Thank you for your service first off. I ask that you do not take my post as though I’m trying to contradict...just thoughts on my mind sir.
As you claim, the absence of Influenza diagnosis could be related to wearing masks, distancing, washing of hands BEFORE traditional flu season started..doesn’t make since.
Traditional influenza season began around December +- of 2019. The pandemic wasn’t declared until March of 2020 by the WHO. Masks, distancing and lock downs all didn’t take hold until late spring of 2020.
Furthermore, it is hard to believe that yearly strains of influenza did not migrate North across the Southern border considering third world conditions along the border with Mexico. Ever been to the Mexican border? It’s an unsanitary cesspool void of adequate infrastructure in regards to sanitation.
Your post->”Could be the vaccine is effective for once”. Is it accurate to state that only 40-50% of the U.S. population receives a yearly influenza vaccine? Isn’t it also accurate to say that the influenza vaccine is typically only 60% effective? I say that to say this...NOT ONE diagnosed influenza case from your practice?
Are Covid diagnosis being compensated differently than typical yearly influenza cases?
Where are the influenza and Covid test kits manufactured? Would it be China? Curious.
Are Chinese Covid / influenza vaccines being imported to the U.S.?
Seeing as we are in the throws of a worldwide declared Covid pandemic, if a patient comes in to your practice with flu like symptoms, do you test for Covid first? If so and if the patient tests positive for Covid, do you then go on to test for influenza strains?
I don't think you are talking about the same period of time. He's talking about the current influenza season (2020-2021), not the one prior to the COVID19 pandemic.