Federal health agencies worked to get more nursing home residents and staff to take the latest Covid booster all winter, creating social media hashtags, putting money into vaccine hotlines and flagging the worst performing facilities to states.
But their decision to scale back on two vaccine interventions that were critical in getting residents and staff protected from Covid during the first vaccine rollout in late 2020 and 2021 has left the job mostly to facilities, resident advocates say, with disappointing results.
For older Americans, the pandemic still poses significant dangers. About three-quarters of Covid deaths have occurred in people over 65, with the greatest losses concentrated among those over 75.
Pregnant women can reduce their infant's risk of COVID-related hospitalization by receiving at least two doses of an mRNA vaccine, which are highly effective against maternal Delta variant infection and moderately effective against maternal and infant Omicron infection, suggests a study published yesterday in BMJ. A third (booster) dose offered added protection against Omicron.
On Thursday, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra sent a letter and fact sheet to state governors detailing what exactly the end of the emergency declaration will mean for jurisdictions and their residents....
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