As a COVID-19 research scientist your preaching to the choir man. No doubt.
I wouldnt say we are doing nothing though to protect these vulnerable people. I mean a **lot** was done, entier economies were shut down, vaccines developed, mask mandates had been issues, people went to extraordinary lengths to address it. You can argue they can do more, sure, you can always do more.
As for what we can do to protect them, I can think of a few things but not that much. Allow more remote work, better filtration systems in building with higher overall air flow, staying home when your sick... a few good things can be done but even then there isnt much else that is reasonable I can think of to do.