Americans can once again order free rapid coronavirus tests by mail. I just ordered mine and it took about 30 seconds. People can request four free at-home Covid-19 tests per household through covidtests.gov. They will begin shipping Monday. From WashPo:
The September revival of the free testing program is in line with the Biden administration’s strategy to respond to the coronavirus as part of a broader public health campaign to protect Americans from respiratory viruses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), that surge every fall and winter. But free tests were not mailed during the summer wave, which wastewater surveillance data shows is now receding.
We can thank the good folks at the Department of Health and Human Services for setting this up. Their hard work and expertise will save lives. I suppose this would be one of the government agencies the Republicans want to eliminate, like NOAA and the National Weather Service.
Go to the CDC website for info on RSV. The RSV vaccine is not currently considered an annual vaccine; people do not need to get a dose every year. (Consult your doctor.)
CDC recommends a single dose of RSV vaccine for older adults to help prevent serious RSV infection and hospitalization.
This image may not reflect the product currently being sent out. It’s just a generic file photo.