128 COVID Update for Aging Adults (5.5.22 Edition)

Dr. K explains why the current rise in COVID Omicron BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 warrants taking sensible precautions, how to use masking, ventilation, and testing, and how older adults can live with COVID while avoiding excess risks.
The post 128 COVID Update for Aging Adults (5.5.22 Edition) appeared first on Better Health While Aging.

 

Dr. K discusses the current rise in COVID cases, the related risks for aging adults, what to know about the newest Omicron variants, and the most effective ways to take sensible precautions.

She covers:

Where we are at with COVID now, and the impact on aging adults
About the Omicron variants BA.2 and BA.2.12.1
What s changed (& hasn t) with COVID
The latest on COVID vaccine efficacy during Omicron
What to know about first and second boosters
The latest on how COVID is being transmitted
What to do for masking to be effective
Ventilation & checking CO2 levels
Does rapid testing still work?
What to know if you catch COVID
Whether to mask on airplanes & answers to other FAQs
Her top recommendations for taking reasonable precautions right now

Note: you can get the CO2 monitor Dr. K refers to on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3yhDtq8. This is an affiliate link, so any purchases will help support Better Health While Aging, at no extra cost to you.

Related Episodes:

127 COVID Update for Aging Adults (2.24.22 Edition)

Related Resources:

BHWA:

COVID & Aging Adults: 2022 Updates
COVID Vaccination for Aging Adults: What to Know & Do

To track COVID data:

NY Times COVID Tracker
OurWorldInData.org Coronavirus Data Explorer
CDC Nursing Home Covid-19 Data Dashboard
CDC Wastewater Surveillance
CDC COVID cases and deaths by vaccine status

 CDC:

COVID variant proportion tracker

FDA: Paxlovid EUA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
For masking, ventilation COVID transmission information:

CIDRAP: What can masks do? Part 1: The science behind COVID-19 protection
Project N95
Twitter resources

@kprather88, @linseymarr, @masknerd

CDC Interactive ventilation tool
The Corsi-Rosenthal Box: DIY Box Fan Air Filter for COVID-19 and Wildfire Smoke

From medical journals and research groups:

SARS-CoV-2 transmission on planes, by “Your Local Epidemiologist” Katelyn Jetelina, PhD
UK Health Security Agency COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports

Effectiveness of 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic COVID-19 and hospitalisation in adults aged 65 years and older (UK HSA)

Efficacy of a Fourth Dose of Covid-19 mRNA Vaccine against Omicron (NEJM 3/16/22)
Protection by a Fourth Dose of BNT162b2 against Omicron in Israel (NEJM 4/5/22)

From news and other media:

Another rare virus puzzle: They got sick, got treated, got covid again (WaPo 4/27/22, about Paxlovid relapses)
If you’ve had omicron before, are you safe from infection by the new variants? (NPR 5/4/22)

Twitter sources that helped with this update:

Dr. Eric Topol (good for all kinds of COVID data and info)

Graphic for PCR and rapid tests here

Dr. Bob Wachter (good for SF data and thinking through risk for 60 year olds)

Good thread on whether it’s currently worth trying to avoid COVID here

Never Miss an Episode! Sign up here to be notified of our latest podcast episodes by email

The post 128 COVID Update for Aging Adults (5.5.22 Edition) appeared first on Better Health While Aging.