US Government to Offer More Free At-Home Covid-19 Tests #

The US government is set to provide another round of free at-home Covid-19 test kits to households across the country. This initiative comes as the nation prepares for the respiratory virus season, with coronavirus levels already high.

Each household will be eligible to order four additional free test kits starting at the end of September. This distribution marks the seventh round of the program, which has already delivered over 900 million test kits directly to US residents.

The upcoming tests are designed to detect current virus variants and are intended to help people make informed decisions about their health, especially as they plan for year-end holiday gatherings.

Health officials emphasize the importance of Covid-19 testing in determining appropriate next steps, such as seeking treatment to reduce the risk of severe illness and taking measures to prevent virus spread.

As the winter season approaches, health experts advise vigilance and recommend utilizing available tools, including vaccines, testing, and treatments against illnesses responsible for most fall and winter deaths and hospitalizations.

The CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older receive an updated Covid-19 vaccine this season. Multiple vaccine options are available:

1. mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer, updated to target the KP.2 variant, for individuals 6 months and older.
2. A protein vaccine from Novavax, targeting the JN.1 variant, approved for those 12 years and older.

These updated Covid-19 vaccines are now available at pharmacies across the US and can be administered concurrently with the annual flu vaccine.