100 | MARCH 31 • 2022
continued from page 99
HEALTH & WELLNESS
CURRENT HEALTH
RECOMMENDATIONS
If COVID-19 becomes
endemic, McGraw says we
may see seasonal transmis-
sions between Thanksgiving
and February, similar to
influenza. “We’ll see a big
surge right around Christmas
and Chanukah,” he pre-
dicts. “And that’s because it’s
endemic.”
McGraw estimates that
COVID-19 vaccines could
be combined with flu shots,
which are reviewed annually
to combat any changes or
circulating viruses. While
there’s always a possibility
for COVID-19 to revert to
a pandemic classification,
McGraw says this doesn’t
follow the “evolutionary
impulse.”
“Most diseases that are
contagious become more
transmissible and less lethal,”
he says of nature’s trends.
For now, most indoor
mask wearing require-
ments have been dropped.
“Omicron seems to spare the
lungs, which is a remarkable
turn of events,” McGraw
explains of the latest
COVID-19 variant, which
has a lower severity com-
pared to previous variants.
Low hospitalization rates
“make it likely that we will
have no mask requirements,”
he adds.
McGraw believes that
unlike previous months, it’s
no longer a stretch to talk
without masks. However,
those who are vulnerable
should still consider wear-
ing them. “People on cancer
chemotherapy, anti-rejection
drugs, or people who have
respiratory or cardiovascular
diseases put them at great
risk,” he explains. “I don’t
think we’ve reached a point
where I would [recommend]
they go without a mask
indoors yet.”
However, it’s safe for those
individuals who don’t fall
into these categories to con-
sider going maskless in plac-
es where masks are no longer
required, such as restaurants
or grocery stores. At the end
of the day, though, McGraw
says it’s most important to
respect your own comfort
level, which greatly varies
from person to person.
“I respond to folks that
say, ‘I’m not comfortable
enough’ or ‘I’m not ready to
do that,’” he explains. “I say,
by all means, wear a mask all
you want. I have no problem
with that, and I don’t think
anyone else should either if
wearing a mask makes you
feel more secure.” McGraw
likens mask-shaming to seat
belt-shaming. “It’s outra-
geous,” he adds.
PRECAUTIONS FOR
ELDERLY POPULATIONS
West Bloomfield-based
internist Dr. James Bragman,
who specializes in geriatric
medicine, says vaccines, and
especially boosters, are a
must for older individuals.
“It’s been shown repeatedly
to have a favorable impact
on long-term morbidity and
mortality,” he explains.
Data from the CDC shows
that full vaccination against
COVID-19 in adults 65 and
older results in a 94% reduc-
tion in risk of COVID-19
hospitalizations.
Bragman says there’s a
new product on the market
as well called CofixRX, a
nasal spray that promises to
boost one’s immune system.
He’s now recommending it
to senior patients. “It works
anywhere from 6-8 hours
with all over-the-counter
ingredients,” he describes.
“In addition to masks and
vaccination, it has a favorable
impact. If a person wants to
go out to dinner, for exam-
ple, a couple spritzes will
help protect them.”
Like recommendations
for general populations,
Bragman says older individ-
uals with chronic conditions
or debilitating medical con-
ditions should continue to
exercise caution. He suggests
that those visiting elderly or
sick loved ones in nursing
home facilities should still
wear masks, since those pop-
ulations tend to be more vul-
nerable. KN95 or K95 masks
give optimal protection,
though surgical masks still
give some protection.
Bragman explains that a
sedentary lifestyle is a major
risk factor for COVID-19, so
it’s important for the elderly
population to continue to get
exercise and move around
if possible. “When people
are physically active, you
enhance your immune sys-
tem,” he says. Sleep also mat-
ters. “When you’re well-rest-
ed, your immune system is
bolstered.”
CHILDREN
AND COVID-19
As it stands, the latest rec-
ommendations for COVID-
19 vaccinations include chil-
dren ages 5 and older, says
Dr. Russell Faust, medical
director for Oakland County.
Faust, who spent most of his
career working in pediatric
health, explains that the
CDC has dropped the mask
mandate; however, children
living in multigenerational
homes with elderly relatives
or children with chronic
ailments should continue to
wear masks.
“When these folks do
become infected, they’re at
greater risk of severe side
effects,” Faust says. “Do my
own kids wear masks to
school? Yes, they do. When
I’m indoors, around a crowd,
I also wear a mask.”
Luckily, the Omicron vari-
ant, like in other age groups,
hasn’t hit the pediatric pop-
ulation hard with severe
side effects, Faust continues.
“I don’t think there’s real-
ly a need to steer clear of
much,” he says of activities
for children or families. “But
anything that’s indoors or
in a crowd is a greater risk.
There’s no such thing as zero
risk.”
As the weather warms
up and Michigan has more
opportunities for outdoor
socialization, Faust is “cau-
tiously optimistic” that
COVID-19 will continue to
improve. Whether or not the
disease will become endemic,
though, is too early to tell
just yet.
“We all need a break,” he
says. “Everybody needs a
break.”
“THERE’S NO SUCH THING
AS ZERO RISK.”
— DR. RUSSELL FAUST