Tucson, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) – As the recent wave of COVID-19 begins to recede, it is becoming more apparent that the dangers to the elderly are not receding.
COVID killed nearly 200 people in Arizona last week, 83% of whom were over the age of 65.
In Pima County last week, 27% of positive cases were over the age of 65, while hospitalizations accounted for 57% of that age group. 87% of deaths.
However, Arizona currently has no active plans to vaccinate them.
“If you look at the vaccination rates of skilled nursing homes or nursing homes across the country, you can see that Arizona is the last to die,” said Will Humble, former director of the state health department. 50 States”
Much of the population sees COVID in their rear-view mirrors, but the elderly are still in the mix and largely oblivious.
“I think you have to remember that this is someone’s mother, someone’s father, someone’s grandmother, someone’s grandfather, and this is part of the family,” said Arizona. said Eugene River of the Department of Health Services. “There is no need to dehumanize this scenario and situation.”
As the virus mutates, it becomes less pathogenic and spreads more rapidly, but while the disease itself is not fatal to most populations, it is not fatal to those over the age of 65. Boosters have been shown to protect the elderly population by 76%.
That is why the state has embarked on a program to increase dire vaccination rates among the elderly, but is still searching for answers. It’s open,” said Livar.
In Arizona, only 32% of seniors, one in three, are boosted with the bivalent booster vaccine. About 50% in Pima County, but still short. That’s why the county has a program to recruit free booster volunteers to many nursing homes. In these homes, infection often spreads from the outside.
“There are two ways viruses can get into nursing homes and nursing homes: either visitors or staff, mostly staff,” Humble said. “So if the staff are not vaccinated, it is just as big a problem as if the population is not vaccinated.”
Pima County provides free vaccines at several nursing homes each month, but access to the county’s 428 seniors’ facilities is severely lacking, with help from Mother Nature. There is a possibility.
According to Humble, “both flu, RSV and COVID are declining. “So this recent worst wave is in the past and I don’t think that will change.”
But for those most vulnerable and at risk, it is said that now is not the time to let your guard down, but the time to prepare for the next wave.
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