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.

 

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