Better Health While Aging

128 – COVID Update for Aging Adults (5.5.22 Edition)

Listen Later

 


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
                            ...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

                            2,307 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

                            853 Listeners

                            The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee by Physicians Committee

                            The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

                            3,355 Listeners

                            The Retirement Wisdom Podcast by Retirement Wisdom

                            The Retirement Wisdom Podcast

                            177 Listeners

                            DSR's Words Matter by The DSR Network

                            DSR's Words Matter

                            2,851 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)

                            4,425 Listeners

                            Talking Feds by Harry Litman

                            Talking Feds

                            4,560 Listeners

                            Chasing Life by CNN

                            Chasing Life

                            8,203 Listeners

                            Kelly Corrigan Wonders by Kelly Corrigan

                            Kelly Corrigan Wonders

                            3,330 Listeners

                            The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

                            The Ezra Klein Show

                            15,059 Listeners

                            #SistersInLaw by Politicon

                            #SistersInLaw

                            10,321 Listeners

                            A Slight Change of Plans by Pushkin Industries

                            A Slight Change of Plans

                            2,021 Listeners

                            All There Is with Anderson Cooper by CNN

                            All There Is with Anderson Cooper

                            9,769 Listeners

                            Main Justice by MSNBC

                            Main Justice

                            7,117 Listeners