Augie RayApr 22, 2023

#COVID19 is NOT just the flu! Not only can you get COVID multiple times a year (compared to once a decade with flu) data from Winter 2022-23 shows the fatality rate is 61% πŸ”Ό with COVID. More data:

- Under 65, COVID & flu death risk are the same. Over 65, COVID death rate is 78% πŸ”Ό.

- Death rate goes down with vaccinations: 132% πŸ”Ό for unvaccinated, 66% πŸ”Ό for 1/2 doses, and 38% πŸ”Ό than flu for the boosted.

- COVID reinfection deaths are 34% πŸ”Ό than flu reinfection deaths.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2803749

Risk of Death in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 vs Seasonal Influenza in 2022-2023

This study uses data from the US Department of Veterans Affairs to assess whether SARS-CoV-2 remains associated with higher risk of death compared with seasonal influenza in fall-winter 2022-2023.

Show threadπ“₯π“²π“¬π“½πŸ“π“»π“²π“ͺ
@augieray You can definitely get the flu multiple times in a year. Not sure where you’re getting a decade from. But yes, COVID is worse and people need to treat it with the caution it deserves.
Apr 22, 2023 at 3:35pmWeb
Show threadAugie RayApr 22, 2023

@KweVictoria You CAN get flu multiple times a year. CDC data suggests that 8 to 11% of Americans get the flu each year, so we actually DO get the flu around once or twice a decade. Meanwhile, many definitely are getting COVID twice or more often each year. We need to stop looking at the theoretical risk and look at the very real risks of a pandemic virus that is rapidly mutating in more immune-evasive variants, causing multiple surges a year.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm

Key Facts About Influenza (Flu)

Learn key facts about influenza to fight against flu.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Show threadπ“₯π“²π“¬π“½πŸ“π“»π“²π“ͺApr 22, 2023
@augieray Fair enough, but you used the word β€œcan” so that’s how it reads. Perhaps a different word and reworking of the sentence structure could help clarify.
Show threadAugie RayApr 22, 2023
@KweVictoria That's also fair. Thanks for pointing that out.
Show threadGreySkiesApr 22, 2023

@augieray @KweVictoria

You can also get 2 different strains of Influenza (A and B). But this example is talking about the average, while of course the individual can catch it more often than once a decade.

One other thing of note is that influenza is truly seasonal (active during at most 4 months per season) while Covid just keeps on going year round.

Show threadπ“₯π“²π“¬π“½πŸ“π“»π“²π“ͺApr 22, 2023
@GreySkies @augieray That brings up a thought: flu doesn’t flourish Oct-April everywhere. In more tropical places, it’s year-round. And scientists are concerned climate change is going to alter the temperate zones from flu cycles to perennial like that. I know the less careful folks I see tend to think COVID has to follow virus β€œseason” too, so perhaps we need to just do away with that term for our future health. We need a Smokey Bear daily risk alert and campaign, but for contagions.
Show threadGreySkiesApr 22, 2023

@KweVictoria @augieray

Agreed, that would be good! Add it to the list of things we really NEED but don't get :(

Why is flu year round though in more tropical places? I always thought that the seasonality factor *mainly* came into play because of people gathering more indoors when it's cold outside, hence less transmission in summer for flu. When it's always summer though, shouldn't it be the opposite? What are the driving factors there?

Show threadπ“₯π“²π“¬π“½πŸ“π“»π“²π“ͺApr 22, 2023
@GreySkies @augieray From what I’ve read, they think humidity may be the major factor. But they’re still working it. https://www.popsci.com/story/health/flu-climate-change-bad/
A warmer climate could make every season flu season

If the virus continues changing year-round, we could begin to see more dangerous forms of influenza.

Popular Science
Show threadGreySkiesApr 22, 2023

@KweVictoria @augieray

Alright that is sobering read :( so much for hoping for a brighter future as far as infectious disease is concerned.... they need to push nasal vaccine tech that blocks transmission ASAP, this is going to be a HUGE problem in addition to Covid once climate change effects kick in even more in the coming years...