COVID-19 News and Updates
Hello all,
Nina Duggan here with the latest COVID-19 news and updates.
This week we will be discussing an AARP review on what the end of the public health emergency looks like for older adults, the many benefits of the bivalent booster (and the data that backs it up), and Moderna’s planned pricing on its COVID vaccine moving forward.
COVID Communication:
AARP: What the End of The National Emergency Looks Like for Older Adults
The National Public Health Emergency declared for COVID-19 in 2020 will be ending on May 11, 2023, and with it many of the expanded benefits that were put into place for the crisis. This does not mean that the disease has gone away, but it does signify that we have COVID-19 under better control than we did a few years ago.
AARP has written a summary of what this will look like in its entirety for older adults in the United States regarding costs, testing, shifting coverage, etc., which is linked below.
In short, Medicare and Medicaid will continue to cover the COVID-19 vaccines, as will most private insurance carriers. Moderna has also recently announced that they will be keeping their vaccines free (including for the uninsured)(see more about this announcement below). Testing and treatments will likely have out-of-pocket costs (depending on coverage or lack thereof).
Other expanded benefits will be ending, such as the waiving of the three-day hospitalization requirement Medicare patients needed before care at a skilled nursing facility would be paid for will be reinstated as the emergency ends. Furthermore, the expanded coverage offered by Medicaid during the pandemic will be ending on March 31, 2023, meaning many will lose their Medicaid coverage.
A benefit that will remain from the pandemic is the expanded telehealth services. This service gained much traction throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and will remain in place at least through 2024.
To read the full article, visit AARP Health: What the End of COVID Emergencies Means for Older Adults
COVID in the News:
State of COVID-19 in Maine
COVID-19 cases have decreased very slightly over the past two weeks, with test positivity increasing to 11% on average. Hospitalizations have remained steady over the past two weeks, with I.C.U. admissions and deaths increasing.
The higher test positivity rates are likely due to an underreporting of cases, especially those who test positive at home using home testing kits.
The Benefit of the Bivalent Booster
Dr. Elizabeth Marnik produced a fantastic summary this week on the data around the bivalent booster in answer to the common question: is it worth it to receive the bivalent booster at this time? The answer is very much yes, as the boosters provide a valuable added benefit.
Moderna recently released data on their bivalent vaccines, which showed as follows.
Those who received the bivalent booster:
· Were 14x less likely to die from COVID-19 than those who were unvaccinated.
· Were 3x less likely to die from COVID-19 than those who received the original vaccine.
· Had the lowest case rate compared to those who were unvaccinated or only had the original (monovalent) vaccine
The benefits of the bivalent vaccine have since been backed up by other studies as well. The vaccine has also been proven to better fight new variants like BA.5 and XBB than the original vaccine or an unvaccinated immune system.
To see the full summary and links to the data, go to the original post by Science Whiz Liz: The Bivalent Vaccines Are Providing Added Benefit
Moderna to Keep Its Vaccine Free After End of Public Health Emergency
Moderna has pledged to ensure access to its COVID-19 vaccines for both uninsured and insured people following the end of the national emergency on May 11th.
Following intense scrutiny for a planned 400% planned price markup, especially as the company received federal funds to subsidize the development of its COVID vaccine, the company now plans to make sure the vaccines are available at no cost.
Pfizer and BioNTech plan to more than triple the cost of their vaccines starting at $110 per dose.
The CDC plans to add the COVID-19 vaccine to its list of vaccinations offered at no cost to uninsured and underinsured children, meaning they will remain free of charge for children.
Links and Sources: CBS News Health: Moderna to offer free COVID vaccine shots to uninsured after emergency ends.
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If you or anyone you know have questions or concerns about COVID-19 or the available vaccines please call or text our COVID-19 Peer Support Line at 207-271-6023, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.