Elderly Canadians remain at higher risk of serious COVID from first infections, study suggests – CBC

Researchers say 4 in 10 seniors aged 80 and older may have avoided infections so far

Oct 30, 2023

New Canadian data reaffirms that while the vast majority of the population has likely caught the virus behind COVID-19 at least once, more than four in 10 elderly adults may have avoided infection so far — while remaining at the highest risk for hospitalization and death.

It’s yet another reminder that seniors need to be prioritized in vaccination rollouts and should strongly consider getting an updated COVID shot, several medical experts told CBC News.

The latest findings come from a study conducted in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland and published on Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The researchers looked at both seroprevalence — signs of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection in blood samples from various age groups, at different points in the pandemic — and health-care data on severe illness.

The team found that by July, more than 80 per cent of children and adults under 50 had been infected and had a low risk of hospital admission or death.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/seniors-covid-infection-risk-study-1.7010935