People Older Than 64, or With Underlying Conditions, Remain at Greater Risk for Severe COVID

Friday, June 10th, 2022 -- 10:01 AM

(Bob Hague, WRN) People older than 64, or with underlying conditions, remain at greater risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes as vaccine protection wanes.

Dr. Jim Conway, medical director with the UW Health immunization program, says it's vital that people stay up to date with their vaccinations. “So currently, the term "up to date" basically means everybody should have had at least one booster; and to be fully "up to date" for people over age 50, and people with underlying immune compromising conditions, they actually, to be "up to date," should now be getting their second booster."

"Those are groups that immune systems aren't quite as good and don't get quite the robust response to the vaccine. And as we've seen these new variants come through, we realize that that immunity wanes. It's not nearly as good against these new variants and so you need a little bit more oomph and a little bit more high level immunity to protect yourself.”

People 65 years old and older are near the top of rising case counts, according to the state Department of Health Services. Only 62 percent have received a booster dose, and even fewer have received an additional booster dose.

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