I genuinely do not know the answer to this question. We have been very careful for so long - only meeting people outside, masks etc etc. But then the messaging always seems to be 'it's not about if you get it but you don't want to spread it to older people'. Which is fine and important - but I feel like I (43) also really prefer not to catch this myself also... am I overly concerned about that piece?
I think being worried is good because it means you're going to stick to the distancing and mask wearing. But, I do think if you are really careful (and not lying to yourself about how careful you are), you dont have to live in fear of getting it. I barely go anywhere and when I do, I wear a mask, do not get near anyone and I wash my hands. I am not particularly afraid of it given that I am careful.
I’m an ER doctor and while I’m not particularly afraid of my day to day job of donning PPE and treating Covid patients, I really don’t want to get it. We see patients with long term effects like loss of taste and smell, and fatigue. And those healthy college students with decreased cardiac function on echocardiogram concerns me as well.
Do you often see patients in their 40s in very severe condition? I have this very worst case scenario fear of what would happen if I catch it and friends seem to be comfortable they’d be fine.
We have many come in looking and feeling miserable, but not usually sick enough to admit to the hospital. I admitted one in this age group to ICU and was quite worried (had “Covid lung” on x ray) but he managed to turn around.
But “sick enough to be admitted” isn’t really my personal standard for concern (I’m also 40). Long term cardiac damage, indefinite fatigue, permanent loss of taste of smell... like I said above... these are also what worry me!
Honestly - I go back and forth about this. I too fear the worst case scenario, but I also know a dozen people my age who have had it, with varying degrees of severity, and they're all fine. Sometimes I feel like, well, I've come this far, why not stick to being scrupulously careful for another 6ish months until I can get the vaccine? And then sometimes I feel like, screw it, we're all going to get it eventually, even with the vax, I should just go about my (masked) biz and relax.
Feel like I could have written this- I go back and forth too btwn these exact 2 feelings!
There are too many unknowns. Don’t take the risk if possible
From the Times... made me think of this discussion. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/opinion/covid-public-health-messaging.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage