seniors

Falls among people age 65 or older accounted for more than 90 percent of the emergency visits and hospitalizations in 2018, according to the “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.”

More than 6,100 people have requested to be vaccinated for the coronavirus as part of the state program, with more than half from South Florida.

The goal is to reach seniors who struggle to access public sites or are apprehensive about going to them. It's helping underserved communities get vaccinated.

Between 2 million and 4.4 million older adults are homebound and at extremely high risk of dying from COVID-19. Yet, they haven’t been recognized as a priority group for vaccines.

The vaccine's Colorado-based medical transport company cited "unforeseen circumstances" for the delay; 7,500 people with appointments to get their first dose must now wait.

It's an effort to get the vaccine in the hands of seniors who are struggling to get to drive-through sites or making reservations.

As of Tuesday night, only 12.% of COVID-19 vaccinations in Florida had been administered to people 65 and older, according to state data.

Social isolation has made life difficult for many senior citizens during the pandemic. Volunteers at one Sarasota organization are finding that a regular phone call can help.

Uncertainties remain. Among them: What side effects can older adults anticipate and how often will these occur? Will the vaccines offer meaningful protection to seniors who are frail or have multiple chronic illnesses?

The project begins by testing the use of blood thinners to reduce bad outcomes in COVID-19 patients, part of a study tied to Operation Warp Speed.