Getting COVID Again Is More Dangerous Than Most People Realize-Here’s What To Know

Key Points:

• COVID-19 continues to significantly impact public health, with an estimated 290,000 to 450,000 hospitalizations and 34,000 to 53,000 deaths reported between July 2024 and July 2025, according to CDC data.
• Repeated COVID infections increase the risk of developing chronic health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, organ failure, mental health problems, and long COVID, which involves persistent symptoms lasting more than three months.
• Long COVID symptoms can include respiratory issues, cognitive difficulties, fatigue, dizziness, and loss of taste or smell, and currently, there is no cure; treatment focuses on symptom management and improving quality of life.
• Annual COVID vaccination is strongly recommended by experts to prevent severe illness and reduce the risk of long COVID, as staying up to date with vaccines offers the best protection against severe disease and its long-term effects.
• Individuals experiencing potential long COVID symptoms should consult healthcare providers for diagnosis and symptom management, emphasizing the importance of taking COVID seriously despite the return to normalcy in daily life.