COVID-19 isn’t slowing down. In at least 42 states, COVID cases, emergency room visits and hospitalizations all spiked this summer. In June, more than 1 in 50 Americans 65 and older went to an ER and were diagnosed with COVID, more than double last summer’s rate, a rise attributable to the highly contagious omicron strains known as FLiRT. [AARP.ORG/Bulletin]
FLiRT strains account for the majority of new cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Summer spikes happen when people huddle inside in air-conditioning for Father’s Day, graduations and similar events. But older Americans should be concerned about what lies ahead. For the past two years, COVID infections among people 65 and older were highest between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, peaking around Christmas each year. “It is likely we will see more cases as we move into fall/winter,” says Pragna Patel, M.D., senior adviser for long COVID at the CDC. For the past two winters, more than 1 in every 20 Americans 65 and older wound up in an ER with COVID symptoms.
FLiRT variants spread easily, having mutated to evade some antibodies. They don’t appear to cause more serious symptoms—doctors see everything from mild colds to severe respiratory infections. It’s not that they’re any less deadly, but most of us have acquired a certain degree of immunity to COVID-19.
Still, older adults remain at risk. Early this summer, hospitalization rates for those 65 and older were roughly 14 times higher than for adults under 50, according to the CDC. For older Americans, then, protecting ourselves is critical. Here’s how.
▶︎ Get your vaccinations up to date—pronto. Vaccination is still paramount for preventing COVID and decreasing the risk of severe illness and death, says Sara F. Martin, M.D., medical director of the Adult Post-Acute COVID Clinic at Vanderbilt University. If you’re due for your next shot, there’s no reason to wait: Updated 2024–2025 COVID vaccinations from Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer are expected to roll out this month. Medicare Part B continues to cover the vaccine, as do most insurers, but it’s best to check in advance. Some insurers only cover the vaccine when it’s administered in network. And yes, it’s safe to get your flu shot at the same time.
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