COVID (The BA.5 sub-variant is here)

Yeah, but flu doesn't evade detection by our immune system. That's why we get early flu symptoms.  Vaccinated or not, most of us can fight off H1N1 flu in a few days without aggressive medical intervention. 

By comparison, COVID attacks like a Stealth bomber or a cloaked Romulan warbird that hides from enemies while levying damage.  By the time the immune system responds, the damage is done.  Long-COVID fatigue, brain fog and other serious symptoms can recur 3-12 months after "recovery."  We still have no idea what long term effects COVID has on developing babies and infants.

HIV/AIDS (first identified in the early '80's) isn't beaten yet but we succeeded at reducing morbidity and mortality rates with good science and massive awareness outreach.  But we're failing with COVID.  Too many people still think it's a bad cold/flu or worse, a hoax.  The message isn't getting through.

I'm slightly more optimistic about the timeline. I think COVID is likely to be with us for 50+ years if we last that long.  For some of us (myself included), 50 years is forever.  😉

Yeah but isn't that always the case? Nothing is ever perfect especially made by human hands. But it still beats dieing in a hospital and making more variants. Better something then nothing.