Post B1vI9EYcd0EOhOot2O by augieray@mastodon.social
 (DIR) More posts by augieray@mastodon.social
 (DIR) Post #B1vI9CHt4FeleuyUfw by augieray@mastodon.social
       2025-11-25T15:42:43Z
       
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       #COVID19 and flu's winter surge will begin in earnest this week in the US due to holiday travel and events. (We won't be able to confirm this for a couple of weeks due to reporting timelines.)  Wear a mask when you can in crowds so that:- You stay healthy- Your loved ones stay healthy- You prevent a chain of infections that cause dozens of people to get ill (and someone to get chronically ill) during the winter surge.Every infection we prevent at the start of a surge counts for more! 1/4
       
 (DIR) Post #B1vI9D32ExN21929AG by augieray@mastodon.social
       2025-11-25T15:43:28Z
       
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       These are simple things we should've learned over the last five years, but most continue to erroneously believe that repeated #COVID19 infections are no big deal. And, please realize that the risks of getting Long COVID are not equal for everyone. Your risk of chronic health problems following a COVID infection rise:- The more times you've had COVID (https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/second-infection-in-kids-doubles-long-covid-risk)- The fewer vaccines and the longer time it's been since a vaccination (https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/covid-vaccines-reduce-long-covid-risk-new-study-shows)2/4
       
 (DIR) Post #B1vI9DoBPf5INN5nea by augieray@mastodon.social
       2025-11-25T15:44:11Z
       
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       The risk of Long COVID rises if (continued):- If you're a woman (https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/long-covid-women-greater-risk-compared-men-could-immune-system-differences-be-cause)- If you're obese (https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/long-covid-women-greater-risk-compared-men-could-immune-system-differences-be-cause)- If you have a history of mental health problems, cardiovascular issues, cancer, diabetes, and other conditions. 3/4
       
 (DIR) Post #B1vI9EYcd0EOhOot2O by augieray@mastodon.social
       2025-11-25T15:44:48Z
       
       2 likes, 0 repeats
       
       Disabilities in the US rose abruptly in 2020 and are continuing to rise (https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNU01074597). Last year's flu season was bad, and this one is shaping up to be even worse, possibly due to immune damage from COVID reinfections (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/health/flu-season-us.html). We see reports of a rise in cancers and cardiovascular issues in younger people, possibly due to repeated COVID infections (https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.038987#:~:text=The%20pandemic%20accelerated%20an%20already%20upward%20trend%20of%20rising%20HF%20mortality%20rate%20among%20younger%20adults.). Take a little care and protect your health and well-being this holiday season! 4/4