COVID-19 (Coronavirus) discussion

RetiredGreyFox · 22 Oct 2025 at 13:49

Rroff said:
Used to get 2 or 3 nasty colds a year before COVID, I don't know if it is luck, cold virus variants and circulation still impacted from the lockdowns or whether the first dose of COVID has also strengthened by immune systems ability to deal with colds broadly or what.

Exactly the same here, always 3 or 4 colds every year but nothing since Covid which is weird.
Perhaps colds don't exist and it was a Govt thing to control us

Bumhug · 22 Oct 2025 at 13:59

Used to get 3 or 4 colds and then flu over Christmas but since covid that's not happened. Was really ill couple weeks ago though and had to take week off work, from list of symptoms it would point to it being the flu not covid but have been drained of energy ever since and the mental toll of being constantly tired is really starting to kick in. Got next week off work so hoping nice relaxing week of doing nothing will get me back on track

Freefaller · 22 Oct 2025 at 14:09

Rroff said:
~37 years since I've had anything which was confirmed as flu - last time I had flu proper I was 6 or 7, whenever proper flu as gone around since I've seemingly been immune to it. Sadly didn't get away without getting COVID - the first time was pretty grim though ever since it has been mild symptoms wise other than the fatigue.

I've never had the flu either. Worse I've ever had is a bit of a cold for a couple of days. Unlike you though I have no idea if I've ever got covid or not although I must have as my wife and kids had it at least once. But I interact with people daily and do a sport which means I am very physically close and interactive with people so I don't put myself in a very safe environment.

I think I'm just lucky genetically or whatever to be quite resilient or at least asymptomatic. Which isn't great as I have no idea I'm not well which isn't great for others nor is it good for me as I'm not letting my body recover.

Rroff · 27 Oct 2025 at 04:35

Several of the people at work who had COVID at the start of the month now have what seems to be actual flu - they are not amused as they were barely over COVID. Looks like another emergence of colds or COVID at work as well separate to that.

embalse · 27 Oct 2025 at 07:26

Rroff said:
Several of the people at work who had COVID at the start of the month now have what seems to be actual flu - they are not amused as they were barely over COVID. Looks like another emergence of colds or COVID at work as well separate to that.

The dreaded Christmas parties are looming, a recipe for catching something. It won't stop me participating though

.

mattyg · 28 Oct 2025 at 18:49

Possibly some very good news

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines can trigger the immune system to recognize and kill cancer, research finds

The researchers found that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines could potentially help patients whose tumors don’t respond well to traditional immunotherapy.

www.livescience.com

Link to study

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint blockade - Nature

mRNA vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 also sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

www.nature.com

DarrenM343 · 1 Nov 2025 at 13:10

Caught covid for the first time. Of all places, I caught it in Hospital after major surgery. Couldn't believe it. On waking up in a ward I noticed a decent % of staff were coughing or sniffing. Someone in the ward tested positive and most of the rest of us did too. Had a side room to myself for a while but could have done without that complication.
Finally back home after 17 days but not sure if COVID impacted the timeline.

Rroff · 1 Nov 2025 at 13:13

Ouch, I think on balance I'd rather be in the comforts of home vs hospital when dealing with COVID as well unless it got really severe :s

Somehow I've still managed to dodge what has been going around at work lately, though did have a couple of rough days mid week with a bit of fatigue and generally feeling under the weather which might have been a very mild infection.

Uther · 1 Nov 2025 at 13:20

Just getting over what I'm sure is covid again, third time. Symptoms were a throat like razor blades and one hell of a cough which is just subsiding now after just over a week.
I am eligible for the vaccine and had one booked, but when I turned up to get it a few weeks ago at a pharmacy they were queueing out the door so didn't bother.
Big mistake.

Blackjack Davy · 2 Nov 2025 at 04:33

DarrenM343 said:
Caught covid for the first time. Of all places, I caught it in Hospital after major surgery. Couldn't believe it. On waking up in a ward I noticed a decent % of staff were coughing or sniffing. Someone in the ward tested positive and most of the rest of us did too. Had a side room to myself for a while but could have done without that complication.
Finally back home after 17 days but not sure if COVID impacted the timeline.

Hospital wards are riven with flu and norovirus cases at the moment not sure which is worse to catch. Speaking of which flu is markedly high at the moment fuelling fears of a bad flu season. Got a jab booked in a week or so at least I can get one of those.

Werewolf · 2 Nov 2025 at 09:39

Blackjack Davy said:
Hospital wards are riven with flu and norovirus cases at the moment not sure which is worse to catch. Speaking of which flu is markedly high at the moment fuelling fears of a bad flu season. Got a jab booked in a week or so at least I can get one of those.

I got my flu jab a few weeks back, having had it in '21/22 I don't want it again

Going for a private covid jab tomorrow as I can't afford to catch that whilst looking after my dad.

Kelt · 2 Nov 2025 at 10:40

Werewolf said:
I got my flu jab a few weeks back, having had it in '21/22 I don't want it again

Going for a private covid jab tomorrow as I can't afford to catch that whilst looking after my dad.

How much for the covid jab, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm not eligible this year.

Hutchy · 2 Nov 2025 at 10:55

Kelt said:
How much for the covid jab, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm not eligible this year.

I think they are around £100 usually.

Uther · 2 Nov 2025 at 10:58

Werewolf said:
I got my flu jab a few weeks back, having had it in '21/22 I don't want it again

Going for a private covid jab tomorrow as I can't afford to catch that whilst looking after my dad.

It's absolutely ridiculous that you can't get it as someone caring for a vulnerable person now.

Werewolf · 2 Nov 2025 at 11:11

Kelt said:
How much for the covid jab, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm not eligible this year.

£98 from Boots, I'm having to go a couple of towns* over because my local boots doesn't offer it at all, and the next nearest shows up as offering them but had no appointments showing as free at all.

I've been eligible on and off but this year it's a no, other times I've been eligible for one of two or three reasons.

Uther said:
It's absolutely ridiculous that you can't get it as someone caring for a vulnerable person now.

They muck about with the eligibility every time, as I said to a friend it's stupid as if someone is a carer/looking after a vulnerable person things can go downhill fast and it'll cost the government a heck of a lot more to deal with things afterwards.

*A town I absolutely hate going to as the traffic is a nightmare.

Blackjack Davy · 2 Nov 2025 at 19:57

Kelt said:
How much for the covid jab, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm not eligible this year.

Good luck getting hold of one the nearest was 200 odd miles away for me. I'm deffo going to ask when I get the flu jab they might know someone...

Werewolf said:
They muck about with the eligibility every time, as I said to a friend it's stupid as if someone is a carer/looking after a vulnerable person things can go downhill fast and it'll cost the government a heck of a lot more to deal with things afterwards.

I've had flu jabs for free a few years back this year and last, nada. Pay up or go without.

Mysterae_ · 18 Nov 2025 at 17:18

Not sure if it's covid or the flu, but something's infected me and now on day 3 (I think) and the bouts of fevers are becoming intermittent. Sleep is hard to come by and I've not eaten anything in days. My levels of self pity are high though

.

Doesn't seem much point in getting a test to know if it is covid or not.

Kelt · 18 Nov 2025 at 17:36

Saw my doctor last week, and he said even they don't get the vaccine this year! :eek:

Rroff · 18 Nov 2025 at 17:44

Mysterae_ said:
Not sure if it's covid or the flu

COVID has dropped right off probably due to the spike in cases being fuelled by people going on their holidays, etc. while flu on the other hand is on a big ramp at the moment at double the normal rate for this time of year (new variant).

Not sure if there is any connection between the two in terms of behaviour - probably not.

Blackjack Davy · 18 Nov 2025 at 22:21

Mysterae_ said:
Not sure if it's covid or the flu, but something's infected me and now on day 3 (I think) and the bouts of fevers are becoming intermittent. Sleep is hard to come by and I've not eaten anything in days. My levels of self pity are high though .

Doesn't seem much point in getting a test to know if it is covid or not.

Sounds like influenza, glad I had my jab last week...