According to a recent study by the CDC, adults aged 65 and older hospitalized for COVID-19 accounted for 87.9% in-hospital deaths from January to June 2023. Data shows that approximately 53 million U.S. adults are in this population category. Despite being more at risk, only around 43% of individuals from this age group received the bivalent booster shot approved by the FDA in April.
The article (San Francisco Chronicle) cites CDC researchers in its conclusion to remind readers that COVID-19 will continue to be a significant health threat for those 65 and older. The report suggests that the adults in this population “[receive] recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, [adopt] measures to reduce risk for contracting COVID-19, and [seek] prompt outpatient antiviral treatment after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result” to avoid severe and fatal cases of COVID-19 infections.
By Selina Ma