As I sit in my office building for 8 hours with a mask on, listening to people around me act like it’s over. I am counting down the seconds till I can be back in my house, safe and sound.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Pre-vaccine COVID was significantly scarier, especially in the early incarnations of the virus when the death rate was at its highest.

We're getting back to flu being the predominant lethal strain of disease... which fucking sucks, because masking and hygiene and distancing had put the biggest dent in flu mortality in my lifetime. But its becoming a poor / vulnerable / elderly disease problem instead of a People Who Matter problem, because there are so many effective (expensive) interventions available to treat it at onset.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Don’t get it twisted, this conversation was not between people who understand the nuances of public health. It was the treat brained people who yearn to be in the office and eat shitty pizza with their colleagues.

COVID is still scary, I wouldn’t be wearing a mask 8 hours a day at my email job if it wasn’t. I also like avoiding the flu and all the other illnesses that we as a society have deemed okay to spread to each other.

This was merely a rant post because it pains me to sit at my desk behind a bunch of people who minimize my concerns and experiences. I totally see your point tho, and don’t mean to belittle it.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago (2 children)

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202404159

Researchers at TAU and the University of Lisbon have developed a nano-vaccine against COVID-19, delivered via nasal spray without requiring cold storage. Preclincial studies show the vaccine was effective against all major SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Hopefully this brightens your day.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 week ago

We've been wishcasting the nasal vaccine for a long time, I wont let my hopes up until thats passed stage 3 clinicals

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

I have heard rumblings of this. Definitely a bright spot.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

We're getting back to flu being the predominant lethal strain of disease

the flu being equally lethal as covid is partially driven by covid weakening immune systems

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago

The post-COVID degradation of general preventative care and the anti-vax hysteria might be playing a role, as well. How many hospitals don't have enough saline to treat the influx of flu-victims during the peak of the season? How many clinics and ERs have simply shuttered due to skyrocketing costs and skinflint insurance companies? How many elder care facilities have lost too many staffers (traditionally popular jobs among now-unwelcome migrant workers) to function as anything except morgues?

Even absent the threat of COVID, domestic society is being hollowed out by finance and private equity.