100 | MARCH 31 • 2022 

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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