129 – COVID Update for Aging Adults (7.21.22 Edition)

Dr. K discusses the high COVID levels, the related risks for aging adults, what to know about Omicron BA.5, the data on boosters, and the most effective ways to take sensible precautions.

She covers:

• The current COVID situation and how high cases really are
•  
• What to know about COVID hospitalization numbers
•  
• Whether COVID vaccines are still working
• The data on first and second boosters
• How the new Novavax COVID vaccine works
•  
• How to test for COVID
• How long to isolate if you get COVID
• What to know about Paxlovid and relapsing after Paxlovid
• What masks she recommends
•  
• How to take reasonable precautions

Note: you can get the CO2 monitor Dr. K refers to on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3yhDtq8. The masks that Dr. K is currently using include 3M V-flex N95, and 3M Aura N95. These are affiliate links, so any purchases will help support Better Health While Aging, at no extra cost to you.

Related Episodes:

128 – COVID Update for Aging Adults (5.5.22 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
• FDA:
  • Update: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Composition (6/30/22)
  • Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted Emergency Use Authorization Review Memorandum (7/13/22)
  • Paxlovid EUA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
• For masking, ventilation COVID transmission information:
  • Masks Dr. K uses:
    • 3M V-flex N95
    • 3M Aura N95
  • 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:
  • Effectiveness of a second BNT162b2 booster vaccine against hospitalization and death from COVID-19 in adults aged over 60 years (Nature, April 2022)
  • Effectiveness of 2, 3, and 4 COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Doses Among Immunocompetent Adults During Periods when SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2/BA.2.12.1 Sublineages Predominated — VISION Network, 10 States, December 2021–June 2022 (CDC, 7/15/22)
  • Hospitalization and Emergency Department Encounters for COVID-19 After Paxlovid Treatment — California, December 2021–May 2022 (CDC 6/21/22)
  • Self-reported long COVID after infection with the Omicron variant in the UK (UK ONS 7/18/22)
  • SARS-CoV-2 transmission on planes, by “Your Local Epidemiologist” Katelyn Jetelina, PhD
  • UK Health Security Agency COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports
  • COVID-19 Rebound After Paxlovid Treatment (CDC 5/24/22)
  • Newest Omicron subvariants can evade boosters, antibody therapies (UMN CIDRAP, 7/6/22)
    • covers bebtelovimab, the only monoclonal antibody treatment still effective against BA.5
• From news and other media:
  • What you need to know about the Novavax vaccine (Johns Hopkins Univ, 6/16/22)
  • New COVID Vaccine for Fall? What to Know About the FDA’s Plans (CNET 7/15/22)
  • FDA says COVID boosters for the fall must target newer omicron types (NPR 6/30/22)
• 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