COVID Updates: What You Need to Know

With the pandemic in its fifth year, staying informed about the latest developments with the disease, including new variants and treatments, remains especially important for older adults, who are most at risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19. ​

Here’s a summary of recent coronavirus news that’s particularly relevant to people 50 and older, followed by answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about COVID-19.

Latest COVID-19 news

Older adults should get a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the spring. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that adults 65 and older and those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised get a second dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine six months after their first dose, which for many, will be in the spring. "The recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults and those who are immunocompromised, along with the currently available data on vaccine effectiveness and year-round circulation of COVID-19," the CDC said in a statement.

Previous COVID-19 infection can increase risk of heart attack, stroke. A study led by researchers at Cleveland Clinic and the University of Southern California, and published in the journal led by researchers at Cleveland Clinic and the University of Southern California, and published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, found that a history of COVID-19 can double the risk of heart attack, stroke or death. The risk, which remains for up to three years after a COVID-19 diagnosis, was significantly higher for patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The study also found that people with a blood type other an O were twice as likely to experience an adverse cardiovascular event after COVID-19 than those with an O blood type. “These findings reveal while it’s an upper respiratory tract infection, COVID-19 has a variety of health implications and underscores that we should consider history of prior COVID-19 infection when formulating cardiovascular disease preventive plans and goals,” study coauthor Stanley Hazen, M.D., said in a news release.

Older adults remain at higher risk for COVID complications. A report from the CDC finds that from October 2023 to April 2024, adults 65 and older accounted for 70 percent of COVID-related hospitalizations. Most hospitalized adults had two or more underlying health conditions, and the majority were not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccine, the researchers found.

Updated COVID vaccines are available. COVID-19 vaccines that have been updated to target more recently circulating versions of the coronavirus have been given the green light by the Food and Drug Administration and are available at pharmacies and clinics nationwide. The mRNA vaccines, from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, target the KP.2 variant of the virus, and the protein-based vaccine from Novavax targets JN.1, the parent strain of KP.2 and other FLiRT variants. All three vaccines are expected to provide good protection as we head into respiratory virus season, and it’s recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older receive one this fall. 

Free at-home tests available again. The federal government relaunched the free at-home testing program. Each U.S. household is able to order four free coronavirus tests from COVIDtests.gov. Shipping is free, and the tests will be able to detect current COVID-19 variants.

COVID-19 was the 10th leading cause of death last year. COVID-19 was the 10th leading cause of death in 2023, dropping from fourth place in 2022, a report from the CDC finds. During 2023, COVID caused or contributed to 76,446 deaths in the U.S., compared with 245,614 in 2022. COVID death rates decreased for all demographic groups from 2022 to 2023, but they continued to remain highest among people 85 and older.