Covid hospitalizations among US seniors are surging this holiday season — with experts warning elderly people are still vulnerable to the virus.

Latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows hospitalizations among Americans over 70 jumped to 7.87 per 100,000 residents — nearly five times the rate of the average person.

Experts point to the sluggish uptake of the bivalent boosters for Covid’s resurgence — with only one-third of elderly adults having received the shot since it became available in late-August.

Covid’s rise comes just as the nation gets respite from the influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outbreaks that struck during fall — but are now cratering.

The graph on the right shows Covid hospitalizations by age group. It shows the over-70s (purple line) are making up the bulk of admissions, and are also the age group where they are rising the fastest. Admissions remain low in other groups

The graph on the right shows Covid hospitalizations by age group. It shows the over-70s (purple line) are making up the bulk of admissions, and are also the age group where they are rising the fastest. Admissions remain low in other groups

Experts warn the recent spate in hospitalizations could have this Covid wave reach the heights of the 2021 Summer Delta variant surge.

During that wave, a peak of 8.84 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents over 70 each day was reached.

Dr Eric Topol, a Covid scientist at the Scripps Research Institute in California, dubbed the uptick in hospitalizations among the oldest Americans the ‘senior wave’.

‘Right now we have an immunity wall built up against the Omicron family — between shots and prior infections and combinations thereof — that seems to be keeping younger folks in pretty good stead,’ he told CNN.

‘But the immune systems of people of advanced age are not as strong.’

He warned that the ‘main culprit’ was the ‘woefully inadequate’ rates of uptake of the bivalent booster among the elderly.

‘It all points to waning immunity,’ he said. ‘If more seniors had their booster, the effect would be minimal.’

Covid cases in the US are rising again, data shows, but the figures are likely an underestimate because

Covid cases in the US are rising again, data shows, but the figures are likely an underestimate because 

Covid deaths have also risen slightly, with an average of 420 Americans now dying from the virus every day. This is far below the peaks in previous waves

Covid deaths have also risen slightly, with an average of 420 Americans now dying from the virus every day. This is far below the peaks in previous waves

Overall, Covid hospitalizations rose six percent nationwide from December 16 to 23, the most recent available data.

An average of 1.62 per 100,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid each day in the US.

Elderly people have always suffered a substantially higher Covid risk than their younger peers 

But the age gap in hospitalizations with the virus is higher now than it has ever been — even during the original pandemic wave when the deadly virus swept through nursing homes across America.

Elderly people make up 13 percent of Covid cases, but half of hospitalizations and nearly 75 percent of deaths from the virus.

Hospitalization rates are still fairly low overall, though — falling well below the peak in the Alpha (19.3 hospitalizations per 100,000 people) and Omicron (21.3) waves.

Covid cases across the US rose seven percent in the week before Christmas, official data shows, with about 70,000 infections recorded each day.

This is likely an underestimate because far fewer people are getting tested for the virus.

Deaths from the virus also rose nine percent over the latest week, to about 420 Americans dying from the virus every day on average.

China’s Covid surge raises risk of new variant emerging 

Covid cases in China are surging after the country lifted its main Covid restrictions.

The exit wave is prompting fears among experts that another Covid variant could emerge.

Dr Stuart Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University, warned: ‘China has a population that is very large and there’s limited immunity.

‘And that seems to be the setting in which we may see an explosion of a new variant.’

He added: ‘When we’ve seen big waves of infection, it’s often followed by new variants being generated.’ 

Every new infection offers the virus a chance to mutate, and it is spreading rapidly in the country of 1.4billion.

Overall reported vaccination rates are high in the country but booster uptake is much lower. 

Many shots were given more than a year ago, meaning immunity has waned. 

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Data showing deaths by age group is still provisional, but it shows fatalities are mostly among the over-85s.

The uptick in cases and deaths come as US officials struggle to convince the population to receive the bivalent shots.

Just 14.6 percent of Americans have received the booster shot tailored to the Omicron variant.

Among the over-65s — who are more at risk from the virus — only about a third of adults got the updated shots.

‘It’s very, very concerning,’ said Dr. Preeti Malani, a physician at University of Michigan Health who specializes in infectious disease and geriatric medicine. 

‘There’s a sizable number of people who actually got previous boosters who have not gotten this one and I worry that there’s confusion, there’s misinformation. 

‘So to seniors – and to everyone – I say: if you have not been boosted, go get boosted.’

It comes as estimates show cases of flu and RSV are now on their way downwards after taking off early this year.

In its weekly flu report today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 33,041 infections during the week ending on December 17, a 26 percent week-over-week drop.

Cases of RSV continued to fall too, dropping to 3,554 illnesses that week – a 76 percent drop from the first week of December and a low point since mid-September.

The report comes days after a CDC spokesperson warned Americans the outbreak of respiratory illnesses this year could last deep into winter.

While the flu and RSV are declining, Covid is starting to rise – along with the bacterial infection Strep A.

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Post source: Daily mail