COVID remains a risk to seniors
Health authorities issue alert over the spread of respiratory disease in the community.
The pandemic may seem like a distant memory but, while the incidence of COVID-19 has dropped significantly, it has not gone away.
In fact, the past few months have seen an uptick in the number of COVID cases, and the Federal Health Department has renewed calls for seniors to be alert to the disease.
“We know older Australians are more vulnerable to the effects of COVID than other members of the population,” Health and Aged Care Minister, Mark Butler, told Adelaide radio station 5AA’s Graeme Goodings recently.
“They're more vulnerable to severe disease, are more vulnerable to hospitalisation and, tragically, still more vulnerable to dying of COVID.”
Mr Butler said new variant of COVID, JN.1, was now circulating and he advised seniors to consider a booster vaccination.
“These vaccines are still very highly effective to stop that severe disease and cut hospitalisation rates and the risk of death in particular,” he said.
“As COVID mutates into a new variant, the vaccines have to be adapted. The new vaccine, which is on the market now available at your general practice or at your pharmacy, is particularly built around the predominant variant of COVID, which is known as JN.1. It’s highly effective and the advice remains the same.
“If you're over the age of 75, it’s recommended you get a booster every six months because you are more vulnerable to severe disease from COVID than others.”
The recommendation for people between 65 and 75 is to have annual boosters.
Mr Butler also urged Australians to “be very careful around people who are vulnerable to the disease”.
“If you think you might have COVID, get a test. Don’t visit an aged care facility as much as you want to go and see your loved ones ... just be careful about the possibility of infecting someone who’s vulnerable.”
Asked whether he thought Australians were becoming complacent, the minister said that “communities right across the world have had enough of COVID”.
“There’s no doubt all of us are human and we want to put this thing behind us as much as possible,” he said.
“It was a very traumatic period. There was a lot of death. There was a lot of dislocation, a lot of economic suffering...
“Of course, we want to put that behind us. But it is still a health threat, particularly to older Australians or to other adults who have a compromised immunity.”
Meanwhile, the Health Department has been assessing a vaccine for the highly contagious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
At its meeting in late 2024, the Pharmaceutial Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommended that Abrysvo, RSVpreF be a designated vaccine the prevention of lower respiratory tract illness caused by RSV for adults 75 and above, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60 to 74.
The vaccine is not yet available to seniors for free, but this is likely to happen soon.
Related reading: 5AA interview transcript
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have any concerns about your health, consult your GP or trusted healthcare professional.
