which flu variants will predominate. No easy task. A game of probabilities that sometimes doesn't turn out the way even trained minds think it might. The people who make those determinations are generally in the bowels of FDA and not the thin veneer of Shitler appointees. Imagine trying to do that job, hard as it is, with utter morons running things at the top.

Mild case in December, but actually better than the year before when I got full up flu for the first time since 2019.

It kicked my ASS, despite the vaccination. I got it from the coughing-all-over-the-place pharmacist, who should know better (don't go to work sick, wear a mask if you do, if you're coughing - take something to tamp down the cough). It started on Thu, 2/12/26. It took forever to get past it. Over 1 month later I still sound weird when I talk (throat/nasal).

I still get bad coughing jags and mig
raines. Most nights only soup sounds good for supper. The rest of the day I don't even want anything to eat.

I’ve been very lucky and have never had the flu, but I get the flu shot every year.

I haven’t even had a sniffle since before Covid (and obviously have never had Covid, unless I was completely asymptomatic.)

Hmmm. I wonder.

prevent the most severe symptoms or shorten the term of illness.

I'm worried about the next flu season. The predictions for this last season probably came from experienced epidemiologists. I guess many of those people could be gone after DOGE and RFK Jr.

I don't think I will ever feel safe in public enclosed spaces without a mask after the pandemic.
I figured out a couple of years before the pandemic that I am very susceptible to airborne viruses. No amount of hand washing, using hand sanitizer and avoiding touching my face made any difference. Wearing a mask most definitely does.
I'm not saying that hand washing is worthless, but masks work much more reliably for me at warding off sickness.

then again I tend to avoid people as much as possible .