COVID-19 Tests & Vaccines Update

[BI Rural Health Center]

Free COVID tests will be available to order from the US government again starting Monday, September 25, 2023. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, US households can order four free tests from Covidtests.gov. This relaunch of the free rapid tests by mail comes as the new vaccine boosters are being distributed. Testing is an important component of minimizing the spread of infection.

Many previously distributed tests’ expiration dates were extended. Check your COVID-19 tests’ expiration dates here: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/cor ... ests#list

The Beaver Island Rural Health Center has on-site testing available and anticipates having COVID vaccines available by the end of September. The oral antiviral medications Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are also still available for those persons meeting the guidelines, one of which is to be within 5 days of symptom onset.

If you were exposed to COVID-19, develop symptoms or test positive for COVID, here is a link to the current CDC guidelines for isolation and exposure https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nc ... ation.html