A free COVID testing at-home program resumes as officials get ready for the winter, fall and spring seasons

Officials confirmed that the website used to purchase tests will go back in September.

By Mary Kekatos, Dr. Aditi Kantipuly

Aug 23, 2024 05:49 PM

The federal government plans to restart its COVID test at home for free test in September, as officials prepare the nation for coming respiratory virus season.

Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response in the Department of Health and Human Services She said on Friday that this was the seventh time that the Biden-Harris administration allowed Americans to obtain tests from a pharmacy without cost.

It’s not known exactly when COVID.gov/tests is expected to come up and running. The site has stopped accepting orders since early March.

“As families start to move indoors this fall and begin spending time with their loved ones, both very old and very young, they will once again have the opportunity to order up to four new COVID-19 tests free of charge and have them sent directly to their homes,” O’Connell informed reporters. “These tests will help keep families and their loved ones safe this fall and winter season.”

She said that the tests will be able identify infection from current in circulation varieties.

In the same briefing to media officials from the federal government said that the spike in summer COVID cases isn’t contributing to the same increase in deaths and hospitalizations that we have previously observed in previous years.

The Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention She said that immunity resulting from vaccinations and prior COVID infection has helped reduce COVID’s burden on health care. COVID on the health care system.

“I do want to acknowledge that we continue to see a lot of COVID-19 activity across the country right now in tests coming back from labs,” Cohen declared and added “Circulating COVID disease is not translating into similar increases in emergency room visits and hospitalizations or deaths.”

Cohen noted that COVID’s severity appears to be akin to influenza, but he noted that COVID remains more deadly.

Based on a forecast from the federal government for the coming respiratory virus season the U.S. can expect similar or slightly higher numbers for peak hospitalizations for COVID influenza, COVID and RSV in conjunction, she said.

“We know that protection decreases over time, and certain groups continue to be at higher risk from COVID and other viruses and we need to continue to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” Cohen stated.

Officials also suggested that people be vaccinated against COVID, influenza and RSV ahead of the forthcoming RSV season.

For COVID-19 as well as the flu For COVID-19 and the flu CDC recommends that anyone six months or more receive the COVID as well as a flu vaccination, which includes pregnant women. Cohen stated that individuals could receive both vaccines simultaneously.

On Thursday on Thursday, on Thursday, the FDA has approved and issued an emergency use authorization for COVID-19 updated vaccines from Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna for the winter and fall seasons.

COVID-19 vaccine makers informed ABC News the vaccines are scheduled to be available in the coming weeks.

To prevent RSV infants, all children older than 8 months and infants aged between 8 months to 18 months who are susceptible should be vaccines. RSV vaccination is recommended for women who are pregnant between 32 between 36 and 36 weeks gestation as and for all adults 75 and over and those between 60 to 74 who are at risk.

In addition to the tests, O’Connell said Paxlovid, an antiviral drug that is used to treat COVID-19-related infections for people who are at risk of being hospitalized is available to those who are with Medicare and Medicaid as well as those who are not insured.

Starting in 2025 and lasting until 2028, Pfizer is the company that makes Paxlovid and Paxlovid, will assume the assistance program for people who are uninsured or uninsured, O’Connell said.

In addition, Merck’s patient assistance initiative will also continue to offer Lagevrio the antiviral to treat patients who are in need of hospitalization due to COVID-19 to patients who are not insured.

“Distributing at-home tests and securing access to treatments is an essential part of the Biden Harris administration’s efforts to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for the upcoming fall and winter respiratory season,” O’Connell stated.