With the XBB. 1. 5 hypertransmissible variant causing a stir across the country, the elderly remain the most vulnerable and account for the vast majority of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations. Bivalent booster dose to date. Along with the underutilization of the antiviral drug Paxlovid, this winter may be another one full of preventable deaths.
A study of about 22. 6 million booster doses administered last year showed that reported adverse events were consistent, not others, than those reported after the initial vaccine. Last week, federal agencies announced an investigation into a possible protective factor for ischemic stroke within 3 weeks in other people 65 and older who won the Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine. However, based on a review of various protection systems and further testing (an ongoing evaluation will be conducted), the agencies claim that it is “highly unlikely” that a true clinical threat exists and therefore their vaccination recommendations are maintained. This example provides two conclusions: our protection oversight systems are working and transparency deserves to earn public trust.
The effectiveness of reinforcement, especially in the elderly, is solid. A December 2022 study of hospitalized patients over the age of 65 showed that the booster dose had 73% more coverage compared to hospitalization for Covid-19 compared to the original vaccine alone. Last week, a real-world study (still pending peer review) published in Israel found that patients 65 and older who gained the updated booster were 81% less likely to be hospitalized with covid-19 and 86% less likely to die from the virus than those who did not.
It’s to send transparent messages to our nation’s seniors: A physically powerful surveillance formula continues to assess and ensure vaccine safety, and boosters further reduce hospitalizations and deaths, even among those who have obtained a number one vaccine series. Beyond those messages, there is a lot of noise, from questioning the effectiveness of our existing equipment in the context of new variants (they work) to asking whether Covid-19 deaths are overpriced (most Covid-19 deaths are). basically because of the virus).
To create access, we want to meet seniors where they live. Beyond prioritizing nursing homes as management does, getting vaccines into cell vans for seniors and administering them to senior centers, regional aging agencies, YMCAs, network fitness centers, retirement communities, and assisted living services are essential. This is mandatory in southern and southeastern states that have not yet addressed the full weight of XBB. 1. 5 and where withdrawal absorption is uniformly less than 20% (unlike New England, the upper Midwest, and the West). Coast that have absorption rates above 50%).
In addition to suboptimal recovery rates, older adults would likely use Paxlovid lower than expected. A recent study found that adults with COVID-19 who were prescribed Paxlovid within five days of diagnosis had a 51% lower hospitalization rate than those who were not prescribed the drug. . The efficacy of Paxlovid in other people over the age of 65 is well known, especially in other unvaccinated people. Unfortunately, a study last year found that only 20 percent of adults over the age of 65 were taking antivirals. Although the interactions and evaluation of kidney drugs, as it can be time-consuming, healthcare professionals would gain advantages if they took more time to evaluate whether Paxlovid is indicated, especially in the elderly.
After nearly 3 years, pandemic fatigue is rampant across the country. Although we are near the end of the pandemic, too many Americans continue to die from preventable deaths, and the burden falls on our nation’s seniors. We will all have a role to play, from families and network leaders to fitness professionals and policymakers, in ensuring that our nation’s seniors are free of this ever-evolving virus.
Full coronavirus policy and updates