Does the COVID vaccination, quite tangentially, protect us from other virus infections?

Apparently I was reading that there are a lot of random viruses out there at the moment as well as blimmin’ covid.

The scientists don’t seem to know why.

Whether covid jabs protect you from other viruses - not sure there has been work done on that. I haven’t read anything as yet.

I do wonder if, since the pandemic, many of us are a bit more wary of crowds, close proximity to others, people coughing etc. - maybe subconsciously.

I think it’s possibly ingrained in us now. If so, we might pick up fewer of the bugs (that are always out there) than we previously did.

Dunno re covid vac so, but bad luck MOnica, hope it doesn’t last long.

For vac so read vaccs!

I don’t think you can actually rule Covid out my grandson became unwell but tested negative, my son caught it off him same symptoms and tested negative, for 5 days then tested positive, my daughter in law who always picks up everything never got it Weird

LizzieDrip

I do wonder if, since the pandemic, many of us are a bit more wary of crowds, close proximity to others, people coughing etc. - maybe subconsciously.

I think it’s possibly ingrained in us now. If so, we might pick up fewer of the bugs (that are always out there) than we previously did.

This sounds very logical to me.
But looking back over the last 6 months or so I have also read anecdotal evidence of particularly nasty cold- type viruses (here on GN) which people have found knocked them for six, coughs which lasted for weeks and proved hard to shift etc
One theory for this was that reduced social contact over the pandemic also reduced our resistance because we were catching fewer mild colds and “snuffles”. In the same way that children build up an immune system by catching everything going and having a permanent runny nose. After the pandemic school children seemed to be going down with more and worse cold-type viruses
So it seems to be a complex issue.
Social interaction is clearly a factor, the efficiency of an immune system another - and here Monica may have a point. Perhaps her immune system has been boosted by the Covid booster jab.
So, are we catching fewer “bugs/viruses” ? Are we suffering more and /or worse symptoms when we do?
It sounds like years of research in store for the immunologists!

Interesting isn’t it (though not for you M0nica).

When I grow up, I’d quite like to be an immunologist

My husband was rushed to A&E and hospitalised at the end of May with what they described as 'a viral infection'. They have no idea where it came from. It affected his liver, kidneys and his oxygen levels. He is an otherwise fit man (well any problems he has had have been dealt with). He has had 7 COVID jabs. He is ok now but it was very scary. I hope you feel ok now Monica

Well, I had my COVID booster not long ago, and have a really horrible bug at the moment, rasping cough, sore throat, and generally feeling exceedingly rough. Spent much of yesterday in bed. I did test for COVID - negative.

This morning there is a piece on the BBC News website explaining why "people are feeling so grotty this summer". Sorry, I don't know how to do links, but it's worth reading

There's always the possibility that there is a mutated variety of the covid virus doing the rounds which the tests aren't so sensitive to.

As the powers that be have done their best to avoid any way of showing the prevalence or not of covid in the English population (Scotland is still doing waste water testing for covid, which shows that it is still quite active in Scotland, whereas England is not) I don't see how we can possibly know whether this cold type bug that is so active is covid or not.

Covid tests have expiry dates. I've just had a look at the two I've stashed in a cupboard and at the moment they're still OK, but if you have a stock of tests bought two or three years ago, it would be worth checking. Also: the virus has taken several new turns over the last few years and tests bought early in the pandemic might not detect more recent versions.

Hope you soon feel better MOnica
I like your query about whether the vax are protecting us from viruses. I’m immune suppressed, up to date with covid vax and haven’t had an infection needing antibiotics for about 18 months whereas a cold in the past often becomes a chest infection.
OTOH I know so many fit people laid down with coughs that linger
Immunology heaven research I expect

My test was on the cusp of being outdated, but the result was so unequivocal. Think pink line at the top and absolutely nothing else.

WWM2 It was reading the news item you mentioned that made me think about how free from passing infections we have been for the last year or so.

All us oldies have been offered, and usually taken, regular opportunities to have the anto-COVID jabs, where younger people, like those in the article, haven't.

Thank you for your kind wishes, I am not feeling too bad, just weak and wimpsy and jaded, and we will not be doing a boot fair tomorrow.

My nephew (43) just tested positive. There’s a lot of covid about agsin

LizzieDrip

Interesting isn’t it (though not for you M0nica).

When I grow up, I’d quite like to be an immunologist

It fascinates me, like being a sort of medical detective!

DH has had an awful cold last two weeks with sore throat and cough. Tested negative but really laid him low. I have kept well! GC have had “kiddy colds” I call them snotty noses and coughing but not unwell. Maybe it came from them! I am more careful now when out and about and use hand sanitizer after self service tills

I notice quite a few are wearing masks again round here. Whether it means they are protecting themselves or actually have Covid I’m not sure.

M0nica Several friends of mine who have had nasty viral symptoms have not tested Covid positive until they have tested several times. Usually it has shown positive by Day 4 or 5. Don't rely on just that one test that you've done.

Sparklefizz

M0nica Several friends of mine who have had nasty viral symptoms have not tested Covid positive until they have tested several times. Usually it has shown positive by Day 4 or 5. Don't rely on just that one test that you've done.

I am not that unwell, and already feeling a bit better. I suspect I will be in full recovery mode by tomorrow and over it by Monday

But it was getting this mild virus that made me realise just how long ago it was since I last had anything similar, when, in the past I would probably have several 2 - 7 day viral infections over the winter and at least one in the summer.

I wonder the same as you Annodomino about expiry of test kits. How crucial are these dates and which bit is most vulnerable? I have container of deboxed kits all the bits mixed up now. Husband tested positve but despite feeling bit grotty/sniffy, I am coming up negative. I wonder also how they work what with years of mutating virus by now? How does it identify specific covid bug?

Quite common for people who are vaccinated to get COVID so wouldn't seem unlikely.

I'm just recovering from covid, started coughing on the Sunday, tested negative early Tuesday morning, tested positive lunchtime Wednesday. Didn't test negative following Wednesday, still have slight cough and very tired

Bumped into an old friend today and she told me one of her sisters had the first covid jab and has not been well since. She had a big blood clot straight after the jab. She was waiting for a new hip at the time.

She now has several smaller clots and they won’t operate while she has them.