DEAR DR. ROACH: I read that there is updated advice on who should get the COVID vaccine based on age and risk factors. How many Americans were hospitalized for COVID who did not have these latest qualifying risk factors? — N.R.

ANSWER: Although the most recent update on the licensing of the COVID vaccines from the Food and Drug Adminstration did not specify which conditions qualify a person for the vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control have maintained a list of high-risk conditions:

This includes being over 65 years old, having heart or lung disease, being obese, having neurological or developmental conditions, and having an immune deficiency. (The entire detailed list can be found here: CDC.gov/COVID/hcp/clinical-care/underlying-conditions.html.)

The FDA has estimated that between one-third and two-thirds of Americans will have access to the vaccines based on these criteria.

To answer your question, approximately 90% of people who are hospitalized with COVID (about 40,000 people in the most recent six months) meet one of these qualifying conditions. Critically, 88% of those who were hospitalized were not up-to-date with their vaccines.

Based on this information, it is of high importance for people who meet any of the extensive list of qualifying conditions to get a COVID vaccine. I recommend doing so, ideally with one of the newly approved vaccines, as soon as possible.

Getting the vaccine directly from your doctor is a good option, while some people may need to bring a prescription to their pharmacy. The new policies are not clear.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a healthy 65-year-old female with low blood pressure. I weigh 123 pounds, and I’m 5 feet, 6 inches tall. I have good cholesterol and don’t have diabetes. I sadly do have a congenital bicuspid valve and a 4.5-cm aneurysm.

My question is, are supplements necessary to maintain good health? I spend a small fortune on various supplements (too many to mention), and I’m kind of tired of it. I feel that the supplements help me stay healthy, but I wonder if I’m being duped by advertising.

I eat a very healthy diet with lots of vegetables, fruits, homemade bone broth, organ meats, fish, and some red meat. I don’t eat sugar. Can you help me quit supplements please? — P.

ANSWER: Since it seems like your goal is mostly to prevent diseases, I can confirm that the data are very poor regarding healthy people who benefit from supplements. Supplements can be a good alternative to medication to treat symptomatic conditions, but the existing studies show a lack of benefit from vitamins and minerals to prevent problems from occurring in the future

Among the most commonly used supplements are marketed for this purpose. Marketing for supplements is very effective, but if you look carefully, they will all say: “This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

You have a 4.5-cm aneurysm (I assume in your thoracic aorta), and you could consider a statin drug to slow expansion of the aneurysm. Keeping your blood pressure low is very important.

I do not recommend organ meats as part of a healthy diet and recommend that red meat be consumed in smaller amounts than what many North Americans normally consume. Fruits, vegetables and non-fried fish (especially fatty fish) are all excellent choices. You could consider adding seeds, nuts and whole grains to your diet. You will have more money to spend considering how much you will save by omitting your supplements.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. (c) 2025 North America Syndicate Inc. All Rights Reserved