COVID-19 has morphed and changed, with new variants appearing all the time. This is normal for a virus. The Delta variant was another strain of the novel coronavirus that was concerning. It was more contagious at the time of discovery than previous variants but has since been found to be less contagious than the following variant, Omicron. Nevertheless, Delta had a severe and devastating impact on people and economies around the world. Here’s our take on it.

Many factors influence the range in recovery from COVID-19, some are predictable if they relate to other health conditions or age, and some are unpredictable and we can’t say why some suffer severe or ongoing symptoms. Most of us know someone who has no symptoms but tests positive. Others have a prolonged recovery due to complications such as clots or strokes or heart attacks. Those who required intensive care unit support whilst they had COVID-19, and needed intubation or ventilation, will also take a long time to recover. Research shows that most people have made a full recovery 12 weeks after they get initial symptoms. A cough from any infection – viral or bacterial – can persist for up to 3 weeks and doesn’t warrant further investigations if you’re otherwise well and have no underlying lung conditions. We would expect your cough to be getting better in this time, though. Similarly, a sore throat usually lasts about 7 days from any viral infection, including COVID, and fevers should have resolved within the first few days. Some people are left in the middle, where a few weeks later, they still have a bit of a cough or chest tightness, or going back to work or studies feels very effortful, and they’re not back to full strength. Many report symptoms waxing in waning, where a week or two after initial symptoms, they think they’re recovered, and then suffer a day where they feel set back by symptoms again.

A COVID-19 booster is an additional dose of vaccine that is given some time after people have received their first two vaccinations. Scientists determine the best time to give it, calculated for when your level of protection starts to wane. It then provides your immunity with the boost it needs to keep you maximally protected.

The vaccine slot’s booked, you’re all set to go, but first, just run through our checklist to make sure you’re in the best position health-wise to get your jab.

As autumn settles in and temperatures begin to drop, you should start thinking seriously about flu season. While the flu typically reaches its peak between December and February in the Northern Hemisphere, the timing can shift based on weather patterns and your geographic location. Climate factors such as humidity levels and temperature fluctuations influence when and how severely the flu virus circulates in your community. This variability makes early preparation even more crucial for protecting yourself and your loved ones. Most people dread the flu, and for good reasons. You probably picture the classic scene: someone lying in bed, feeling miserable, with a thermometer hanging from their mouth, surrounded by crumpled tissues and an array of medications. The reality of influenza extends far beyond this stereotypical image – it can knock you out of commission for a week or more, force you to miss important work deadlines, family gatherings, or special events, and in severe cases, lead to serious complications requiring hospitalisation. However, you don't have to resign yourself to this fate. Medical experts have identified proven strategies that can help you prevent the flu entirely or significantly reduce its impact if you do contract it. Understanding the Flu Before diving into prevention strategies, you should understand precisely what you're up against. Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by flu viruses that infect your nose, throat, and sometimes your lungs. The virus can cause mild to severe illness, and in some cases, it can lead to death. You might experience symptoms such as fever, cough, body aches, headache, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and fatigue. Some people, particularly children, may also experience vomiting and diarrhoea. You should know that flu viruses are constantly changing, which is why you can get the flu more than once and why scientists must update vaccines annually. Two main types of flu viruses cause seasonal epidemics: influenza A and influenza B. Influenza A viruses are further classified by two proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). You've probably heard of strains like H1N1 or H3N2 – these designations refer to different combinations of these surface proteins. The flu spreads primarily through respiratory droplets that travel through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or talk. You can also catch the flu by touching a surface or object contaminated with flu viruses and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. People can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. This means you could be spreading the virus before you even realise you're ill, making prevention strategies even more critical.

A cold sore is a small blister on the face that is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The blister tends to burst and then forms a crust over the top of it. Some people experience tingling or burning before the blister appears and it can be painful. They are very common, with around 1 in 5 people suffering from repeated cold sores. They usually heal by themselves between seven and 10 days. Most people are infected with the virus when they are young, but they may not get a cold sore until many years later. Once infected, the virus stays within you and can be reactivated and cause other cold sores at future points. This is usually around times of stress, tiredness, menstruation, illness or some people find the sun can cause outbreaks. There are some over-the-counter treatments available from your pharmacist, but if you are looking for some things to try at home – Healthwords’s pharmacists have you covered.

It’s that time of year - the temperature goes down, the heating gets turned up, and people start to sniffle and sneeze with colds and flu-like illnesses. It doesn’t help that there are over 200 different cold viruses and it’s likely that most of us will catch at least one or two colds every year. A dry, scratchy sore throat is often the first sign followed by a runny nose, fatigue and loss of appetite. Flu, by contrast, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by the influenza virus and each year up to 15 percent of us will catch flu. Unlike a cold, the symptoms start suddenly and are more severe – high fever, extreme fatigue and aches are all common traits. Colds and flu are highly contagious. The virus is airborne, so every time a sufferer coughs, sneezes or talks, germs are spread. The virus can also be transferred by hand contact, so it’s important to wash your hands regularly.

Chronic bronchitis is where you have long term symptoms of bronchitis, and is defined as a daily productive cough that lasts for three months of the year, for at least two years in a row. Bronchitis is an infection or inflammation of the bronchi, which are the largest airways of the lungs. These airways have a protective mechanism built into them where they produce mucus, which traps anything that is not welcome in the airways and could be harmful to the lungs. It can then be coughed up and removed from the body. When someone has bronchitis, something has irritated the airways, causing increased production of mucus. This leads to the body trying to get rid of the mucus, and causes a productive cough. It may start as an on-and-off acute bronchitis and lead to chronic bronchitis.

Conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva: the clear tissue covering the eye's white part and the eyelids' inside. This condition can be caused by several factors, including bacterial infections and allergic reactions, leading to different types of conjunctivitis. Understanding the differences between bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis is crucial for individuals in the UK, where pollen levels can be high, and bacteria can spread quickly in close-contact environments like schools and workplaces. This knowledge helps ensure proper treatment, reduces the risk of spreading infections, and allows for more effective management of symptoms.

When COVID-19 first emerged, infections followed a consistent pattern with three main symptoms: a continuous dry cough, fever and a loss in sense of taste or smell. The infection has now morphed into different symptoms, as new variants of the virus have emerged, and as most people are fully vaccinated.

Flu is the common name for illness caused by the influenza virus. It brings on headache, muscle ache, sore throat, runny nose and cough. It's much worse than the common cold, often requiring a few days in bed, struggling with fever, poor appetite, and feeling very tired and drained. It comes in the winter, it's highly contagious and most people have experienced it at one time or another. If you're healthy, you have a miserable 2 to 7 days, then get better and back to normal life. The risk comes to those who are elderly or have ongoing medical conditions. It can also hit those with suppressed immune systems hard, either from conditions or medication. It causes inflammation in the lungs and airways, leading to breathing problems, pneumonia and even death. Antibiotics won't help as they don't work on viruses, only bacteria. Your immune system will fight it off, and you may need intravenous fluids and oxygen if you are admitted to hospital.

With the rise of COVID-19, we’ve had to grapple with a whole new scientific vocabulary. Herd immunity (or community immunity) is often mentioned, but what does it really mean? We’ll explain that in relation to the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines. Herd immunity means enough of a population is immune to a specific infectious disease (a pathogen such as a virus or bacteria) that it stops the spread. If the virus fails to spread from person to person, fewer people will get unwell and die. And the pathogen will fall to very low levels. Immunity can come from catching the disease and building antibodies: these have a memory that means the next time you meet the pathogen, your immune system recognises it and rapidly kicks into action to defeat it, and you avoid serious illness or death. This is known as natural immunity. The vaccine also gives immunity. In a similar way, it teaches your immune system to recognise the pathogen and build memory cells, so it’s primed to fight off any future invasions. This is desirable if the disease carries a high risk of serious illness or death, such as COVID-19. But natural immunity is preferred for something like the common cold, as it’s not a serious disease, so they haven’t developed a vaccine.