How Does This Year's Flu Shot Stack Up? (MedPage Today)

[Jason]

A study was released looking at flu vaccine effectiveness using flu season data from the Southern Hemisphere. Vaccine effectiveness against severe illness (i.e. hospitalization) was 35% for high-risk groups with varying ranges for children, and people with comorbidities. Older adults had a 31% effectiveness. Some might say, "Why bother?" I say 35% is a fair bit higher than 0%. The general population can get flu and COVID-19 shots together beginning October 30. Mine is scheduled for November 1.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/uritheflu/112461

[ssfc72]

I don't need to get the covid shot this season. :-)  I just got finished having covid, last week, so I am already resistant to it for this season.

[Jason]

I don't need to get the covid shot this season. :-)  I just got finished having covid, last week, so I am already resistant to it for this season.

Lucky you! I mean, unlucky you! Do you still have tests left, Bill? Or did you pick up some more? I have plenty left, but they're all well past the expiry date. They can still work. They just become less accurate.

My topic was about the flu shot. Are you getting that this season?

[ssfc72]

Yes, I still have some outdated covid rapid test kits.
The test kits are still accurate past their expiry date.
Apparently at the time the test kits were manufactured the companies did not have much data to go by in establishing an expiry date.
Now they have more data which shows the old test kits are still good, past their expiry dates.
In the USA you can go on the internet and find the Brand of test kit you have and look up it's new, revised expiry date.

[Jason]

In the USA you can go on the internet and find the Brand of test kit you have and look up it's new, revised expiry date.

That's cool. I'll have to see if they have my brand listed. I'm starting to attend some lightly-attended social occasions so it'd be good to test afterward to protect my wife.

Btw, how was COVID for you this time? I remember last time you said you were suffering after-effects a month later.

[ssfc72]

The last time I had covid, the effects were mild and lasted about a week but I had no energy for about 4 weeks.

This time, I had no energy for about 3 weeks.