Could President Biden’s Age Affect His COVID Recovery? – Verywell Health

Key Takeaways

President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, according to a White House statement. This is the third bout of COVID for the 81-year-old.

Biden tested for COVID after a campaign event in Las Vegas. He is already taking the antiviral medication Paxlovid and will self-isolate in Delaware.

The White House physician said Bidens symptoms remain mild. Biden presented with upper respiratory symptoms, including a runny nose and dry cough, as well as general malaise. His symptoms are mild, and his respiratory rate, body temperature, and blood oxygen level are normal, according to the statement.

The news comes as the U.S. experiences a summer uptick in COVID cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is no longer tracking COVID case counts, only hospitalizations and deaths from the virus. However, the agency recently said that infection rates are growing or likely growing in 45 states and territories. Wastewater surveillance also indicates that cases are on the rise nationwide, especially in the West, where levels are high.

COVID cases tend to spike in the summer, according to William Schaffner, MD,a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University and spokesperson for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

Omicron subvariants are very contagious and are spreading rather widely, creating a fair amount of relatively mild infection. But in that context, it will strike some people such as the president, who are older, some who are frail, some who are immune compromised, who then stand an increased risk of hospitalization, Schaffner told Verywell.

Throughout the pandemic, older adults have faced an outsized risk of becoming severely sick and dying compared to younger adults.

According to CDC data from June, per every 100,000 Americans older than 75, about four died with COVID, and 66 were hospitalized. For all other age groups, the COVID death rate last month was less than 1 per 100,000. The risk of severe COVID is still significantly lower today than it was in 2020, thanks to vaccines and antiviral medications.

Even though the total risk is down, the age-related risk of older persons, people with underlying chronic medical conditions, and the like is always higher than for young, healthy adults, Schaffner said.

People are more likely to face serious complications of COVID if they have certain other medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. As adults age, they are more likely to develop multiple comorbidities like these.

The White House said Biden is up-to-date on his vaccines and got his most recent shot in September. Vaccination can protect against serious illness and help prevent long-term complications.

Even a mild COVID infection can cause long-lasting effects. After an acute illness subsides, the virus can cause lingering problems throughout the body. These include brain fog, muscle and joint pain, chronic fatigue, loss of smell, and chest pain.

According to a study published Wednesday, nearly 7.8% of Americans experienced long COVID when Omicron was the dominant variant. During that time, individuals who were vaccinated against COVID were about half as likely to develop long COVID than unvaccinated people.

Its not possible to predict whether Biden will experience lasting cognitive or other health effects from his current infection, and the White House hasnt shared whether hes experiencing long-term effects of his past COVID bouts.

The next round of updated COVID-19 vaccines is expected to roll out in the fal. They are being updated to protect against the current circulating COVID variants.

Schaffner said older adults who did not receive an updated COVID vaccine last year should get the updated shot as soon as possible.

The antiviral medication Paxlovid is still considered the best way to minimize the symptoms of an acute COVID infection and reduce the risk of being hospitalized or dying.

If older adults are traveling, if they go to concerts, religious services, or even if they go to the supermarket, all these are indoor venues where there are a lot of people," Schaffner said. "Take out your mask and use it again. I would recommend an N95 or K95 mask."

The CDC recommends that older adults who have had a primary vaccination series get one or more additional doses of the COVID vaccine that was updated in 2023. If its been a while since your last COVID vaccination, talk to a health provider about whether you should get another dose.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

By Claire Bugos Bugos is a senior news reporter at Verywell Health. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?

Link:

Could President Biden's Age Affect His COVID Recovery? - Verywell Health