As the summer wave of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, households in the US will be able to order free virus test kits mailed to their homes, starting in late September.
According to COVIDtests.gov, managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests when the federal program reopens at the end of September. A specific date, however, is not yet announced. Per the website, “the COVID-19 Tests will detect current COVID-19 variants and can be used through the end of the year.”
“Tests will detect current virus strains and can be ordered ahead of the holiday season when family and friends gather for celebrations,” an HHS spokesperson said in an emailed statement to the Associated Press.
The announcement comes in tandem with the FDA approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, ahead of the fall and winter respiratory virus season. As of this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 keeps rising, along with emergency room visits since mid-May. Hospitalizations are rising, too.
The CDC also reports that COVID-19 has become endemic, which means that, while still posing significant health risks, we’ll be getting yearly updated vaccines to protect against mutations and waning immunity, just like annual flu shots.
According to data from the CDC, as of May 11, only 22.5% of adults got last year’s updated Covid vaccine. Only 14.4% of children ages 6 months through 17 years got vaccinated.
For this fall, the CDC recommended that all Americans aged 6 months and older get the new shots. CVS is currently offering appointments for the new COVID-19 vaccine starting no earlier than late August, and Walgreens is offering appointments that begin September 6. Those uninsured will likely have to pay out of pocket for the vaccine as the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Bridge Access Program comes to an end in August.
Uninsured minors aged 18 and under can still get free COVID-19 vaccines — and other free immunizations — as part of the Vaccines for Children Program.
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