FDA proposes two annual COVID shots for seniors in ‘simplified’ vaccine schedule
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 24, 2023
In an effort to streamline COVID-19 protection, older adults and others vulnerable to severe disease would receive two annual shots of an updated vaccine, according to a plan to be evaluated on Thursday...
CMS targeting nursing homes with low booster shot rates
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 06, 2023
Big brother is keeping an eye on long-term care operators, and this time in a good way, federal regulators said Thursday on a call with nursing home stakeholders.
White House foresees COVID boosters as an annual shot, plans nursing home outreach
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 08, 2022
Health officials are planning outreach to vulnerable groups such as nursing home residents who may require more than an annual vaccination for protection.
New treatment, prevention toolkit for clinicians addresses ‘tripledemic’
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 15, 2022
Five medical societies have created a toolkit designed to help clinicians increase the effectiveness, accessibility and awareness of oral antiviral therapeutics and COVID-19 booster vaccines.
Latest COVID shot cuts hospitalizations in seniors by 81 percent: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 10, 2023
Seniors who receive an omicron-adapted shot are 81% less likely to be hospitalized with severe COVID-19, according to a new study from Israel.
New data: With no booster, nursing home residents face 30 percent higher COVID risk
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 29, 2023
Nursing home residents who have received the COVID-19 bivalent booster shot are 30% to 50% less likely to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 than their fellow residents who haven’t gotten boosted, the...
CDC: Stroke ‘very unlikely’ in seniors who receive updated COVID vaccine booster
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 18, 2023
The CDC is investigating bivalent booster shot safety after one of its monitoring systems flagged a potential risk of stroke among seniors.
Research supports COVID-19 booster shot mandates for SNF workers
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 01, 2022
With the prospect of new strains of the COVID-19 virus looming, researchers are making a case for states to impose vaccination booster shot mandates on nursing home employees.
‘COVID stakes are still high,’ Becerra tells aging services providers
By
Diane Eastabrook
Jan 19, 2023
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra sounded an alarm Wednesday for older adults to get boosted against COVID-19, as an increasing share are being hospitalized for severe illness. Becerra made the appeal during...
FDA advisers endorse bivalent vaccine for all COVID mRNA shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 27, 2023
A panel of experts on Thursday agreed that the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines should be used as both initial and booster shots, phasing out the original vaccines.