Half of Americans never think they'll get COVID again

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/half-americans-never-think-theyll-get-covid-again

What we found: This question is one we’ve asked for years now about how people think about their risk of getting COVID. And even as it surges around us those who think they will never again get COVID is now at the highest levels we’ve seen: about half (49%) of Americans. That leaves the other half shifting between those who say they expect to get it “despite trying to stay as safe as possible” and with the more fatalistic “I have gone about my life as normally as I could.” Many fewer (20% now compared to 31% at this time in 2023) say they are trying to stay as safe as possible as safety measures have mostly disappeared in all spheres.

And yes, politics come into play here. Equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats don’t expect to get COVID again, but Democrats were twice as likely to say they are trying to stay safe. For the record, between 600 and 900 deaths per week recently are due to COVID, which currently accounts for about 2.5% of all deaths, according to the CDC. Car crashes, for reference, kill about 850 per week.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I've had it at least two times that I know of.

I can't think of a disease/virus that is one-time-only.

[jimfields33]

3. So far I've only gotten it once.

It was annoying but nothing earth shattering.

[Mister Ed]

4. Lots of diseases/viruses are one-time-only. Chicken pox, for example.

Covid ain't one of them, though.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Chicken Pox, technically yes. But there are theories that the virus

embeds in the body until later in life where it's called shingles.

[EYESORE 9001]

7. Chicken pox virus is never eradicated - merely weakened and driven into hiding

to emerge unexpectedly as shingles.

[LauraInLA]

14. Hopefully measles? But it seems COVID is more like the flu.

[duncang]

2. I can't say I'll never get Covid again.

Because I never have had Covid in the first place. Even though Covid has gone through our house 3 times. With 5 in my family getting it.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. I am the only member of my family who has not had COVID

I am up to 8 vaccinations

[duncang]

10. Same as far as vaccinations.

My wife was the first to get it. That was prior to the vaccine.

[DeepWinter]

6. Yep

My wife had it twice, just cold symptoms. One daughter 3 times, minor symptoms. Another daughter twice, no issues. Both sons tested positive twice, but never any symptoms. My 85+ year old parents had it while we were visiting, no symptoms. I've always tested negative, but with such exposure I'm certain I've had it and never had symptoms.

To think you'll never get it is ridiculous. You just may not show it.

[Oopsie Daisy]

9. Ambiguous headline does not match what the article says.

"Half of Americans never think they'll get COVID again."

This headline implies that half of Americans do not consider the possibility of contracting COVID-19 again. It focuses on the idea that they don't entertain the thought of getting the virus once more.

But in the article, it says something different: "... those who think they will never again get COVID is now [at] about half of Americans." This wording emphasizes their belief or expectation that they are immune or protected from the virus in the future.

I know I'm being nit-picky (sometimes I exceed at that) and the difference may seem meaningless at first glance, it actually alters the focus. In the headline as written, it focuses on people apparently having NO thought process at all (ie: they DO NOT think about it). And in the article, they talk about people's belief or expectation that they won't get COVID-19 again (ie: they DO think about it, but they believe incorrectly)

At least it's not as bad as these:

"Man Eating Shark Captured Off the Coast" -- Is this about a shark that eats humans or a man who is eating shark meat?
"Stolen Painting Found by Tree" -- Did the tree steal the painting or was the painting found near a tree?
"Kids Make Nutritious Snacks" -- Are kids preparing healthy snacks or are they being talked about as snacks themselves?
"Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge" -- Is the delay caused by bureaucratic red tape or actual red adhesive tape?
"Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant" -- Is the juvenile court going to try a defendant accused of shooting someone or will they try shooting the defendant themselves?
"Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half" -- Are the number of high school dropouts being reduced by half or are the remaining dropouts being physically cut in half?

[Raftergirl]

11. I've never had it (afaik) but I'm sure eventually I will.

[Hugin]

15. Another NOVID!

Yes, it's a sobering reality. COVID went roaring through an assisted living my parent lives in a month ago. I don't know the precise numbers, but I'd say most, or all of the residents and staff were exposed or infected. I masked, tested, and gloved my way through it.

I hadn't realized how far down I'd let my protocols fall.

[Raftergirl]

17. My 95 yr old mom hasn't had it either and she is social butterfly. She is also in excellent health, both

mentally and physically. She just bought herself a new car for her birthday.

I know she isn’t the greatest anymore about masking, but does get every vaccine available. And she is in Florida! Thankfully her doctors will not hesitate to give her Plaxlovid if she gets Covid, unlike many doctors in Florida.

[PuppyBismark]

12. I've had it twice this year

Once from a party and the second from a vacation. I have to wait to November to get the next shot.

[DenaliDemocrat]

13. My father died of pancreatitis from COVID in January

He was 78. He was current on his vaccinations. He caught COVID anyway. A few weeks later a friend of his died from liver failure caused from a COVID infection. He was 83. COVID is HARD on the elderly.

[haele]

16. Covid is like Flu or Strep. "Natural immunity" has no way of keeping up.

Also close to some diseases like Whooping Cough or Pneumonia where a vaccine provides enough immune system response that significantly reduces or eradicates the symptoms and the ability to pass the disease on.
Oh, you're going to continue to "get" Covid throughout your life.
Its just not going to make you suffer or spread it around as much if you brave that little needle to get a vaccine.

Haele