Who here has not gotten COVID? Who has long COVID?

My anecdotal observation is the following:

  • Pre-vaccine, ancestral virus: about a third of the small number of people who knew they had COVID-19 had very bad cases and long or medium COVID. But one found out having had an asymptomatic infection by antibody test.
  • Vaccine, no booster: a few people who had unpleasant cases (mainly Delta), possibly weeks of recovery of lung capacity, but no long or medium COVID.
  • Vaccine and booster: know a lot of people who got it (Omicron), but not severely, and no long or medium COVID.
  • Do not know anyone who got COVID-19 twice.

Seems to me that if you have not had COVID-19:

  • You want to get all vaccines and boosters that you can get before you get COVID-19. They may not stop you from getting it, but will greatly reduce the risk of a bad case.
  • If you want to keep avoiding getting it, continue using good masks in indoor public places and avoiding higher risk situations (e.g. crowded).
  • However, since many people now have hybrid immunity, they are much less likely to get it again and be a threat of infection to you.

If you have hybrid immunity, you are probably now lower risk. But if you do get COVID-19 again after hybrid immunity, you now know that your risk is higher than for most people who have hybrid immunity, in which case you may want to proceed accordingly.