Mon Sep 23 22:52:46 UTC 2024: ## Free At-Home COVID Tests Available Again as US Braces for Respiratory Virus Season

The US government is making another round of free at-home COVID-19 tests available to all households starting at the end of September. This comes as the country prepares for the upcoming respiratory virus season with high levels of COVID-19 already circulating.

Each household can order four free test kits through the COVIDTests.gov website. Over 900 million test kits have already been distributed through this program, which aims to help people identify potential COVID-19 infections early.

“COVID-19 testing can help you know if you have COVID-19 so you can decide what to do next,” stated the US Department of Health and Human Services. This includes accessing treatments to reduce the severity of illness and taking steps to prevent spreading the virus.

The new batch of tests are designed to detect currently circulating variants, making them particularly relevant as people prepare for holiday gatherings later this year.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the CDC, urges vigilance and the use of available tools like vaccines, testing, and treatments to combat the respiratory illnesses that often cause increased hospitalizations and deaths during fall and winter.

The CDC also recommends that everyone 6 months or older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine this season. Multiple vaccine options are available, including updated mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer that target the KP.2 variant, which has been dominant in the US since May. These are available for those 6 months and older. A more traditional protein vaccine from Novavax, targeting the JN.1 variant, is also available for individuals 12 years and up.

Both the updated COVID-19 vaccines and the annual flu vaccine can be received simultaneously at pharmacies nationwide.

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