In short:

Australia has recorded its first cases of the XEC COVID-19 variant that has been spreading in Europe this year.

The mutation is a "recombinant" variant that is a mix of two previous Omicron subvariants called KS 1.1 and KP 3.3.

What's next?

An infectious disease expert says the strain has the hallmarks of something that could lead to a "summer wave" of infections.

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[–] maniacalmanicmania 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (5 children)

Surf's up dudes.

The Department of Health says wearing a face mask, practising good hygiene and physical distancing can protect you from contracting the virus. Vaccinations also provide protection against severe illness.

I booked my last booster a month or two ago and I'm meant to be on a waiting list at my local clinic. Maybe I should just pop in elsewhere.

Are we meant to get annual boosters forever?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

I don't see it going away anytime soon, so this will probably end up being like the annual flu shot, or even rolled into one shot eventually.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

My impression from predictions was that covid would get weaker over time, but more persistent, and become an extra thing aside influenza.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Remember when we thought people would realize the dangers of a global pandemic, and through a shared responsibility, we could do to COVID what we've done to smallpox and measles, and it would blow over in a few months?

Fuck you, people. All you had to do was stay in your fucking homes and wear a fucking cloth over your stupid fuckin mouths.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I got some people to start wearing a mask by explaining to them you can quietly talk shit about people in public with a mask on and no one will notice unless they hear you, which they wont if you're not being loud.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

I couldn't agree more, but all that could ever do was mitigate the spread. And I think all that no-contact messaging did help, but there's no way you could prevent people from eventually wandering out to fuck each other.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 weeks ago

Are we meant to get annual boosters forever?

Realistically the best case scenario is it mellows out to something like the flu that kills a few hundred people a year. So yes, like the flu you should be getting vaccinated.

We don't have a good grasp over what repeat viral exposure does though, SARS-2 appears to cause cumulative heart and brain damage, someone mitigated by vaccination, so the likely outcome is probably worse than the flu.

I keep an eye on infection rates and get more wary about indoor spaces when it's rising again. I live on the periphery of the city though which makes it easier to limit exposure. Urbanites can probably just embrace early onset dementia. Welcome to the world eating animals hath wrought, worse awaits us :)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 weeks ago

Are we meant to get annual boosters forever?

How often do you get a flu shot?
How often does COVID mutate?
Didn't we finally kill polio, almost?
You like being healthy?

The answer to those questions should answer your question.

[–] No1 2 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

I’m meant to be on a waiting list at my local clinic. Maybe I should just pop in elsewhere.

I got a jab recently at Chemist Warehouse. Other chemists will do it too. Booked online in the morning, and got it in the afternoon. Free. No dramas.

BTW, You can check out the booster eligibility to see how often you can score a freebie.