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Why Everyone Is Getting Sick Now and It’s Not Covid
My son got the flu recently. Badly. He got the flu vaccine last December and we thought he was all set for not getting the flu this season. I mean, it’s April already, isn’t flu season over?
But he got it, last week. And an ear infection. And didn’t leave his dorm for 5 days.
He finally got to the doctor and was tested for the dreaded Covid and influenza. Negative for Covid and positive for influenza.
He was given antibiotics to fight the ear infection and prevent pneumonia. He is finally getting better.
As the CDC reported on March 18-
March 18, 2022 — CDC’s most recent FluView report shows that flu activity is increasing across most of the United States after declining from mid-December through January. Currently, activity is highest and increasing fastest in the central and south-central parts of the country. This is an unusual time for flu activity to be increasing, and it is unclear how long increases will continue. Flu activity is hard to predict, and CDC believes that flu vaccination at this time could still be beneficial for people who have not yet been vaccinated. While preliminary vaccine effectiveness estimates suggest that this season’s vaccines have not reduced the risk of mild to moderate illness caused by the most common H3N2 viruses, vaccination has been shown in the past to offer protection against more serious outcomes in people who get vaccinated but still get sick. Vaccination also could protect against illness caused by other flu viruses if those begin to circulate more commonly later this season.
I write this because we all know other illnesses exist. But the last two years, it seems collectively people have been so laser-focused on avoiding the enemy Covid, we forget other bad things are out there.
I made a trip to Gettysburg this past weekend. It was a risk but worth it for my mental health. We made the trip carefully and did not go in any restaurants. When we went in the museum, we wore masks. And yeah, I got some funny looks from people. Some out right stares. And I stared right back.
Because you know what? I came back home and I didn’t bring any Covid/flu souvenirs home with me. And that’s what matters.
