National Adult Vaccination Program

COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Understanding of COVID-19, also called coronavirus, 2019-ncov, SARS-CoV-2, novel coronavirus, and more, is rapidly increasing. Older adults are at particular risk for serious illness and those 50 and older, particularly with multiple comorbidities, are at higher risk of dying if infected.

The GSA COVID-19 Task Force is monitoring the outbreak and will share resources as they are developed. The best source of information on current cases and guidance for healthcare professionals is the CDC website.

• Learn about Social Distancing Tips from the GSA National Adult Vaccination Program Workgroup
• Read COVID-19 content from the March 2020 issue of the GSA NAVP E-Newsletter for information on vaccine development. (This is an excerpt from the full issue.)
• Hear from GSA CEO James Appleby on navigating the weeks ahead in his latest blog 

Webinars (live and recorded)

• The Science of Social Distancing: Part 2 (April 1, hosted by National Academy of Medicine and American Public Health Association)
• COVID-19 Meets Metabesity: Nexus Between Pandemics and Age-Related Diseases (March 27, speaker: GSA President Dr. Kathryn Hyer, hosted by Kinexum)
• The Science of Social Distancing: Part 1 (March 25, hosted by National Academy of Medicine and American Public Health Association)
• COVID-19 Update: Practical Strategies for Protecting High-Risk Adults at Home and in the Community (March 25, speakers: GSA NAVP workgroup members William Schaffner and Stefan Gravenstein, hosted by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases)
• COVID-19/Corona Virus: Implications for the Older Adult Population (American Society of Consultant Pharmacists)
• "COVID-19 Global Effects on Older People” Virtual Town Hall (April 3, hosted by: International Federation on Aging)

Guidance for health care providers

• CDC and WHO
  • COVID-19 Guidance for Older Adults (CDC)
  • Clinical Management of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection when Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) Infection is Suspected (WHO)
  • Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long Term Care Facilities (CDC)
  • Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidance for Long-term Care Facilities in the Context of COVID-19 (WHO)
• CMS
  • CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Nursing Homes (CMS)
  • CMS Frequently Asked Questions and Updates (CMS)
• Other Organizations
  • Clinical Guidance and Protocols (Infectious Disease Society of America)
  • Information for Internists (American College of Physicians)
  • Pharmacists’ Guide to Coronavirus (American Pharmacists Association)
  • Updates on COVID-19 in PALTC Settings (AMDA)

Resources

• Toolkits
  • Palliative Care COVID-19 Toolkit (CAPC)
  • Coronavirus Preparation and Response Toolkit for Senior Living Communities (Argentum)
  • Capacity-Building Toolkit for Including Aging & Disability Networks in Emergency Planning (Administration for Community Living)
• Social isolation, mental health, and stigma
  • COVID-19 and Social Isolation Resources (Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness)
  • Manage Anxiety and Stress Due to COVID-19 Pandemic (CDC)
  • A guide to preventing and addressing social stigma associated with COVID-19 (WHO)
  • Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak (WHO)
• Caregivers
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tips for Dementia Caregivers (Alzheimer's Association)
  • Resources on COVID-19 for Caregivers and Older Adults (National Alzheimer's Project Act/ASPE)
  • Tips for Family Caregivers and COVID-19 (Caregiver Action Network)
• Oral health
  • Coronavirus Handout for Dentists Based on CDC Guidelines (ADA)
  • #DentalER Awareness Campaign (Pacific Dental Services)
• From partners
  • News and Resources (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)
  • GeroCentral COVID-19 Resources (American Psychological Association)
  • Disaster Resources (ASCP)
  • Coronaviruses Resources (National Foundation for Infectious Diseases)
  • COVID-19 Resources (ADvancing States)
  • Q&A on COVID-19 and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
  • HIV and Aging: COVID-19 Updates (Association of Nurses in AIDS Care)
• Journal articles
  • Journal Articles on Coronavirus and Related Topics (Oxford University Press)
  • Expanded Articles on Coronavirus on PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Federal funding notices

• Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding (NIH)

Policy updates and resources

• State Data and Policy Actions to Address Coronavirus (Kaiser Family Foundation)
• State of Play about Coronavirus Response Measures (Bloomberg Government)
• COVID-19 Related Advocacy (American College of Physicians)
• H.R. 6201 – Families First Coronavirus Response Act – The committees of jurisdiction – Appropriations, Agriculture, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means – have the following resources available on the bill:
  • Summary
  • One pager
• Social Security Administration Updates 

In the news

• The US Faces Two Disastrous Scenarios. There's a Third Option. (Washington Post, author Gordon Douglas, GSA NAVP Workgroup Chair)
• "COVID-19 Kills Only Old People." Only? (The New York Times)
• Now Is Not the Time to Sever the Ties That Bind Generations (Generations United)
• Social Distancing Saves Lives, But Only If It's Socially Responsible (City Limits)
• Why Coronavirus Hit Older Adults Hardest (AARP)
• Nursing Home Outbreak Spotlights Coronavirus Risk in Elder Care Facilities (Kaiser Health News)
• In Graying Japan, Many are Vulnerable but Few are Being Tested (The New York Times)
• America's Seniors and COVID-19: City Talk (Manhattan Institute's City Journal)