Post Covid Syndrome……another great reason to get vaccinated!

The number of posts that I see on anti-social media about a “99.9% survival rate” of Covid as an argument against vaccination is unbelievable. At best that number is misleading. The real number is probably around 99% but let’s break that down a bit more. A 1% mortality rate is about 10 TIMES higher than the common flu. 1% of the current U.S. population is 3,290,000….and we’re currently near 500,000 deaths, actually about 1.7% mortality rate. That’s a LOT more deaths down the road even at 1%!

Now let’s look at mortality rates within age groups with Covid. Here is an interesting graph from the CDC. As you can see risk of hospitalization and mortality skyrockets the older the patient is!

As for risk of mortality with covid. It goes up dramatically with age and complicating co-morbidities as we can see with this chart from ourworldindata.org the mortality rate for those over 75-80 jumps to around 12-20%!

Now let’s move on to those who SURVIVE Covid. Anti-Social Media would make it seem like simply get better and move on. WHY would anyone be a “guinea pig” with an “untested”, “unapproved”, “genetic experiment”, “Illuminati backed”, “New World Order”, “Bill Gates sponsored”, “microchipped”, “jab” that “turns you into a GMO” and is causing death and mayhem all over the world??? Well……I decided to get the vaccine after doing my own research and after knowing several people that HAD Covid and still can’t taste or smell, are still short of breath and have lost their hair and lots of other lingering symptoms now known as Post Covid Syndrome.

As we’ve gained experience with this scourge we are seeing an emerging problem with long term side effects. You will see the terms “Post Covid Syndrome”, “Post-acute Covid-19 Syndrome”, “Long Covid” and “Long Haulers”. My information is primarily found in this article from the CDC and Infectious Disease Society of America. https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/disease-manifestations–complications/post-covid-syndrome/

The article discusses the following studies:

• From China: Overall, in this large cohort study of 1,733 patients with COVID-19 assessed 6 months after discharge, most patients exhibited at least one symptom, particularly fatigue or muscle weakness, sleep difficulties, and anxiety or depression. More severely ill patients had increased risk of pulmonary diffusion abnormality, fatigue or muscle weakness, and anxiety or depression. The seropositivity and titers of the neutralizing antibodies were significantly lower than at acute phase. ..
• From Michigan: Overall, in this observational cohort of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Michigan, nearly 1 in 3 patients died during hospitalization or within 60 days of discharge. For most patients who survived, ongoing morbidity, including the inability to return to normal activities, physical and emotional symptoms, and financial loss, was common, confirming that the toll of COVID-19 extends well beyond hospitalization. 
• From France: Overall, in this descriptive clinical follow-up study of 150 non-critical patients with COVID-19, two-thirds of adults experienced persistent symptoms up to 2 months after symptom onset, primarily anosmia/ageusia, dyspnea or asthenia. 
• Also from France: Overall, in this study of patients with COVID-19 discharged from the hospital and interviewed over 3 months post diagnosis, the majority of patients experienced continued symptoms, most commonly including fatigue and dyspnea.
• From Italy: Overall, in this study of patients with COVID-19 discharged from the hospital with SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance by RT-PCR and interviewed approximately 2 months after diagnosis, the majority of patients experienced continued symptoms, with the most common symptoms being fatigue and dyspnea.
• From England: Overall, in this study of patients with COVID-19 discharged from the hospital at least 4 weeks prior to study enrollment, the majority of patients experienced continued symptoms, with the most common symptoms being fatigue and dyspnea.
• From the U.S. : Overall, in this study of patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the outpatient setting, primarily had mild disease and were interviewed a median of 16 days post diagnosis, the majority had continued symptoms. The most common symptoms included cough and fatigue.

In addition to these study findings some other common PCS symptoms being reported are short-term memory loss, confusion, an inability to concentrate, and just feeling differently than they did before contracting the infection. Some have hair loss, Bell’s palsy and loss of sense of taste and smell. Some have dysguesia, a condition where a person’s perception of taste is altered; everything seems sweet, sour, bitter, or metallic.

What causes PCS? Probably many things like inflammation, possibly an auto-immune reaction, dysregulation of the nervous system responsible for involuntary functions, like blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and digestion.

As for sense of taste and smell…. about a quarter of recovered COVID-19 patients say they regained their senses of taste and smell within two weeks of other symptoms disappearing. There has been some success with “olfactory training” and some intranasal steroid sprays.

So there you have an introduction to PCS or “Long Hauler”. It appears that the vaccines currently available are very effective at preventing Covid. YES….they are new but very large studies have shown very good safety profiles. YES….you may feel lousy for a day or so after your second dose. For me it was proof that my immune system was “seeing” Covid for a second time and responding. Does it turn you into a GMO…..no. It’s NOT just about a “99.9%” survival rate….it’s HOW you are AFTER you survive and THAT was the deciding factor for me. Please read my other articles on Covid, vaccines and testing and make your OWN decision based on unbiased, objective, mainstream information. Thank you for your time and stay well!