A new COVID vaccine is due out next month, but health experts and analysts say it is likely to be coolly received even as hospitalizations from "Eris", a variant of the Omicron form of the coronavirus, rise around the country.
I'm 2+1 and just tested positive for COVID yesterday. I had COVID previously in 2021 as well. Symptoms are mild with runny nose, headache, fatigue, and a light cough.
Catching it again has me comparing the environment then and now and made the COVID apathy more apparent. Most co-worker responses have been either "That's still a thing?" to "Throw a mask on and come back into the office." I've elected to isolate to not be responsible for more spread. The frustrating thing is looking for guidance and most articles are dated in 2022. The pharmacy had fewer stock of masks and COVID tests were in the back now.
I'm all for continuing to receive regular vaccinations like I do for the flu. If anything to continue to keep the symptoms mild.
I'll bet there's not going to be any lines this fall when I go to get this shot. Even by the 4th round during the pandemic I had no trouble making an appointment. Lots of people just decided COVID's over once they got any number of shots (1 in some cases).
I'm of the opinion that COVID is no longer news worthy beyond the minority it impacts. No different to the flu or various other low risk (to the vast majority) common community transmitted illnesses.
It just is now. We don't get news articles written and publicised at this level for a new flu variant or vaccine, so I don't see the point for COVID.
Edit: some good discussion in the responses to this. But also some utterly dog shit ad hominem and trying to put words in my mouth. If only they bothered to actually read what I wrote.
That's good to hear that even though the vaccine is targeting the last big Omicron variant (XBB.1.5) aka Kraken, that its still effective towards the new Eris variant as its similar enough.