In This Episode:
Dr. K discusses the ebbing of the Omicron surge, what to know about the “stealth” Omicron BA.2 (it has taken over in Denmark and is growing here), how to “live with COVID” safely, and more.
She covers:
- Why current COVID numbers are better but still not low enough
- What we’ve learned about vaccines & boosters during the Omicron surge
- What we can learn from Denmark lifting all COVID restrictions
- How to compare US COVID data to that of other countries, and why our outcomes are worse
- What to know about the Omicron sister variant BA.2
- What it would mean for COVID to be “endemic”
- The ideal approach to living with COVID
- Wastewater & other ways to monitor COVID in your local area
- What older adults can do to keep themselves and their families safer
Note: The CDC released updated guidance re COVID and assessing local COVID-19 community levels on 2/25/22. Dr. K has posted written comments regarding this on her 2022 COVID article: COVID & Aging Adults: 2022 Updates.
Related Episodes:
126 – Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (1.6.22 Edition)
Related Resources:
- BHWA:
- To track COVID data:
- CDC:
- FDA: Paxlovid EUA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
- Twitter threads referenced in update:
- Kristian Andersen on Danish COVID outcomes since restrictions were lifted
- Bob Wachter on estimating the COVID risk of attending a party
- Photo summarizing his math here
- From medical journals and research groups:
- UK Health Security Agency COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports
- Effectiveness of mRNA-1273 against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variants
- Immunogenicity of a BNT162b2 Vaccine Booster Against SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron Variants in Older People
- 4th Dose COVID mRNA Vaccines’ Immunogenicity & Efficacy Against Omicron VOC
- Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC subvariants BA.1 and BA.2: Evidence from Danish Households
- Reinfection with different subtypes of Omicron is possible
- Covid-19: Even mild infections can cause long term heart problems, large study finds
- From news and other media:
- 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
- Zeynep Tufecki (smart takes on COVID & more)
- Dr. Ashish Jha (good for pithy common-sense takes on COVID)
- Dr. Eric Topol (good for all kinds of COVID data and info)
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Love what you are doing. I am a 71 year old retired FM doc, who practiced and taught at Univ of Colorado for 45 years. Last 10 years in Solo practice in a small town, and about 60% was geriatrics! I taught many of the topics to medical and PA student and residents, but you do it so much better! My experience with my elderly parents confirms that no matter how much we think we know, family issues create confirmation bias that leads us to mishandle our most valuable family members. It is no wonder that the general public has so many issues. All of the provider community knows that communication about the issues around Risk/Benefit and appropriate care is so difficult. I believe your blog would be helpful to everyone, including all providers who deal with us old folks. Keep up the great work. If you want more educational stories of landmines, let me know.
Dr. Kennedy, thank you so much for your feedback and for taking the time to comment! Your kind words mean more than you know. I’m sure you were an excellent instructor of geriatrics! Experience is a wonderful teacher.
You’re correct that even with a medical background, it’s different when it’s your own family.
Thanks again and we’ll let you know if we need some landmine anecdotes!