COVID-19 Updates

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, SARS-CoV-2, and novel coronavirus increases every day. 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. GSA continues to advocate for its members and older adults as the pandemic continues to disrupt systems of care, research, and education. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Many vaccines are in the process of being developed to prevent COVID-19. After healthcare workers and long-term care staff and residents, essential workers and older adults have been prioritized to receive the vaccine. GSA members can help build confidence in conversations with older adults about the vaccine, the providers administering the vaccine, and the process by which the vaccine has been developed. Several resources are included below to assist with those conversations.

• GSA COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Older Adults
• CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Toolkit
• Vaccinating America Against COVID-19: panel discussion
• FDA Emergency Use Authorization Updates

COVID-19 Task Force Resources

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.

• Check out A COVID-19 DECISION AID: How Do I Choose When to Interact with People or Take Part in Activities Outside My Home During the Pandemic? (Also available in PDF format in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin.)
• View and share GSA's new infographic, Understanding Ageism and COVID-19 (Also available in Spanish)
• See GSA's new fact sheet, Aging and Immunity: Why Older Adults Are Highly Susceptible to Diseases Like COVID-19 (Also available in Spanish and Mandarin)
• Learn about Distancing: Physical Separation Without Social Isolation from the GSA National Adult Vaccination Program Workgroup (Also available in Spanish)
• Hear from GSA CEO James Appleby on navigating the weeks ahead in his recent blog
• Apply reframing aging principles to communications: This two-page tips guide illustrates the importance of how we talk to — and about — each other. Effective and inclusive communication is especially important during a time of genuine crisis. Check it out and sign up for a regular newsletter from the FrameWorks Institute, GSA’s strategic partner in the Reframing Aging Initiative.
• Contribute to the dialog: You can use the GSA Connect Community on COVID-19 to share your insights with others and for posting questions.