According to the current rules, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) instructs people to isolate themselves for at least five days once they test positive for COVID-19. That may change in the coming months because the CDC may issue new guidelines. The new guidelines would depend on symptoms and not merely a positive test result. This marks a shift from how people currently attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The new guidelines state that you can end isolation if you are fever-free for 24 hours and have mild or improving symptoms. Changes to existing guidelines would not go into effect until at least April, which is the end of respiratory viral season. Health experts agree that that is a wise choice, given the presence of influenza, RSV, general viruses, and COVID strains that are currently circulating. This would be a big transition from current protocols, with some arguing that the newer guidelines are dangerous. Others agree that not everyone can afford to isolate. Here’s how infectious disease experts feel about the potential upcoming changes. 

New Guidelines Rely On Personal Responsibility

Most infectious disease experts agree that you should not go to work when you are sick, no matter what sickness you have. Taking time to rest and heal is paramount, and not going to work helps reduce the spread of whatever virus you have. Changing COVID-19 isolation guidelines, then, essentially normalizes COVID-19, along with other viruses that can cause respiratory illnesses. 

It is up to the individual to be responsible and honest about symptoms. If the symptoms are bad, they should not go out in public. When symptoms improve, they should continue to take precautions, like wearing a mask inside public spaces, for example. Once the person does not have a fever and symptoms are either improving or generally mild, experts agree that it is reasonable to return back to the outside world. It is, however, possible that the new guidelines will suggest people to wear masks upon returning to work. 

The new guidelines also take into account that more people are protected against severe disease or hospitalization and death. Gone are the early days of the pandemic, when most people didn’t have any immune protection. Infectious disease specialists agree that people have built up a certain level of community immunity, so the new guidelines seem reasonable. 

The Change Addresses The Fact That Most People Cannot Miss Five Days Of Work

If the person works from home, which became a popular method of employment during the pandemic, then missing work doesn’t really factor into the equation. You don’t have to leave your house, therefore you don’t have to worry about infecting fellow employees. If people work in an office or in a physical location, missing work for five days may not be easy or possible. Plus, people tend to rely on at-home testing more so than a test from a doctor’s office. 

Many employers may not be willing to accept an at-home test as a reliable confirmation of COVID-19 infection. A test may be required from a doctor, so it is harder for people to abide by at-home isolation requirements these days. 

Could New Guidelines Threaten High-Risk People?

In some places, more so than others, COVID cases have dropped this year. Additionally, experts note that those who contract the virus have had lower severity of significant illness. That said, some people continue to experience complications, such as severe disease, that require hospitalization, or symptoms from long COVID. Is it true that many people recover just fine from COVID without serious symptoms? Yes, but people with weak immunity, even if they got the vaccine and boosters, may not have a protective immune response against the virus. 

That means that a significant number of people have an increased risk of severe symptoms that result from COVID-19 infection. Because of that, it is the responsibility of the people with stronger immunity to take precautions if symptoms are mild. Wear a mask in public if you don’t have a fever and are no longer isolating. That can go a long way in limiting the spread of the virus to people who are highly vulnerable. 

There is still a risk to reentering the public with active COVID-19 infection. Infectious disease experts hope that masking becomes more of a norm if people come out of isolation with mild symptoms. Masking is more commonplace in other countries, but there is still a general stigma around it in the United States. If you do not feel well enough to go out, wear a mask so that you don’t spread whatever you have to your loved ones, coworkers, or community. 

COVID-19 Isn’t Gone

COVID-19 is not gone forever if the CDC changes its guidelines. Many experts agree that COVID is here to stay, and the public needs to understand that, even if it isn’t the primary news story. Do all that you can to protect and care for yourself and others, especially those who have weaker immune systems or existing health conditions. All experts can do is encourage people to do the right thing, but it will be interesting to see what the CDC’s new guidelines are and how they affect the spread and infection rates. Even though COVID-19 may soon be viewed as an endemic disease, it is by no means an insignificant illness.

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Halloween came and went, but the spooky season doesn’t die out quickly for everyone. People may want to leave decorations up, dreading the arrival of the merry, twinkling lights of the holiday season. Those same people may still want to watch horror movies, which are typically cheesy but provide the occasional jump scare. If you enjoy horror movies, health experts say that scaring yourself straight may come with some surprising mental health benefits. 

According to mental health experts, putting yourself in fear-inducing situations that don’t put you in danger can benefit you mentally. Haunted houses, scary video games, horror movies, etc. are terrifying for some and highly enjoyable for others. The psychology behind a person’s interest in all things horror is fascinating, though. In fact, watching horror movies goes much deeper than you might imagine. Here are a few reasons why watching scary movies may benefit your mental health. 

They Can Help You cope With Fear

By watching stressful or terrifying scenarios on screen, you may improve your ability to cope with similar situations in real life. A January 2021 study, for example, found that fans or horror films showed signs of more resilience and preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic. People who preferred alien invasion or zombie movies did not seem as resilient or prepared as horror movie fans in that study. 

Psychologists note managing things in real life may become simpler after focusing on a horrific situation in a scary movie. Exposure-based treatment is nothing new, but it involves intentionally watching things that trigger phobias or trauma. When you repeatedly do this, you learn to tolerate the anxiety and respond more calmly when it actually happens. 

They May Teach You Something About Yourself

Seeing something horrific play out in a movie may give you empowering insight about who you are as a person. If you can sit through a scary movie without freaking out, you have learned to overcome your fears, according to a 2021 study. Even if you need to leave the room and turn on the lights when the movie gets too intense, you’ve learned something about yourself. This may help you realize how you might handle a real-life situation that evokes a similar reaction. Self-knowledge can be a great thing!

They Can Give You A Feel-Good Rush

When you see a blood-curdling scene on the screen, adrenaline floods your system, activating your fight-or-flight response. This rush can elevate your heart rate and cause your muscles to tense up, which is an exhilarating experience for some. Even though you know you’re scared, you are ultimately safe, according to 2020 research. The masked murderer may break into every house on the block in the movie, but you enjoy that panicky pit in your stomach. It is thrilling, not terrifying, because you know they aren’t coming for your house. Psychologists say that this is why many people feel a mood boost after watching horror movies. 

In closing, there is no evidence that confirms watching monsters or slashers on screen will have a negative effect on long-term health or mental health. For some people, though, horror movies can activate short-term anxiety. Watching a scary movie before bed may give you nightmares or make it more difficult to fall asleep. Lastly, watching horror movies on a regular basis may desensitize you to upsetting situations in real life. A study confirmed that people who frequently watched violence in movies experienced a rapid spike and drop in blood pressure when shown a violent video, suggesting a lower emotional reactivity to violence.

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In late August 2023, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 steadily climbed. The data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that hospital admissions increased by 19% during the week ending August 19, 2023. Compare that to early June of 2023 when the weekly average of positive COVID-19 tests was about four percent. That figure has since tripled to 13.4%, and the region of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico hit a positivity rate of 18%. 

Ever since states made masks completely optional, the percentage of people wearing masks outside their home in the U.S. decreased. The percentage went from about 57% in January 2022 to around 27% in January 2023, according to data from Covid States Project. Did vaccines have anything to do with that? It’s not for us to say, especially since vaccinated individuals may not be protected against new subvariants. 

Infectious disease specialists still argue that masks can provide good protection in several scenarios. Many people don’t want to wear masks for their own reasons, while others continue to wear masks to protect themselves or other high-risk individuals. Wear a mask or don’t wear a mask, and let everyone do what they feel is right for them. 

COVID-19 Mask Mandates Reappear

Overall COVID-19 indicators are down from this time last year, but some institutions don’t want to take chances. For example, Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia posted on Instagram that it was restarting the mask mandate because of positive COVID-19 cases among students. Becker Hospital Review found eight hospitals that reintroduced face covering rules. Kaiser Permanente’s Santa Rosa Hospital in California states that masks are required upon entrance and throughout the duration of your visit. 

Other institutions that recently reinstated mask policies include Upstate Medical University in Syracuse and Auburn Community Hospital in Auburn, New York. UMass Memorial now requires employees to wear masks when visiting emergency room and cancer patients.

Should You Consider Masking Again? 

Infectious disease experts also recommend that you wear masks, or at least take more precautions, in certain situations. Consider wearing a mask in a public space if the following conditions apply to you:

• Going on a big trip in the very near future
• Getting married or attending a wedding soon
• Taking care of someone who is immunocompromised

For people who have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 complications, consider wearing a mask in crowded public spaces. Planes, trains, or enclosed areas with lots of people are breeding grounds for COVID-19. Nobody wants to get COVID-19, so take matters into your own hands and increase protection. 

If You Choose To Mask, Wear It Right

If you wear a mask, don’t wear it as a chin diaper. Make sure that you secure the face covering over your nose and mouth to protect yourself from breathing in contaminated droplets. There are many high-quality masks available these days, so get one that fits well. KN95s and surgical masks offer great protection, while NIOSH-approved respirators offer the highest level of protection, according to the CDC. How much protection you need will depend on you and how much you want to stay safe. It’s hard to say what COVID-19 cases will look like in the coming months, but taking precautions may help limit the spread and keep communities safe.

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The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a contagious virus that affects breathing passages and the lungs. Health experts state that most children contract the virus by the age of two, but any person can get infected at any age. The symptoms are very similar to those of the common cold and it’s possible to recover within a week or so. Those who are high risk may get very sick, developing pneumonia or bronchiolitis in some instances. 

In the late months of 2022, cases of RSV soared in the United States. The RSV isn’t new and cases tend to peak during fall and winter, although they can continue through spring. According to data, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among children younger than age one. Because of the increase in cases, especially across people of all ages, you may be wondering if, like COVID-19 or the flu, you can get RSV more than once. If you can, is it possible to get it twice in the same season? Read on to find out. 

Can You Get RSV More Than Once?

The body does not produce long-term immunity against RSV, which is why the virus is so common, and why you can get it more than once. Influenza, for example, and other similar viruses have different genetic strains that change from year to year. That makes reinfection more common, but that isn’t the case for RSV. There are different strains, but RSV is genetically stable, so to speak. 

It’s unclear to experts why immunity from RSV doesn’t last very long. A strong theory is that the virus may interfere with immune response, a process called immunomodulation. The first infection tends to provide a certain degree of immunity, but it is short-lived and partial. It is possible to contract the virus later in life, but it may not affect you the same way. A 2016 study found that 35% of children already had a second infection before their third birthday. 

How Soon After Having RSV Can You Get It Again?

Although you can get RSV twice in the same season, the chances of this happening are very low. A 2021 review of studies found that a person’s risk for contracting RSV again after initial infection is about 70% lower within the first six months. Other research indicates that the body develops an immune response to RSV within five to 10 days after infection. This persists in the blood for one to three months, however, some studies detected antibodies for at least one year after infection. Research from 2019 found that up to 36% of people may experience reinfection at least once each season. 

Are RSV Symptoms The Same During A Repeat Infection?

Due to lack of long-term immunity after infection, reinfection is frequent. Because you develop partial immunity, a second infection won’t affect you as much. RSV tends to cause an infection in the lower respiratory tract the first time you get it. The lower respiratory tract includes the windpipe, airways in the lungs, and the air sacs in the lungs. Studies indicate that about 40% of people who contract RSV for the first time develop bronchiolitis, inflammation of the bronchioles. Rarely do people develop pneumonia, but it can happen as a result of RSV infection. That said, each time you get reinfected with RSV, your risk of lower respiratory tract infection is much lower. You may still experience upper respiratory tract infections when you get RSV as an adult, with symptoms affecting your throat, sinuses, mouth, nose, and voice box. 

The Takeaway

After you get RSV, the body can develop an immune response, but you aren’t completely immune. More than one-third of people get a second infection by the age of three, but partial immunity still helps, reducing the severity of symptoms after reinfection. You’re more likely to experience cold-like symptoms the third or fourth time you contract RSV.

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It can be difficult to stay current with the coronavirus, especially with the highly mutated and fast-moving omicron variant. In the latest COVID-19 news, a new omicron subvariant, XBB.1.5, has become the predominant strain responsible for more than 50% of COVID-19 infections in the United States. In the week of December 24th, 2022, XBB accounted for 18.3% of the COVID-19 cases in the United States. That number increased from 11.2% in the previous week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

By the very end of 2022, XBB accounted for over 40.5% of cases in the country. In the northeastern United States, three out of four cases are currently XBB.1.5. The interesting thing is that XBB subvariants were barely on the radar three to four months ago. At that time, the CDC stated that omicron subvariant BA.5 made up 80% of infections. After that, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 took over. Now, BA.5 only accounts for 3.7% of cases. It’s a wildly unpredictable landscape, with XBB.1.5 multiplying at record speed. 

XBB.1.5 Appears To Be More Contagious Than Other Subvariants

XBB.1.5 is very, very contagious, according to the CDC. Infectious disease experts say that it is outcompeting other variants. This subvariant has already driven outbreaks in parts of Asia, including Singapore. The increased numbers in the northeastern United States, as we previously mentioned, may be an indicator of what will come in the rest of the country. As of December 30th, 2022, the New York Times COVID Tracker noted that New York and New Jersey saw some of the country’s highest per-capita case rates. 

Do Rising Hospitalizations In New York Foreshadow An Increase In COVID-19 Cases Across The U.S.?

Recent New York health figures suggest a steady rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations. A few southern states, including South Carolina and Kentucky, also experienced worsening conditions. Experts don’t know if XBB.1.5 is specifically driving hospitalizations, but the data doesn’t look favorable. It is a contributing factor at the very least, but more information is needed. 

When a new variant moves to a different geographic area, the risk of a mini outbreak in that area is high. That said, experts do not see the XBB subvariant driving the same massive surges as the original omicron variant did at the end of 2021. That’s great news!

Do Current COVID-19 Vaccines Protect Against XBB.1.5?

As stated when the original vaccine rolled out, they won’t keep you 100% protected from COVID-19 infection. As of now, experts believe that current vaccines will offer substantial protection against a mild or moderate infection developing into severe illness. Infectious disease experts say, from a vaccine point of view, that vaccinated individuals are still okay in that sense. XBB.1.5 is not yet a variant of concern, but it is of great interest because of the way it’s spreading. Current CDC data shows that only 15% of Americans are up to date on the most recent COVID-19 booster shot. 

Vaccination is obviously optional and you need to do what’s right for you. Don’t simply rely on vaccinations, though. Do your part to stay healthy by eating the right foods and getting a sufficient amount of weekly exercise. Various modalities can also help improve immune function and respiratory health, so explore those options in your efforts to stay safe and healthy.

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Some people don’t experience any symptoms, while others experience cold or flu-like symptoms due to COVID-19 infection. And then there are those who go through the whole nine, suffering from body aches, fever, cough, and loss of taste and smell. 

A new study was conducted in 2020 at NewYork Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical center in New York City. The scientists tested 266 people for antibodies to COVID-19 at least two weeks after their symptoms had mainly subsided. Tests revealed that the subjects no longer showed signs of active infection. None of the test subjects experienced severe cases, and they did not have signs of acute infection. During their tests for antibodies, the scientists observed that subjects had no lingering symptoms, save for potential loss of smell or taste. 

About two-thirds of participants reported that they either had an impaired sense of smell or taste. About 58% of participants said that infection altered both senses. Compared to people who never lost taste or smell, the people who did lose those senses were twice as likely to test positive for virus-fighting antibodies. 

Fever, Cough, Runny Nose Not Linked To Antibody Protection

In 2020, the most predominant COVID-19 symptoms were fever, cough, sneezing, runny nose, and difficulty breathing. Interestingly enough, those symptoms did not have an influence on the presence of antibodies in people who recovered from acute infection. That suggests, according to the study, that loss of taste and smell may predict that you have a longer-lasting ability to fight the virus. 

According to the researchers that conducted the study, one limitation is that they relied on patients to accurately recall and report loss of taste or smell during infection. Another drawback from the study is that test subjects only reported loss of taste because their sense of smell changed. Scientists confirm that loss of smell can alter taste, which can compromise a person’s ability to distinguish the flavors in food they eat. Finally, the study wasn’t a controlled experiment to prove whether or not loss of taste and smell directly reduced risk of reinfection.

Do Antibodies Help Prevent COVID-19 Reinfection?

The study had limitations, but the findings are similar to other research on the presence of antibodies after a bout of COVID-19. A 2021 study found that people with negative antibody tests were 10 times more likely to get a second COVID-19 infection after three months. A similar study observed individuals from three to six months after a mild COVID-19 infection. The results indicated that everyone with antibodies did not get reinfected. In fact, nearly every single participant in that study retained high levels of antibodies after six months. 

In conclusion, this information may be useful in patient counseling, but more research is necessary to fully understand antibody protection. Additionally, COVID-19 infection differs from person to person, meaning one person may have higher antibody levels than someone who experienced the same symptoms. According to the preliminary studies, though, loss of taste or smell from COVID-19 infection may lower your risk of reinfection.

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After COVID-19 vaccines rolled out, a lot of families said “so long” to Zoom and FaceTime and resumed in-person holiday celebrations. It was a relief to see people again and resume what seemed like a pre-pandemic lifestyle. Even with vaccinations and boosters, the virus continued to infect people, which was evident in the 2021 winter surge of COVID-19 cases. With COVID on the retreat, though, it seems that this holiday season is much safer than the previous two. 

Most people don’t even factor COVID-19 into the equation anymore. Some people don’t even acknowledge it as a threat, while others remain cautious and want to do everything they can to stay safe. Regardless of whether people wear masks or don’t, get vaccinated or not, there seems to be conflicting public health guidance about precautions. This can unsettle anyone and people may not be sure of how they want to celebrate during the holidays. 

How many parties should you attend? What are the “rules of the game” at your Friendsgiving? Are there things you should do to avoid a COVID-19-giving at your Thanksgiving? Infectious disease experts say that it is good to take a cautious approach to holiday gatherings. You cannot predict how COVID will unfold, but you can do your part to stay safe, especially if you have family or loved ones that are more susceptible to serious infection. If you want to keep yourself and others safe during holiday gatherings, consider employing the following strategies. 

Stay Home If You Have Symptoms

This holds true whether or not you have COVID-19, flu, or RSV symptoms. Since the top symptoms of COVID-19 have changed, you may want to click here for that information. If you have a runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, or fever, it is best to stay home until you feel better, even if you test negative for COVID-19. Viruses like the flu and RSV can seriously affect small children, pregnant women, and older or more vulnerable people. If you have any upper respiratory illness, you should not be at a gathering, according to infectious disease specialists. A lot of symptoms may seem innocuous, but that isn’t always the case. 

Exercise Caution Leading Up To The Gathering

In the 10 days or week preceding your holiday gathering, health experts recommend that you take precautions. That includes minimizing contact with people outside your household. Keep an eye on the data in your area and observe any public health reports or warnings. COVID-19 continues to hospitalize and kill people, indicating that the virus continues to spread, even if the sickness is more mild for a lot of people now. Double-check that nobody has symptoms or has not been exposed before your gathering. It’s a great idea to take a COVID-19 test as another safety precaution. 

Stay Safe During Travel

Masks aren’t required for most travel these days, but that tends to depend on the airline, or the country you’re visiting. In general, air quality on planes is better than it is on buses or trains. Although your chances of getting sick in the sky are fairly low, it can be beneficial to mask up, especially while you are in the airport. Additionally, you may want to keep your mask on while the plane taxies to the runway. The reason for this is because filtration systems may not turn on  when the plane is grounded. And if you travel by train or bus, consider masking up for the duration of the journey. 

Ventilate Your Party Space

Open a window or two, and maybe even a door, to invite fresh air into your holiday gathering. Improving ventilation, so long as weather permits, can help prevent virus particles from accumulating in a space. You don’t have to invest in a fancy air filter, as there isn’t much data that suggests high-tech options are better than natural ventilation. Don’t have a great cross-breeze? Place a fan next to an open window and have it oscillate to move air around the room. If your place has an air-conditioning (HVAC) system, you can reduce viral transmission by setting the fan to the “on” position, as opposed to “auto” when you have people over. 

Don’t Forget About Other Viruses

COVID-19 has been the reigning champ of viruses for the last few years, but influenza and RSV are sickening a lot of people right now. Infectious disease experts explain that that’s all the more reason to take precautions this holiday season. Do your best to avoid high-risk settings, such as indoor crowded events, especially the week before your holiday gatherings. In addition to avoiding crowds, take care of your health by eating healthy foods. Consider amping up your immune system with an all-natural vitamin C supplement, get a lot of sleep, and do your best to get in 30 minutes of physical activity every day.

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When your whole family gets taken down by a virus, you can only think of one thing: you’re next. In an effort to keep yourself as healthy as possible, you avoid your family and do what you can to avoid getting sick. This scenario is especially common during the fall and winter seasons, when bugs spread throughout schools, offices, and more. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if one member in your household is contagious then it can easily spread to other people. Even though a virus can easily spread within the home, it’s also possible to stay healthy and well. The important thing to keep in mind when someone else, or your whole family, is sick is that you limit your exposure to them and care for yourself. The following tips aim to keep you as healthy as possible when people in your household are sick. 

Wash Your Hands…A Lot

After living through a pandemic, we imagine that everyone is a professional hand washer. You know that you should wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after entering your home from outside. Keep up this habit, but add frequency if your family or people you live with are sick. Ideally, you wash your hands every time you come in contact with the sick person(s) in your home. If they touched the TV remote, glass, bowl, or anything else, wash your hands and wash the item. 

Wear A Mask

Another benefit of the pandemic is that people know about face masks, which can help keep you safe when others around you are sick. In addition to you wearing a mask, the sick people in your household should also wear masks in communal areas. This is really beneficial if the person has a respiratory infection, as respiratory droplets can easily spread and infect you. If people have respiratory symptoms or runny nose, consider taking a COVID-19 test as a precaution. 

Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces Every Day

Germs are everywhere, especially if everyone in your household is sick. Most germs can survive on a variety of surfaces for varying periods of time. This is why you should make the extra effort to disinfect high-touch surfaces every day. Doorknobs, door handles, tabletops, countertops, bathroom faucets, cabinet handles, light switches, TV remotes, and toilet flushers should be disinfected once per day. For most viruses, regular household cleaning spray, soap and water, or a diluted bleach solution is optimal for disinfection. 

Ventilate Your Space

When the weather is cold, you don’t necessarily want to open the windows. If everyone in your home is sick, though, you should ventilate a couple times per day. When an ill person sneezes, coughs, or even exhales, they spread germ-filled droplets. Just as you remove germs from surfaces, you’ll also want to do the same to eradicate them from the air. If you can, open a window or two to increase the circulation. If you cannot do this, opt to use an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Ideally, run this device in the room where the sick person spends most of their time. 

Get Enough Sleep

While this is a necessary recovery measure when you’re sick, it shouldn’t be neglected if you aren’t sick. Health experts find that avoiding sickness is more easily achieved when you get enough sleep. Poor sleep can suppress immune function, which decreases your ability to fight infection. Sleep experts recommend that you sleep for seven to eight hours per night, in addition to drinking enough water and eating a healthy diet. 

Limit Your Contact With Sick People

If you can avoid them, do so! Infectious disease specialists confirm that avoiding sick persons, especially those with respiratory infections, is a great strategy if you don’t want to get sick. As mentioned previously, viruses can spread via respiratory droplets, so being in close proximity to an infected person increases your likelihood of inhaling those infected droplets. Stay in your room as much as possible and avoid sharing items with sick people. Additionally, try to set the sick people up in their own areas of the house to limit your contact with them.

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For more than two years, the world has seen the evolution of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19. From people on ventilators to asymptomatic carriers, COVID-19 affects everyone differently. We’ve also seen breakthrough cases among vaccinated individuals and reinfection among the unvaccinated and vaccinated. It continues to be an evolving situation, as do the top symptoms. 

The UK-based Zoe Health Study (formerly the COVID Symptom Study) recently identified the most common COVID-19 symptoms among current infections. This study based the findings on the information from more than four million people who used a special app to report signs of infection. The recent analysis found that infections from omicron sub-variants result in symptoms that mimic those of the common cold or flu. Symptoms may vary depending on vaccination status, underlying health conditions, and overall health. 

Coronavirus symptoms from earlier variants now rank lower on the list of the most common symptoms. Loss of smell (or other sensory changes from COVID-19), shortness of breath, and fever are less common among newer infections. And although vaccinated individuals can still contract COVID-19, the study found that the symptoms were much more mild among them, or that they experienced very few symptoms. Additionally, vaccinated individuals got better more quickly. 

Top COVID-19 Symptoms Among Those Who’ve Received Two Vaccine Doses

• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Blocked nose
• Persistent cough
• Headache

Researchers in the Zoe study found that vaccinated people who tested positive for COVID-19 reported sneezing. If you are vaccinated and start sneezing a lot without explanation, consider getting a COVID test as you may be infected. This will help reduce the risk of spreading the virus to those around you, some of whom may be in worse health than others. 

Top COVID-19 Symptoms Among Those Who’ve Had One Vaccine Dose

• Headache
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Sneezing
• Persistent cough

Zoe study editors observed that persistent cough was one of the original symptoms of COVID-19 infection. Among the most recent data, though, it ranks lower than sneezing and runny nose, two symptoms that were originally thought to be unrelated to COVID-19 infection.

Top COVID-19 Symptoms Among The Unvaccinated

• Headache
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Fever
• Persistent cough

According to the Zoe study, loss of smell is still in the top 10 symptoms for unvaccinated individuals who contract COVID-19. It ranks at number nine, but shortness of breath (an original symptom) now ranks at number 30. 

Why Have The Top Symptoms Changed?

The data from the Zoe study is consistent with what many clinicians have observed in COVID-19 patients over the past few months. Why the shift in symptoms is not entirely clear, though. Infectious disease specialists think that the change in top symptoms is multifactorial. The virus has evolved over time in order to maximize transmission and higher levels of immunity in the population (attributed to vaccination and prior infection). 

Cough, Cold, Or Flu? It May Be COVID-19

We covered that symptoms of recent omicron infections tend to mimic those of the common cold or flu. Because of that, people who experience those symptoms may not think that they have COVID, especially since they weren’t common symptoms earlier in the pandemic. If you do experience those symptoms, especially if they are respiratory symptoms, it is wise to test to confirm infection. COVID-19 is still a relevant illness, despite the fact that nearly all restrictions have been lifted. Take care of your health, get a new bivalent COVID-19 booster this fall if you want to, and be safe during the upcoming holiday season. 

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Thinking of getting the new Omicron COVID-19 booster shot? Health experts say that you should expect similar side effects that resulted from previous COVID-19 shots. Some common side effects include headache, muscle pain, fatigue, skin redness, and pain at the injection site. The new booster may be more effective at preventing serious illness because it addresses the current circulating variants more precisely than previous shots. 

The good news is that possible side effects from the new vaccines won’t likely differ from those associated with previous boosters and vaccines. In August 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave emergency-use authorization to a pair of new booster shots. Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech developed the latest boosters, both of which aim to target the original COVID-19 strain and the newest Omicron (BA.4 and BA.5). 

Experts suggest that the immune system should be able to easily seek out the more specific spike protein in the new Omicron booster. This should help the immune system fight off serious infection from the current variants in circulation. Since the immune system should be able recognize the spike proteins in the booster, health workers hope that it may recognize new variants more easily.

New Side Effects Are Not Surprising

Clinical trials testing the BA.4 and BA.5-specific booster shots are ongoing. This is a fairly common process for vaccines that require a strain update, similar to the annual flu shot. Instead, experts rely on data from the first round of booster shots and from a similar bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, the one that targeted BA.1. The new Omicron variants only slightly differ from the original BA.1 subvariant. 

When experts looked at the side effects of boosters in current trials, there were no surprises. The current list of side effects is nearly identical to all of the side effects from the regular booster. Additionally, the side effects from the new booster are contingent with those of the initial vaccine. This is most likely because the vaccine ingredients are essentially the same. The only change is which proteins on the surface of the protein it encodes for. This is to help optimize immune response against current and future variants. 

Pfizer Booster Side Effects

Pain at the injection site seems to be the most common complaint from people who received Pfizer’s updated booster. About 60% of trial participants reported pain at the injection site, in addition to fatigue, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, fever, and nausea. Researchers observed all of those symptoms with Pfizer’s original COVID-19 booster shot as well. In the current trials for Pfizer’s bivalent booster, no adverse effects were reported. Experts will continue to keep an eye on the rare risk of myocarditis in both Pfizer and Moderna booster recipients. Myocarditis is a condition that involves inflammation of the heart muscle, and it has occurred mostly in teens and younger adults. 

Moderna Booster Side Effects

Similar to Pfizer booster recipients, those who received the Moderna bivalent Omicron booster reported pain at the injection site. In the trials, though, about 80% reported injection site pain, which is higher than the Pfizer trial participants. Fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain, nausea, chills, and fever were also common symptoms. The five most common side effects that people reported after a dose of Moderna’s original COVID-19 booster were injection site pain, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, and joint pain. 

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends these two boosters if you choose to get them. Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) booster hasn’t been retooled to target Omicron. Additionally, health experts don’t advise the J&J vaccine because of the rare but serious complication involving a blood clotting disorder. Not everyone experiences side effects after a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, though. For the people who do, the side effects are typically mild and go away after a day or two. If the symptoms linger, call your doctor to inquire about how to alleviate them.

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