Q&A on Reducing COVID-19 Risk for Elderly, Immunocompromised

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Data for U.S. adults thru early February 2024

 

While the risks associated with COVID-19 generally have decreased over time due to prior exposure to the vaccines and the virus, some people remain at elevated risk, such as the elderly and immunocompromised. The updated COVID-19 vaccines and, in some cases, a new monoclonal antibody can provide increased protection for this group.

 

“At this point, many people have had multiple vaccines and we are seeing a lot less severe and life-threatening illness, especially in people who have had recent vaccination,” Dr. Camille Kotton, clinical director of Transplant and Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital, told us. “Nonetheless, we are still seeing significant severe disease, hospitalization, even life-threatening disease, especially in people over the age of 65 or who are immunocompromised.”

 

We spoke with Kotton, who is also a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, about the current state of affairs for people at elevated risk of severe disease from COVID-19 and the tools they can use to protect themselves.

 

(more)

 

https://www.factcheck.org/2024/04/scicheck-qampa-on-reducing-covid-19-risk-for-elderly-immunocompromised/

 

 

[Robert Paulson]

I’d like a q and a on whether or not I should vaccinate my 6 month old. CDC says yes so I suppose that’s good enough for me

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

There's good reasons for that CDC recommendation. Info from last fall showing the COVID risks for young children:

 

As Covid-19 hospitalizations climb, rates among seniors and children raise concern

September 22, 2023

...

Seniors have the highest rates of Covid hospitalizations by far, but hospitalizations among children — especially among those younger than 5 — are rising fast.

...

Admissions among children remain below previous pandemic peaks. There were about 1,800 new pediatric admissions in a week at the height of last winter’s wave, and more than 6,500 weekly admissions during Omicron, the AAP analysis shows.

 

Children accounted for 6% of all Covid-19 hospital admissions during the week ending September 9, federal data shows. And children under 5 were the most at risk, with about half of all pediatric Covid-19 hospitalizations among those younger than 5, according to the AAP analysis. [emphasis added]

 

https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/22/health/covid-hospitalizations-seniors-kids-vaccines/index.html