131 – COVID Update for Aging Adults (12.8.22 Edition)

Dr. K discusses what aging adults & families should know about COVID and flu this winter.

She covers:

• The currently increasing rates of COVID & flu
• What to know about the new Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1
• How well the fall COVID bivalent booster is working so far
• How to avoid getting sick and how to gather safely
• When to mask and how to do so effectively
• Why use a HEPA air purifier at home and how to choose one
• How to detect COVID now
• How to treat COVID
• Her top recommendations for staying safe during winter gatherings

Note: you can get the CO2 monitor Dr. K refers to here: https://amzn.to/3yhDtq8.

For the masks Dr. K is using, you can get 3M Aura here https://amzn.to/3PJJyRO, the 3M V-flex here https://amzn.to/3OxrsRY, and the Powecom KN95 here https://amzn.to/3W9frXf

Dr. K’s HEPA air purifier is here https://amzn.to/3Y96crN

These are Amazon affiliate links, so any purchases will help support Better Health While Aging, thank you!

Related Episodes:

130 – COVID Booster Update for Aging Adults (9.7.22 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
  • Wastewater:
    • CDC Wastewater Surveillance
    • Biobot.io wastewater tracker
  • Walgreens Test Positivity Tracker
  • OurWorldInData.org Coronavirus Data Explorer
  • CDC Nursing Home Covid-19 Data Dashboard
  • CDC Variant Proportion Tracker
  • CDC COVID cases and deaths by vaccine status
• CDC Datasets in this update:
  • Effectiveness of Bivalent mRNA Vaccines in Preventing Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection — Increasing Community Access to Testing Program, United States, September–November 2022
  • Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report
  • CDC Influenza Hospitalization Rates
• From medical journals and research groups:
  • Low neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75.2, BQ.1.1, and XBB.1 by parental mRNA vaccine or a BA.5-bivalent booster (12/6/22)
  • Effect of hybrid immunity and bivalent booster vaccination on omicron sublineage neutralisation (12/5/22)
  • Paxlovid Associated with Decreased Hospitalization Rate Among Adults with COVID-19 — United States, April–September 2022 12/2/22
• From news and other media:
  • ‘Indoor pandemic’: An engineer on how to clean the air you breathe
• For masking, ventilation COVID transmission information:
  • Masks Dr. K uses:
    • 3M V-flex N95
    • 3M Aura N95
    • Powecom KN95
  • Project N95
  • Twitter resources
    • @joeyfox85
    • @masknerd
    • @marwa_zaatari
  • CDC Interactive ventilation tool
  • CleanAirCrew.org Portable Air Cleaner Buying Guide
    • Air Cleaners dataset
  • The Corsi-Rosenthal Box: DIY Box Fan Air Filter for COVID-19 and Wildfire Smoke