Someone one of my children knows is doing research on long term effects, specifically on the brain, and has made some recent comments...
A lot of the effects seem to be related to blood clotting, including in lungs where it can cause a serious reduction in capacity, also heart and brain. Other effects are on auto-immunity. It is now thought that an outbreak of hepatitis in children was caused by post-Covid immune system dysfunction and a number have needed transplants.
We are just coming out of a dip in infections between variants. BA4/5 (basically Omicron 4 and 5 and almost the same) are on the rise, and are both more infectious and vaccine resistant than their predecessor, which basically determines which new variants take over. It's not certain whether they are more severe, but there is some indication they might be.
Resistance is dropping as the vaccine wears out. If you had Omicron 2 (March onwards) you should have reasonable resistance to these; original Omicron (Dec/Jan/Feb) confers little resistance to them.
We have moved on to 'living with it', but really we are no nearer being 'through it'. Long Covid is real, it is now known that Omicron 1/2 caused it in some sufferers, although vaccination reduces incidence by up to 40%. Covid is therefore still well worth avoiding if possible. Masks work, especially FFP2/3, ventilation is good.
For ourselves, the boss and I have taken to wearing masks again in busy places and will continue to do so for the time being. We will take any further vaccine going.
P.S. - just watching a news item on Glasto. That looks like a serious super-spreader.
Last edited by: Manatee on Wed 22 Jun 22 at 22:30
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