Most seasonal upper respiratory illnesses don't routinely cause loss of smell or taste, which should be a clue to something more nefarious potentially going on. If I were the author I'd worry about subtle frontal brain injury.

For me, boosters and nasal vaccines can't come fast enough (nor can the ability to administer them to younger children).

At some point I think this virus will become like the flu in terms of public health implications, but I don't think it's quite there yet.