but you’re right, I guess we really shouldn’t wait.

I think what really bothers me about this virus and makes me want to avoid it at all costs is the supposed requirement to self-isolate for 10 days if you test positive for it. (I say supposed, because I don’t see how it can actually be enforced!) That really freaks me out… I don’t see how I could manage to stay in my flat without leaving it at all for 10 days. I think I’d go nuts!  

I guess that maybe the same kind of rule might be put in place now to try to stop the spread of the H1N1 virus if that had suddenly appeared in recent times, I dunno - that’s another thing which is different about Covid, RE it being the only pandemic like this in the modern era(Proving your point actually).

It’s very true, I shouldn’t put my life on hold indefinitely because of it. I’m really hoping the booster will help me change that!

[Agartha]

LOL I respect people's opinions but I state my facts if I have some! LOL

I isolated for 10 days and yes, it's not easy, but better than being hooked to a machine in ICU. 

And I hope the booster will boost your confidence (no pun intended lol) to go out and live in the real world again, we have to learn to live with this virus, in a careful way, but still cohabit with it.

[TrueCrazyLion]

Facts are always best! LOL. I think that honesty is always the best policy too.

Yeah, I find the idea of isolating for 10 days very difficult, even if I’ve been living in a manner close to it for the last 21 months!

Yeah, the way we go back to living more normally is important. I think my biggest fear has really been fear of the unknown: Am I one of the lucky ones who would’ve been asymptomatic if I’d caught Covid even without being vaccinated, or would I have been, like you say, hooked up to an ICU? (For real, not sitting there watching Love Actually like some right-wing politicians! LOL)

I can remember, I took the virus so seriously and found the pandemic so terrifying, one night in April 2020 I made sure all my favourite apps - including Last FM and Spotify - were installed on my phone, so that I could have it with me and keep listening to my music in my hospital bed if I ended up hospitalised with Covid. I’ve never feared any illness quite like I feared this one in the beginning.
I’m really hoping that with my booster, on top of the vaccines, I’ll be able to let any fears like that go now.

[Agartha]

How are you feeling? Any side effects?

[TrueCrazyLion]

I’m feeling surprisingly good TBH, nothing really so far except the slightly sore upper arm; I expected to be having more side effects than this, somehow.

The Pfizer vaccine really seems to be so good!!

[Rogue]

Good news!

[Agartha]

I had my flu jab and covid booster on Saturday, not one side effect from both this time (last year it floored me and I remember struggling to work).

[Rogue]

Good stuff Ags!

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