Better Health While Aging

127 – COVID Update for Aging Adults (2.24.22 Edition)

Listen Later
 

 In This Episode:

Dr. K discusses the ebbing of the Omicron surge, what to know about the “stealth” Omicron BA.2 (it has taken over in Denmark and is growing here), how to “live with COVID” safely, and more.

She covers:

  • Why current COVID numbers are better but still not low enough
  • What we’ve learned about vaccines & boosters during the Omicron surge
  • What we can learn from Denmark lifting all COVID restrictions
  • How to compare US COVID data to that of other countries, and why our outcomes are worse
  • What to know about the Omicron sister variant BA.2
  • What it would mean for COVID to be “endemic”
  • The ideal approach to living with COVID
  • Wastewater & other ways to monitor COVID in your local area
  • What older adults can do to keep themselves and their families safer

    • Note: The CDC released updated guidance re COVID and assessing local COVID-19 community levels on 2/25/22. Dr. K has posted written comments regarding this on her 2022 COVID article: COVID & Aging Adults: 2022 Updates.

    Related Episodes:

    126 – Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (1.6.22 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
          • Twitter threads referenced in update:
            • Kristian Andersen on Danish COVID outcomes since restrictions were lifted
            • Bob Wachter on estimating the COVID risk of attending a party
              • Photo summarizing his math here
              • From medical journals and research groups:
                • 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)
                  • Effectiveness of mRNA-1273 against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variants
                  • Immunogenicity of a BNT162b2 Vaccine Booster Against SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron Variants in Older People
                  • 4th Dose COVID mRNA Vaccines’ Immunogenicity & Efficacy Against Omicron VOC
                  • Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC subvariants BA.1 and BA.2: Evidence from Danish Households
                  • Reinfection with different subtypes of Omicron is possible
                  • Covid-19: Even mild infections can cause long term heart problems, large study finds
                  • From news and other media:
                    • What does endemic mean? Experts answer your questions about the future of covid. (Washington Post)
                    • U.S. Covid Death Toll Surpasses 900,000 as Omicron’s Spread Slows
                    • More contagious version of omicron spreads in U.S., fueling worries (NPR)
                    • 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
                        • Zeynep Tufecki (smart takes on COVID & more)
                        • Dr. Ashish Jha (good for pithy common-sense takes on COVID)
                          • Never Miss an Episode! Sign up here to be notified of our latest podcast episodes by email
                          ...more
                          View all episodesView all episodes
                          Download on the App Store
                          Better Health While AgingBy Better Health While Aging
                          • 4.8
                          • 4.8
                          • 4.8
                          • 4.8
                          • 4.8

                          4.8

                          133 ratings

                          More shows like Better Health While Aging

                          View all
                          Diane Rehm: On My Mind by WAMU 88.5

                          Diane Rehm: On My Mind

                          2,304 Listeners

                          The People's Pharmacy by Joe and Terry Graedon

                          The People's Pharmacy

                          1,002 Listeners

                          NutritionFacts.org Video Podcast by Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM

                          NutritionFacts.org Video Podcast

                          852 Listeners

                          The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee by Physicians Committee

                          The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

                          3,352 Listeners

                          The Retirement Wisdom Podcast by Retirement Wisdom

                          The Retirement Wisdom Podcast

                          180 Listeners

                          DSR's Words Matter by The DSR Network

                          DSR's Words Matter

                          2,850 Listeners

                          Suze Orman's Women & Money (And Everyone Smart Enough To Listen) by Suze Orman Media

                          Suze Orman's Women & Money (And Everyone Smart Enough To Listen)

                          4,427 Listeners

                          Talking Feds by Harry Litman

                          Talking Feds

                          4,577 Listeners

                          Chasing Life by CNN

                          Chasing Life

                          8,227 Listeners

                          Kelly Corrigan Wonders by Kelly Corrigan

                          Kelly Corrigan Wonders

                          3,336 Listeners

                          The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

                          The Ezra Klein Show

                          15,191 Listeners

                          #SistersInLaw by Politicon

                          #SistersInLaw

                          10,322 Listeners

                          A Slight Change of Plans by Pushkin Industries

                          A Slight Change of Plans

                          1,997 Listeners

                          All There Is with Anderson Cooper by CNN

                          All There Is with Anderson Cooper

                          9,748 Listeners

                          Main Justice by MSNBC

                          Main Justice

                          7,123 Listeners