To the editor
As an octogenarian living in Yachats – I will be 86 on Christmas Day — I’m concerned about the changing pattern of deaths from Covid-19.
In April, 79 percent of American deaths (nearly 300 per day) due to Covid-19 were among those 65 and older. In November, it was 90 percent — or nearly 100,000 elderly a year.
Vaccinated older adults now make up a larger share of Covid deaths than the unvaccinated do. This is due to several factors that until now are underplayed in the media.
First is the simple fact that more Americans are vaccinated than not, and those older Americans most vulnerable to severe disease are far more likely to be vaccinated than others (94 percent versus around 69 percent for all ages).
It is also partly a reflection of how fewer Americans, including older ones, have gotten boosters than got the initial vaccines — just 34 percent. Plus, the number of those who have gotten updated bivalent boosters is even lower — just 12.7 percent.
Finally, vaccines are not as effective among older adults because our immune system weakens with age. As such, it is much harder to stimulate our immune system, and the increase diminishes more quickly.
In Americans between the ages of 65 and 79, vaccination has reduced mortality risk from Covid more than 87 percent compared to the unvaccinated. That’s a significant reduction, but far less than the 15-fold decline observed among those both vaccinated and bivalent-boosted in the overall population.
To put this in perspective, for people like me in their late 80s who are vaccinated and boosted, the risk of Covid death is similar to never-vaccinated 70-year-olds.
Although for most people life is quickly returning to normal with relaxation of universal measures like social distancing, mask wearing and avoiding crowds (especially indoors), this does not apply to many of us living in Yachats where the median age is 64.1 and rising. It now is even more important to continue these activities that reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19.
In addition, consider frequent testing if you have flu-like symptoms and seek treatment immediately if positive, as there now are FDA-approved medicines to treat serious, life-threatening infections.
Finally, if you haven’t gotten a booster or the updated bivalent booster, please do it now.
While previously it may have been acceptable to blame the high levels of Covid deaths on the unvaccinated, it now is more accurate to describe the ongoing toll as a pandemic of the old.
— Noel McIntosh, Yachats, retired medical doctor, senior associate Johns Hopkins University
