115 – COVID Vaccination in Aging (12.17.20 Edition)

In This Episode:

Dr. K discussed the new Pfizer coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, with a special focus on understanding how well it works and how safe it is, in aging adults.

This episode covers:

• What to know about vaccine media reports and older adults
• Why it’s important to try to find out the actual ages (and age distribution) of older participants in vaccine trials
• How Dr. K looks at a published study to determine whether the vaccine works for her patients
• Why the current Pfizer data can’t tell us whether the vaccine works in people over age 75
• Why an expert dissented from the CDC’s decision to prioritize vaccination for nursing home residents
• Dr. K’s current recommendations regarding COVID vaccination and keeping frail older adults safe during the pandemic

Related Resources:

• BHWA: COVID Vaccination for Aging Adults: What to Know & Do
• FDA (Food & Drug Administration):
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • FDA: Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines Explained
• CDC:
  • How CDC Is Making COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
  • Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
  • Provisional COVID-19 Death Counts by Sex, Age, and State
• CDC advisory panel’s lone dissenter on why long-term care residents shouldn’t receive Covid-19 vaccine first
• New England Journal of Medicine:
  • Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine (12/10/20 publication of the Pfizer vaccine phase 2/3 trial data)
• New York Times:
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker
  • F.D.A. Clears Pfizer Vaccine, and Millions of Doses Will Be Shipped Right Away
• Uptodate.com COVID-19 Resources & Tools (Coronavirus Resources)
  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection