Hard to say if this is just a slow year for covid or this is a continuation of the long-term trend of reduced severity since 2022. But a factor of 2 drop in one year is noteworthy! Data from: www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/c... 2/
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I realize that severity is an outcome, not a mechanism, but it's worthwhile to stress that most of the drop in severity is likely due to previously acquired immune memory (from vaccines or earlier infections). And that we can augment that memory with vaccines and boosts.
aug 30, 2025, 6:32 am • 3 0 • view
I agree, and I've written as much man, many times. So the people that follow me likely know this and have heard it from me already. (You can't write everything in every thread!) bsky.app/profile/mich...
aug 30, 2025, 8:51 am • 1 0 • view
I'll also note that acquired immunity is the biggest driver here, but there has also been a drop in severe outcomes in those without acquired immunity, which suggests to me a drop in prevalence as well (an indirect effect of acquired immunity at the population level). bsky.app/profile/mich...
aug 30, 2025, 8:51 am • 2 0 • view
(Eventually we will have data on covid deaths in Australia but it takes a long time.) 3/3
aug 30, 2025, 1:10 am • 4 0 • view