Safeguarding Seniors: The Vital Role of COVID-19 Vaccination

Although COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have decreased significantly since the peak of the pandemic, the disease still presents a threat, particularly to the elderly.

A 2023 analysis of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network consistently found older adults are at risk of landing in hospital due to the disease.

From January to August, the data shows, people ages 65 and older comprised a substantial portion of COVID-19 hospitalizations, approximately 63%. Older adults are more susceptible to the virus because the immune system weakens with age.

“The virus is just waiting in the wings and is detrimental to the elderly and those with immune compromised systems,” said Andrew Catanzaro, MD, infectious disease specialist with Adventist Medical Group. Even more disconcerting, he said: a considerable number of these hospitalizations could have been prevented though vaccination.

Mitigating Severe Illness

Only 23.5% of adults 65 and older who were hospitalized for COVID-19 had received a COVID vaccine, the CDC data show.

Vaccines do not completely prevent COVID-19, Dr. Catanzaro reiterated, but recent research shows they decrease the severity of illness, preventing hospitalizations and reducing the risk of lingering health impacts, known as long COVID.

• A 2022 study of 19 U.S. states showed two booster doses of mRNA vaccines were 60.1% effective in preventing hospitalization and up to 89.6% effective in preventing death in adults ages 60 and older.
• A 2021-22 study in 10 states showed vaccines were 73% effective in preventing emergency room and urgent care visits in adults ages 65 years and older who received a fourth dose of an mRNA vaccine.

In fall 2023, the FDA approved updated COVID vaccines for anyone age 6 months and older. “A lot of people are asking me whether they should get it. Yes, get it!” Dr. Catanzaro said, noting you’ll need to wait if you have had COVID in the last two months.

If you do get COVID, he said, the good news is treatments like Paxlovid, Remdesivir and Molnupravir are now widely available. Talk to your doctor if you test positive to see if one might work for you. To be most effective, COVID medications must be started within a few days of the onset of symptoms.

Irrespective of age, everyone has a role in curtailing the virus’s spread. Home testing is an important step to confirm whether a sore throat or cough could signal something more serious.

“Over-the-counter COVID tests continue to improve and work best when you have symptoms,” Dr. Catanzaro said. He suggests keeping a few kits on hand, stocking up on tests with varied expiration dates and tossing any expired tests to ensure the most accurate results. Feeling ill? Adventist Medical Group offers virtual visits. To make an appointment, visit AHCYou.com/W24Visit.