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"slug": "a-new-covid-vaccine-dose-is-now-available-for-people-age-65-and-older-where-can-you-find-a-shot-near-you",
"title": "A New COVID Vaccine Dose Is Now Available for People Age 65 and Older. Where Can You Find a Shot Near You?",
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"headTitle": "A New COVID Vaccine Dose Is Now Available for People Age 65 and Older. Where Can You Find a Shot Near You? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Older adults age 65 and over can now get another COVID vaccine this spring, after the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) formally recommended an extra shot for this age group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The additional vaccine being offered to this age group is another dose of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">the same updated COVID vaccine that became widely available last fall for everyone age 6 months and older.\u003c/a> All people in this 65+ age group are now eligible to receive this extra vaccine, as long as it’s been at least four months since their last COVID vaccine. These new shots are now rolling out through health care providers and county public health departments, as well as at health centers and pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Safeway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about the new booster shots for people age 65 and older, and how to find a free COVID vaccine near you for yourself or a loved one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I find a new COVID vaccine near me for people age 65 and older?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">Why was I asked to pay for my new extra COVID shot if I’m age 65 or older?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">Why can’t I get a new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser health insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why should older adults age 65 and over get another dose of the COVID vaccine this spring?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC’s recommendation, made on Feb. 28, acknowledges what the agency calls “the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-0228-covid.html\">“Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older,”\u003c/a> said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen in a statement announcing the approval of extra vaccines for this age group. “An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection that may have decreased over time for those at highest risk,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_11954507 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66630_GettyImages-1369841386-qut-1020x680.jpg']There’s also a practical element to the CDC’s decision to recommend an extra vaccine dose for this age group — because their recommendation means that \u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/cdc-faces-dilemma-over-recommending-new-covid-booster-for-all/amp/\">now health insurers \u003cem>have\u003c/em> \u003cem>to\u003c/em> cover your extra 2024 COVID vaccine\u003c/a>. This update means that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html\">older adults now join immunocompromised people in being eligible\u003c/a> for an additional vaccine dose due to their higher risk levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike previous rounds of the vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC aren’t calling the latest COVID vaccine a “booster” — so you probably won’t see that language online around appointments. Instead, they’re referring to it as a “new” or “updated” COVID vaccine for 2023–2024 that’s been updated to better target a more recent strain of the coronavirus than previous vaccines: This time, the omicron variant known as XBB.1.5.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I find the new COVID vaccine near me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#shouldigetnewcovidvaccine\">If I don’t have major health risks, should I still get the new COVID vaccine now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">I’ve had COVID recently. Can I still get the new COVID vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why have these latest COVID vaccine rollouts seemed so different this time? Do I have to pay for it now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering why the new COVID vaccine took a while to become widely available back in the fall, or why \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/covid-vaccine-price-18375815.php\">you heard reports of some people with Medicare being charged over $150 to receive the new vaccine at a pharmacy back then\u003c/a>, it’s because of one major change that started in 2023: The federal government has stopped footing the bill for COVID vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html\">The shots have now transitioned into the traditional health care market\u003c/a>. So for most people with health insurance, their insurer will now cover the cost of getting the new COVID vaccine direct, much like your plan might cover your flu shot — and this is why many county public health officials urge people to first seek out the new vaccine via their health care provider. (It’s also why those county-run vaccination sites that were so common at the height of the pandemic now no longer exist on the same scale, and will primarily be targeted toward folks without insurance.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">And if you’re one of those people who don’t have insurance, the White House will still cover the costs of your COVID vaccines\u003c/a> through a federal program until December 2024. But this means you may now have a narrower choice of places to get it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line is that your updated vaccine should still be free, the way COVID vaccines have been throughout the pandemic. But if you have health insurance, it’s still important to be extra sure you’re asking for your COVID shot somewhere that accepts that insurance — especially if you’re going to a pharmacy. In other words, you now have to think about all the potential costs and insurance wrangling that you \u003cem>didn’t\u003c/em> have to consider for several years when it came to your COVID care.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"kaisernewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why can’t I get my new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Another reason you might potentially be charged for your new COVID vaccine, or denied the shot if you refuse to pay out of pocket: if you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Usually, if you have health insurance, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. Health systems like Kaiser are the exception to this, and so you almost certainly won’t be able to get your new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, Kaiser Permanente has recommended members receive their updated COVID vaccinations at a Kaiser, where the cost of the new COVID vaccines will be covered “according to the coverage of routine vaccinations provided by members’ plan benefits when administered at a Kaiser Permanente facility,” a spokeperson told KQED in 2023. This has also meant that those who have health insurance through Kaiser have faced a slightly longer wait for their new COVID vaccine than folks with other types of insurance, unless you’re prepared to pay large costs up-front. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">CVS, for example, charges $190.99 for the new COVID vaccine\u003c/a> “if CVS is not in network with your insurance plan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A Kaiser spokesperson told KQED on Feb. 29 that “we are updating our processes and systems to reflect the new CDC recommendation” for people age 65 and older, and that Kaiser expects to begin administering this extra dose “in most areas we serve in California by March 8, and possibly earlier in some locations.” \u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/covid-19-vaccine-locations/\">Find a Kaiser location near you currently offering the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is the Novavax COVID vaccine available as well as Moderna and Pfizer’s new vaccines?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes: After \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/12/1199003441/cdc-advisers-back-broad-rollout-out-of-new-covid-boosters\">a period of FDA review\u003c/a>, the\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-updated-novavax-covid-19-vaccine-formulated-better-protect-against-currently\"> Novavax COVID vaccine was authorized in 2023\u003c/a> for people age 12 and older who have not already been vaccinated with the new Moderna or Pfizer COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike Pfizer and Moderna’s new COVID shots, the Novavax vaccine is a non-mRNA, protein-based vaccine. One reason some people choose the Novavax vaccine is based on aftereffects from getting the shot — as \u003cem>Science\u003c/em> has reported,\u003ca href=\"https://www.science.org/content/article/should-you-pick-novavax-s-covid-19-shot-over-mrna-options\"> Novavax “appeared less likely than mRNA shots to cause side effects like headache and fatigue”\u003c/a> in clinical trials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What’s the cost of the vaccine, whether I have insurance or not?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This is the first time during the COVID pandemic that the federal government \u003cem>isn’t\u003c/em> footing the bill for these vaccines. Now that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11948759/how-to-access-covid-care-in-california-as-u-s-public-health-emergency-ends\">the White House’s public health emergency for COVID has ended\u003c/a>, these COVID vaccines are no longer purchased or distributed by the federal government. Now, \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html\">COVID shots have transitioned to the traditional health care market\u003c/a> and will be increasingly considered the way that other preventative vaccines, like flu shots, are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For most people with health insurance, their insurer will cover the cost of getting the new COVID vaccine, including Medicare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11961117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11961117 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A nurse gives a little boy a shot while his mother gives him encouragement.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">COVID shots have transitioned to the traditional health care market and will be increasingly considered the way that other preventative vaccines, like flu shots, are. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">But if you \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have insurance, the White House will still cover your COVID vaccines\u003c/a> through \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">a federal program called the Bridge Access Program\u003c/a>, which lasts through December 2024. This means you’ll now have a narrower choice of places to get your COVID vaccine because you’ll have to make sure the vaccination location you’ve chosen participates in the Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC says people without insurance will be able to \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">visit the federal government’s vaccines.gov site\u003c/a> to find a location where they can get the new COVID vaccine for free. When searching for a vaccination location near you using this site, be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">\u003c/a>I’m 65 or older and I had COVID recently. Do I have to wait before getting my extra COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, the CDC advises that you “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/COVID-19-immunization-schedule-ages-6months-older.pdf\">may consider delaying vaccination by 3 months from symptom onset.”(PDF)\u003c/a> And if your case was asymptomatic, use the date of your positive test instead of the onset of your symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means, that if you had a COVID infection \u003cem>after\u003c/em> early December 2024, you may wish to delay getting your new COVID vaccine until you hit your three-month mark. But as with all matters relating to your health, it’s best to speak directly to your health care provider about the best option for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890214\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11890214\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A man sitting on a large porch lifts up his sleeve as he awaits his vaccine, beside a woman in an orange safety vest preparing the vaccine.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-2048x1362.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1920x1277.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse prepares a first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for Jose Luis Sánchez at a clinic in Pasadena, on Aug. 19, 2021. The clinic was one of the first in the city to offer ‘supplemental’ third coronavirus shots to people with immunological conditions, according to organizers. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"where\">\u003c/a>Where can I find an extra COVID vaccine this spring if I’m age 65 or older?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Don’t assume you’ll be proactively contacted about getting an extra dose of the updated COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that a certain location may only be offering a certain brand of the new vaccine, whether that’s Moderna, Pfizer or Novavax. So be sure that the location you’re walking into or making an appointment for offers the type of updated vaccine you need or want. \u003ca href=\"#mix\">Read more about “mixing and matching” COVID vaccines.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also make sure the appointment you schedule for your new additional vaccine is at least four months after your last COVID vaccine shot, or three months after your last COVID infection. (When you’re making an appointment for a new vaccine, you’ll likely be asked for the date of your last COVID vaccine dose or booster dose for this reason, to ensure you’re not getting your shot too soon.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890217\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003ca href=\"#mix\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11890217 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of a hand gripping a vaccination card and writing on it with a pen.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1920x1278.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse marks a coronavirus vaccination card with a third booster dose of Pfizer at a vaccine clinic in Pasadena on Aug. 19, 2021. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images))\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>1. Find an extra COVID vaccine dose through a local pharmacy \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For future reference, pharmacies are usually the first place new vaccine shots become available when announced because pharmacies take their cue from the federal government, not the state. Several pharmacy chains, including CVS and Walgreens, are now offering online appointments for the new additional COVID vaccine dose for people age 65 and older, and some may also accept walk-in appointments with no prescheduling required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance like Medicare, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. One big exception to this: If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, you almost certainly \u003cem>won’t\u003c/em> be able to get your new COVID vaccine for free (i.e., covered by your insurance) at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, \u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">if you are a member of a health system like Kaiser \u003c/a>and are unsure about what your health insurance covers, reach out to your provider to check if you will need to obtain your new COVID vaccine through them, in order to have it covered. \u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">Read more about why you’ll need to get your new COVID vaccine at a Kaiser facility if you get your health care through Kaiser.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance, some pharmacies will be offering appointments that don’t require health insurance. Visit the federal government’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a> website to search for a location near you, and be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program,” (the name of the federal program that’s funding new COVID vaccines for uninsured people). For example, a CVS spokesperson confirmed to KQED that the pharmacy chain is participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?icid=cvs-home-hero1-banner-1-link2-coronavirus-vaccine\">CVS COVID vaccine appointments. \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19?ban=covid_vaccine_landing_schedule\">Walgreens COVID vaccine appointments\u003c/a>, or call (800) WALGREENS/(800) 925-4733.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier?utm_source=state&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=Covid19&utm_content=Covid19scheduler_CA_2_12_21\">Rite Aid COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mhealthappointments.com/covidappt\">Safeway (Albertsons) COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2. Find an extra COVID vaccine dose through your health care provider, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, check with your health care provider to see whether they can offer you an updated COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance but get medical care through a city- or county-run provider, you should check with that location to see whether they can offer you the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to trying to talk with your health care provider directly, check the website of your provider to see whether it’s offering the ability to make appointments, and sign up for their vaccine notifications if that’s an option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>3. Find an extra COVID vaccine dose through vaccines.gov \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visit the federal government’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a> website to see when appointments for the new updated COVID vaccine in or near your zip code become available. Right now, the majority of Bay Area appointments visible on vaccines.gov appear to be at pharmacies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov \u003c/a>is also the CDC’s recommendation for finding a vaccination site if you’re uninsured. When searching for a vaccination location near you using this site, be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program,” because that’s the name of the federal program that’ll be funding new COVID vaccines for uninsured people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>4. Find an extra COVID vaccine dose through My Turn\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout the pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn has been the state’s site\u003c/a> for all Californians to schedule vaccination appointments or find walk-in locations, regardless of health insurance status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the new COVID vaccines are now being distributed through the traditional health care market, My Turn’s services are now geared primarily toward uninsured people. The site’s homepage says that “if you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t cover routine vaccinations, My Turn will provide a list of locations that offer vaccines at no cost for the uninsured.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">If you visit the My Turn page\u003c/a>, select “Make an Appointment.” My Turn will ask for your information, and the ZIP code or location you’d like to use to search for vaccine appointments. You can give your home location, or input other locations to see which sites might be available farther away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can’t travel to a clinic for your new COVID vaccine because of health or transportation issues, you can note this when registering on My Turn, and a representative from the CDPH is supposed to call you to arrange an in-home visit or transportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My Turn will ask you to provide a cellphone number and an email address. The state says this is so you can use two-factor authentication to confirm your identity and make your appointment, and to prevent bots from automatically scooping up available appointments online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have an email address or a cellphone number, or you have questions, you can call the California COVID-19 hotline at (833) 422-4255 (Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. PT) and sign up over the phone. Both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking operators are available. Callers needing information in other languages will be connected to a translation service that offers assistance in over 250 languages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11889661\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11889661\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/michigan_shot_gettyimages-1234850852-8f2a1402d5a0ab808313f55bdac52f950c8ad974-scaled-e1632414475184.jpg\" alt=\"Blue-gloved hands administer a vaccine into a shoulder.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rufus Peoples receives his booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine during an Oakland County Health Department vaccination clinic at the Southfield Pavilion on Aug. 24, 2021, in Southfield, Michigan. \u003ccite>(Emily Elconin/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>5. Find an extra COVID vaccine dose through your county (if available)\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Visit your county’s public health website \u003c/a>to learn if your county will soon be offering the new updated COVID vaccine to its residents, particularly those who are uninsured or under-insured.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Find your Bay Area county in our list.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2024. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? What questions didn’t you have answered in this guide? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site, and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The new COVID vaccine was authorized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuesday, and is now rolling out across the US. Here's how to find a free COVID vaccine near you.",
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"title": "A New COVID Vaccine Dose Is Now Available for People Age 65 and Older. Where Can You Find a Shot Near You? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Older adults age 65 and over can now get another COVID vaccine this spring, after the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) formally recommended an extra shot for this age group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The additional vaccine being offered to this age group is another dose of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">the same updated COVID vaccine that became widely available last fall for everyone age 6 months and older.\u003c/a> All people in this 65+ age group are now eligible to receive this extra vaccine, as long as it’s been at least four months since their last COVID vaccine. These new shots are now rolling out through health care providers and county public health departments, as well as at health centers and pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Safeway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about the new booster shots for people age 65 and older, and how to find a free COVID vaccine near you for yourself or a loved one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I find a new COVID vaccine near me for people age 65 and older?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">Why was I asked to pay for my new extra COVID shot if I’m age 65 or older?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">Why can’t I get a new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser health insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why should older adults age 65 and over get another dose of the COVID vaccine this spring?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC’s recommendation, made on Feb. 28, acknowledges what the agency calls “the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-0228-covid.html\">“Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older,”\u003c/a> said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen in a statement announcing the approval of extra vaccines for this age group. “An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection that may have decreased over time for those at highest risk,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>There’s also a practical element to the CDC’s decision to recommend an extra vaccine dose for this age group — because their recommendation means that \u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/cdc-faces-dilemma-over-recommending-new-covid-booster-for-all/amp/\">now health insurers \u003cem>have\u003c/em> \u003cem>to\u003c/em> cover your extra 2024 COVID vaccine\u003c/a>. This update means that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html\">older adults now join immunocompromised people in being eligible\u003c/a> for an additional vaccine dose due to their higher risk levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike previous rounds of the vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC aren’t calling the latest COVID vaccine a “booster” — so you probably won’t see that language online around appointments. Instead, they’re referring to it as a “new” or “updated” COVID vaccine for 2023–2024 that’s been updated to better target a more recent strain of the coronavirus than previous vaccines: This time, the omicron variant known as XBB.1.5.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I find the new COVID vaccine near me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#shouldigetnewcovidvaccine\">If I don’t have major health risks, should I still get the new COVID vaccine now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">I’ve had COVID recently. Can I still get the new COVID vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why have these latest COVID vaccine rollouts seemed so different this time? Do I have to pay for it now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering why the new COVID vaccine took a while to become widely available back in the fall, or why \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/covid-vaccine-price-18375815.php\">you heard reports of some people with Medicare being charged over $150 to receive the new vaccine at a pharmacy back then\u003c/a>, it’s because of one major change that started in 2023: The federal government has stopped footing the bill for COVID vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html\">The shots have now transitioned into the traditional health care market\u003c/a>. So for most people with health insurance, their insurer will now cover the cost of getting the new COVID vaccine direct, much like your plan might cover your flu shot — and this is why many county public health officials urge people to first seek out the new vaccine via their health care provider. (It’s also why those county-run vaccination sites that were so common at the height of the pandemic now no longer exist on the same scale, and will primarily be targeted toward folks without insurance.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">And if you’re one of those people who don’t have insurance, the White House will still cover the costs of your COVID vaccines\u003c/a> through a federal program until December 2024. But this means you may now have a narrower choice of places to get it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line is that your updated vaccine should still be free, the way COVID vaccines have been throughout the pandemic. But if you have health insurance, it’s still important to be extra sure you’re asking for your COVID shot somewhere that accepts that insurance — especially if you’re going to a pharmacy. In other words, you now have to think about all the potential costs and insurance wrangling that you \u003cem>didn’t\u003c/em> have to consider for several years when it came to your COVID care.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"kaisernewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why can’t I get my new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Another reason you might potentially be charged for your new COVID vaccine, or denied the shot if you refuse to pay out of pocket: if you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Usually, if you have health insurance, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. Health systems like Kaiser are the exception to this, and so you almost certainly won’t be able to get your new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, Kaiser Permanente has recommended members receive their updated COVID vaccinations at a Kaiser, where the cost of the new COVID vaccines will be covered “according to the coverage of routine vaccinations provided by members’ plan benefits when administered at a Kaiser Permanente facility,” a spokeperson told KQED in 2023. This has also meant that those who have health insurance through Kaiser have faced a slightly longer wait for their new COVID vaccine than folks with other types of insurance, unless you’re prepared to pay large costs up-front. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">CVS, for example, charges $190.99 for the new COVID vaccine\u003c/a> “if CVS is not in network with your insurance plan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A Kaiser spokesperson told KQED on Feb. 29 that “we are updating our processes and systems to reflect the new CDC recommendation” for people age 65 and older, and that Kaiser expects to begin administering this extra dose “in most areas we serve in California by March 8, and possibly earlier in some locations.” \u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/covid-19-vaccine-locations/\">Find a Kaiser location near you currently offering the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is the Novavax COVID vaccine available as well as Moderna and Pfizer’s new vaccines?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes: After \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/12/1199003441/cdc-advisers-back-broad-rollout-out-of-new-covid-boosters\">a period of FDA review\u003c/a>, the\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-updated-novavax-covid-19-vaccine-formulated-better-protect-against-currently\"> Novavax COVID vaccine was authorized in 2023\u003c/a> for people age 12 and older who have not already been vaccinated with the new Moderna or Pfizer COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike Pfizer and Moderna’s new COVID shots, the Novavax vaccine is a non-mRNA, protein-based vaccine. One reason some people choose the Novavax vaccine is based on aftereffects from getting the shot — as \u003cem>Science\u003c/em> has reported,\u003ca href=\"https://www.science.org/content/article/should-you-pick-novavax-s-covid-19-shot-over-mrna-options\"> Novavax “appeared less likely than mRNA shots to cause side effects like headache and fatigue”\u003c/a> in clinical trials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What’s the cost of the vaccine, whether I have insurance or not?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This is the first time during the COVID pandemic that the federal government \u003cem>isn’t\u003c/em> footing the bill for these vaccines. Now that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11948759/how-to-access-covid-care-in-california-as-u-s-public-health-emergency-ends\">the White House’s public health emergency for COVID has ended\u003c/a>, these COVID vaccines are no longer purchased or distributed by the federal government. Now, \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html\">COVID shots have transitioned to the traditional health care market\u003c/a> and will be increasingly considered the way that other preventative vaccines, like flu shots, are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For most people with health insurance, their insurer will cover the cost of getting the new COVID vaccine, including Medicare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11961117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11961117 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A nurse gives a little boy a shot while his mother gives him encouragement.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">COVID shots have transitioned to the traditional health care market and will be increasingly considered the way that other preventative vaccines, like flu shots, are. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">But if you \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have insurance, the White House will still cover your COVID vaccines\u003c/a> through \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">a federal program called the Bridge Access Program\u003c/a>, which lasts through December 2024. This means you’ll now have a narrower choice of places to get your COVID vaccine because you’ll have to make sure the vaccination location you’ve chosen participates in the Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC says people without insurance will be able to \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">visit the federal government’s vaccines.gov site\u003c/a> to find a location where they can get the new COVID vaccine for free. When searching for a vaccination location near you using this site, be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">\u003c/a>I’m 65 or older and I had COVID recently. Do I have to wait before getting my extra COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, the CDC advises that you “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/COVID-19-immunization-schedule-ages-6months-older.pdf\">may consider delaying vaccination by 3 months from symptom onset.”(PDF)\u003c/a> And if your case was asymptomatic, use the date of your positive test instead of the onset of your symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means, that if you had a COVID infection \u003cem>after\u003c/em> early December 2024, you may wish to delay getting your new COVID vaccine until you hit your three-month mark. But as with all matters relating to your health, it’s best to speak directly to your health care provider about the best option for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890214\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11890214\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A man sitting on a large porch lifts up his sleeve as he awaits his vaccine, beside a woman in an orange safety vest preparing the vaccine.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-2048x1362.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1920x1277.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse prepares a first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for Jose Luis Sánchez at a clinic in Pasadena, on Aug. 19, 2021. The clinic was one of the first in the city to offer ‘supplemental’ third coronavirus shots to people with immunological conditions, according to organizers. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"where\">\u003c/a>Where can I find an extra COVID vaccine this spring if I’m age 65 or older?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Don’t assume you’ll be proactively contacted about getting an extra dose of the updated COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that a certain location may only be offering a certain brand of the new vaccine, whether that’s Moderna, Pfizer or Novavax. So be sure that the location you’re walking into or making an appointment for offers the type of updated vaccine you need or want. \u003ca href=\"#mix\">Read more about “mixing and matching” COVID vaccines.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also make sure the appointment you schedule for your new additional vaccine is at least four months after your last COVID vaccine shot, or three months after your last COVID infection. (When you’re making an appointment for a new vaccine, you’ll likely be asked for the date of your last COVID vaccine dose or booster dose for this reason, to ensure you’re not getting your shot too soon.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890217\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003ca href=\"#mix\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11890217 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of a hand gripping a vaccination card and writing on it with a pen.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1920x1278.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse marks a coronavirus vaccination card with a third booster dose of Pfizer at a vaccine clinic in Pasadena on Aug. 19, 2021. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images))\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>1. Find an extra COVID vaccine dose through a local pharmacy \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For future reference, pharmacies are usually the first place new vaccine shots become available when announced because pharmacies take their cue from the federal government, not the state. Several pharmacy chains, including CVS and Walgreens, are now offering online appointments for the new additional COVID vaccine dose for people age 65 and older, and some may also accept walk-in appointments with no prescheduling required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance like Medicare, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. One big exception to this: If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, you almost certainly \u003cem>won’t\u003c/em> be able to get your new COVID vaccine for free (i.e., covered by your insurance) at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, \u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">if you are a member of a health system like Kaiser \u003c/a>and are unsure about what your health insurance covers, reach out to your provider to check if you will need to obtain your new COVID vaccine through them, in order to have it covered. \u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">Read more about why you’ll need to get your new COVID vaccine at a Kaiser facility if you get your health care through Kaiser.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance, some pharmacies will be offering appointments that don’t require health insurance. Visit the federal government’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a> website to search for a location near you, and be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program,” (the name of the federal program that’s funding new COVID vaccines for uninsured people). For example, a CVS spokesperson confirmed to KQED that the pharmacy chain is participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?icid=cvs-home-hero1-banner-1-link2-coronavirus-vaccine\">CVS COVID vaccine appointments. \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19?ban=covid_vaccine_landing_schedule\">Walgreens COVID vaccine appointments\u003c/a>, or call (800) WALGREENS/(800) 925-4733.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier?utm_source=state&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=Covid19&utm_content=Covid19scheduler_CA_2_12_21\">Rite Aid COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mhealthappointments.com/covidappt\">Safeway (Albertsons) COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2. Find an extra COVID vaccine dose through your health care provider, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, check with your health care provider to see whether they can offer you an updated COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance but get medical care through a city- or county-run provider, you should check with that location to see whether they can offer you the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to trying to talk with your health care provider directly, check the website of your provider to see whether it’s offering the ability to make appointments, and sign up for their vaccine notifications if that’s an option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>3. Find an extra COVID vaccine dose through vaccines.gov \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visit the federal government’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a> website to see when appointments for the new updated COVID vaccine in or near your zip code become available. Right now, the majority of Bay Area appointments visible on vaccines.gov appear to be at pharmacies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov \u003c/a>is also the CDC’s recommendation for finding a vaccination site if you’re uninsured. When searching for a vaccination location near you using this site, be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program,” because that’s the name of the federal program that’ll be funding new COVID vaccines for uninsured people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>4. Find an extra COVID vaccine dose through My Turn\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout the pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn has been the state’s site\u003c/a> for all Californians to schedule vaccination appointments or find walk-in locations, regardless of health insurance status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the new COVID vaccines are now being distributed through the traditional health care market, My Turn’s services are now geared primarily toward uninsured people. The site’s homepage says that “if you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t cover routine vaccinations, My Turn will provide a list of locations that offer vaccines at no cost for the uninsured.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">If you visit the My Turn page\u003c/a>, select “Make an Appointment.” My Turn will ask for your information, and the ZIP code or location you’d like to use to search for vaccine appointments. You can give your home location, or input other locations to see which sites might be available farther away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can’t travel to a clinic for your new COVID vaccine because of health or transportation issues, you can note this when registering on My Turn, and a representative from the CDPH is supposed to call you to arrange an in-home visit or transportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My Turn will ask you to provide a cellphone number and an email address. The state says this is so you can use two-factor authentication to confirm your identity and make your appointment, and to prevent bots from automatically scooping up available appointments online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have an email address or a cellphone number, or you have questions, you can call the California COVID-19 hotline at (833) 422-4255 (Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. PT) and sign up over the phone. Both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking operators are available. Callers needing information in other languages will be connected to a translation service that offers assistance in over 250 languages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11889661\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11889661\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/michigan_shot_gettyimages-1234850852-8f2a1402d5a0ab808313f55bdac52f950c8ad974-scaled-e1632414475184.jpg\" alt=\"Blue-gloved hands administer a vaccine into a shoulder.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rufus Peoples receives his booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine during an Oakland County Health Department vaccination clinic at the Southfield Pavilion on Aug. 24, 2021, in Southfield, Michigan. \u003ccite>(Emily Elconin/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>5. Find an extra COVID vaccine dose through your county (if available)\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Visit your county’s public health website \u003c/a>to learn if your county will soon be offering the new updated COVID vaccine to its residents, particularly those who are uninsured or under-insured.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Find your Bay Area county in our list.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2024. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? What questions didn’t you have answered in this guide? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site, and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11968709/cold-flu-or-rsv-how-to-tell-which-virus-you-might-have-from-testing-to-symptoms\">A whole host of winter respiratory viruses is circulating\u003c/a> in the first weeks of 2024 — which means you probably know several people who are sick right now. And for a fourth January running, we \u003cem>still\u003c/em> have to worry about COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At this stage in the pandemic, worrying that your sore throat, cough or congestion might, in fact, be COVID-19 is a natural thought, especially as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the Bay Area is experiencing another wave of infections fueled by the new JN.1 strain\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#covidtestincubation\">My first COVID-19 test was negative. What do I do now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>But while testing negative on an at-home antigen test can bring some relief, unfortunately, you may no longer be able to trust that initial result in the way you could earlier in the pandemic.[aside postID=news_11967946,news_11968709,news_11970001,news_11966797 label='COVID Is Still With Us']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about COVID-19 incubation periods in 2024, why an early negative test could be a false result, and what to do if you’re caught in a “Wait, so do I have COVID or not?” testing limbo.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>It could take more time to test positive for COVID-19 than in years past\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some medical experts say they’ve noticed that at this stage of the pandemic, it’s often taking much longer for people to get a positive test result on an at-home COVID-19 antigen test. In other words, they’re observing that people with COVID-19 symptoms are taking an antigen test and getting a negative result — only to get a positive result on a different test several days later.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means that many people could wrongly assume they don’t have COVID-19 after that first negative test and then inadvertently spread the virus to friends and family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, said he and his colleagues are now “seeing people take longer to get a positive test” even though they have COVID-19 symptoms. \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, told the \u003cem>Los Angeles Times\u003c/em>\u003c/a> that she’s also noticed this delay — and that a patient might not get a positive test result up until the fourth day after the start of their symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there’s a confusing additional aspect to this too: “Paradoxically,” said Chin-Hong, incubation times for the virus have gotten shorter throughout the pandemic. This means people have tested positive for COVID-19 more quickly than in 2020, when the average incubation period was five days because the incubation period has changed with each new variant. Chin-Hong’s advice in the last year has been that if you’re having COVID-19 symptoms, it now makes sense to take a test as early as two days after exposure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So how do shorter incubation times square with this newly observed delay on positive COVID-19 tests?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Your COVID-19 symptoms might be starting earlier\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Right now, experts aren’t 100% sure why antigen tests are taking longer to return a positive COVID-19 result. But Chin-Hong said that the hypothesis that makes sense to him is less about the efficacy of the antigen tests themselves and way more about how much quicker someone with COVID-19 might develop symptoms in 2024 than they would have done in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a reminder, those symptoms are the sign that your body’s immune system is mounting a response to an invading virus — and back at the start of the pandemic, by the time you developed COVID-19 symptoms and took a test it would probably already be positive, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But at this stage of the pandemic, most of us now have “a lot of immune experience” with COVID-19, Chin-Hong said — and the average person’s immune system is increasingly “on guard” and “activated more than in 2020,” he said. So when your body detects a burgeoning coronavirus infection now, “your whole immune system just gets agitated and active, and you begin to get sick sooner, but you actually don’t have as much virus in your blood yet,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician and researcher at Stanford University, also put it this way for NPR: “With our immune systems primed, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/01/07/1222847727/coronavirus-faq-my-partner-roommate-kid-got-covid-and-i-didnt-how-come\">the body’s response [now] comes much more quickly than it would have back in 2020\u003c/a> when SARS-CoV-2 was a novel pathogen.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And because many of us take a COVID-19 test when we \u003cem>start\u003c/em> to feel sick, we might be testing way too early at that time for an at-home antigen kit to successfully detect enough virus inside us. This mismatch between when your symptoms start and when you’ve enough virus present in your body to result in a positive COVID-19 test “was started to be observed in early omicron, but I think it just seems more accentuated now,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, Hudson of Kaiser Permanente Southern California told the \u003cem>L.A. Times\u003c/em> that for her, this delay in positive tests \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">might be attributable to people’s accumulated immunity from COVID-19\u003c/a> over the years — either from getting infected or getting vaccinated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">“It’s actually pushing back the time that people’s COVID tests are coming up positive,” Hudson \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">said\u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line is: If you’re testing because you’ve started feeling unwell, it’s unwise to assume in 2024 that a negative result automatically means you don’t have COVID-19, because you might just be testing too early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidtestincubation\">\u003c/a>So … what should I do if my first COVID-19 test is negative?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Experiencing the onset of symptoms that feel like COVID-19 is unpleasant and worrying enough. And now, this new possible delay around even knowing if you have COVID-19 adds another element of frustration and uncertainty to what’s already a stressful situation. Even if you’ve been able to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#freecovidtests\"> find free COVID-19 tests being given away or by order from the U.S. government via USPS\u003c/a>, one COVID-19 scare in a family can run through that stockpile pretty fast — and the cost of purchasing new COVID-19 antigen kits can really add up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re in the limbo of not knowing whether you actually have COVID-19 yet, here’s what to do:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If your first test is negative for COVID-19, test again later\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have symptoms but have tested negative, don’t assume it means you’re COVID-free. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html\">The CDC recommends that you take another antigen test 48 hours later\u003c/a> and then test again after another 48 hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong advises that you can also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#freecovidtests\">seek out a PCR test\u003c/a>, which is more sensitive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>While you’re unsure, play it safe \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have symptoms and don’t know why yet for sure, stay home as much as you can. If you truly can’t stay indoors and away from others, wear a well-fitted mask to protect your community and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967946/covid-ventilation-guide-indoors-windows\">try to ensure you’re in well-ventilated spaces.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be especially careful not to spread any virus around folks who are at higher risk for serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19, which includes older people, immunocompromised and disabled people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Remember: Just because it’s not COVID-19 doesn’t mean you’re not still sick\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even if you turn out not to have COVID-19 after several days of testing but you’re still experiencing symptoms, you might still be infected with one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11968709/cold-flu-or-rsv-how-to-tell-which-virus-you-might-have-from-testing-to-symptoms\">the other highly infectious winter respiratory viruses out there like flu, RSV or a bad cold.\u003c/a> And if you’re sick, you could easily infect your friends, family or colleagues with whatever you’re suffering from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Give yourself permission not to trust a friend’s negative test, too\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if it’s a friend who’s experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and they’re insisting that they’re safe to meet with you because “they took a test and it’s negative”?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Knowing what you know — that it can sometimes take folks longer to get a positive COVID-19 test in 2024 — you should feel free to compassionately tell your friend that while you trust \u003cem>them\u003c/em>, you can’t trust an early negative test right now. There’s a good chance that they have no idea that positive tests can be increasingly delayed and will be relieved to know that by staying home, they haven’t accidentally spread an infectious disease to you or other loved ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if they disagree and insist they’re still safe to meet up? You should feel free to decline, even if it feels awkward. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">Remember, it’s not weird to not want to get COVID-19.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Stock up on free COVID-19 tests …\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding a quick, free COVID-19 test — whether an at-home antigen test or a PCR test — has gotten progressively harder at this stage of the pandemic as more sites and services have shuttered. The federal government has, at least, restarted its \u003ca href=\"https://www.covid.gov/tests\">free at-home COVID-test-ordering service\u003c/a> through USPS, meaning you can once again order another four free antigen tests to be delivered to your door for a future time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#freecovidtests\">Read more about where to find free or low-cost COVID-19 tests this winter.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>… but make sure your COVID-19 tests haven’t expired\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the COVID-19 tests being made available right now (\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970001/free-covid-tests-near-me-public-library\">for example, at your local public library\u003c/a>) may be approaching their expiration date if they haven’t already passed it. And an expired test could give you an unreliable result.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">You can check the FDA’s list of antigen test types \u003c/a>to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">whether the box you’re holding has had its shelf life extended\u003c/a> by the manufacturer. The FDA said that if a test’s shelf life has been extended, it’s because the manufacturer has given the agency enough “data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized.” (In other words, it’s still OK to use that test.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID-19\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Some experts have noticed that it's taking some people with COVID-19 much longer to get a positive result on an at-home antigen test. So, if you have symptoms but have tested negative, what should you do?",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11968709/cold-flu-or-rsv-how-to-tell-which-virus-you-might-have-from-testing-to-symptoms\">A whole host of winter respiratory viruses is circulating\u003c/a> in the first weeks of 2024 — which means you probably know several people who are sick right now. And for a fourth January running, we \u003cem>still\u003c/em> have to worry about COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At this stage in the pandemic, worrying that your sore throat, cough or congestion might, in fact, be COVID-19 is a natural thought, especially as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the Bay Area is experiencing another wave of infections fueled by the new JN.1 strain\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#covidtestincubation\">My first COVID-19 test was negative. What do I do now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>But while testing negative on an at-home antigen test can bring some relief, unfortunately, you may no longer be able to trust that initial result in the way you could earlier in the pandemic.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about COVID-19 incubation periods in 2024, why an early negative test could be a false result, and what to do if you’re caught in a “Wait, so do I have COVID or not?” testing limbo.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>It could take more time to test positive for COVID-19 than in years past\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some medical experts say they’ve noticed that at this stage of the pandemic, it’s often taking much longer for people to get a positive test result on an at-home COVID-19 antigen test. In other words, they’re observing that people with COVID-19 symptoms are taking an antigen test and getting a negative result — only to get a positive result on a different test several days later.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means that many people could wrongly assume they don’t have COVID-19 after that first negative test and then inadvertently spread the virus to friends and family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, said he and his colleagues are now “seeing people take longer to get a positive test” even though they have COVID-19 symptoms. \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, told the \u003cem>Los Angeles Times\u003c/em>\u003c/a> that she’s also noticed this delay — and that a patient might not get a positive test result up until the fourth day after the start of their symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there’s a confusing additional aspect to this too: “Paradoxically,” said Chin-Hong, incubation times for the virus have gotten shorter throughout the pandemic. This means people have tested positive for COVID-19 more quickly than in 2020, when the average incubation period was five days because the incubation period has changed with each new variant. Chin-Hong’s advice in the last year has been that if you’re having COVID-19 symptoms, it now makes sense to take a test as early as two days after exposure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So how do shorter incubation times square with this newly observed delay on positive COVID-19 tests?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Your COVID-19 symptoms might be starting earlier\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Right now, experts aren’t 100% sure why antigen tests are taking longer to return a positive COVID-19 result. But Chin-Hong said that the hypothesis that makes sense to him is less about the efficacy of the antigen tests themselves and way more about how much quicker someone with COVID-19 might develop symptoms in 2024 than they would have done in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a reminder, those symptoms are the sign that your body’s immune system is mounting a response to an invading virus — and back at the start of the pandemic, by the time you developed COVID-19 symptoms and took a test it would probably already be positive, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But at this stage of the pandemic, most of us now have “a lot of immune experience” with COVID-19, Chin-Hong said — and the average person’s immune system is increasingly “on guard” and “activated more than in 2020,” he said. So when your body detects a burgeoning coronavirus infection now, “your whole immune system just gets agitated and active, and you begin to get sick sooner, but you actually don’t have as much virus in your blood yet,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician and researcher at Stanford University, also put it this way for NPR: “With our immune systems primed, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/01/07/1222847727/coronavirus-faq-my-partner-roommate-kid-got-covid-and-i-didnt-how-come\">the body’s response [now] comes much more quickly than it would have back in 2020\u003c/a> when SARS-CoV-2 was a novel pathogen.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And because many of us take a COVID-19 test when we \u003cem>start\u003c/em> to feel sick, we might be testing way too early at that time for an at-home antigen kit to successfully detect enough virus inside us. This mismatch between when your symptoms start and when you’ve enough virus present in your body to result in a positive COVID-19 test “was started to be observed in early omicron, but I think it just seems more accentuated now,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, Hudson of Kaiser Permanente Southern California told the \u003cem>L.A. Times\u003c/em> that for her, this delay in positive tests \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">might be attributable to people’s accumulated immunity from COVID-19\u003c/a> over the years — either from getting infected or getting vaccinated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">“It’s actually pushing back the time that people’s COVID tests are coming up positive,” Hudson \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">said\u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line is: If you’re testing because you’ve started feeling unwell, it’s unwise to assume in 2024 that a negative result automatically means you don’t have COVID-19, because you might just be testing too early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidtestincubation\">\u003c/a>So … what should I do if my first COVID-19 test is negative?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Experiencing the onset of symptoms that feel like COVID-19 is unpleasant and worrying enough. And now, this new possible delay around even knowing if you have COVID-19 adds another element of frustration and uncertainty to what’s already a stressful situation. Even if you’ve been able to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#freecovidtests\"> find free COVID-19 tests being given away or by order from the U.S. government via USPS\u003c/a>, one COVID-19 scare in a family can run through that stockpile pretty fast — and the cost of purchasing new COVID-19 antigen kits can really add up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re in the limbo of not knowing whether you actually have COVID-19 yet, here’s what to do:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If your first test is negative for COVID-19, test again later\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have symptoms but have tested negative, don’t assume it means you’re COVID-free. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html\">The CDC recommends that you take another antigen test 48 hours later\u003c/a> and then test again after another 48 hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong advises that you can also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#freecovidtests\">seek out a PCR test\u003c/a>, which is more sensitive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>While you’re unsure, play it safe \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have symptoms and don’t know why yet for sure, stay home as much as you can. If you truly can’t stay indoors and away from others, wear a well-fitted mask to protect your community and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967946/covid-ventilation-guide-indoors-windows\">try to ensure you’re in well-ventilated spaces.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be especially careful not to spread any virus around folks who are at higher risk for serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19, which includes older people, immunocompromised and disabled people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Remember: Just because it’s not COVID-19 doesn’t mean you’re not still sick\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even if you turn out not to have COVID-19 after several days of testing but you’re still experiencing symptoms, you might still be infected with one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11968709/cold-flu-or-rsv-how-to-tell-which-virus-you-might-have-from-testing-to-symptoms\">the other highly infectious winter respiratory viruses out there like flu, RSV or a bad cold.\u003c/a> And if you’re sick, you could easily infect your friends, family or colleagues with whatever you’re suffering from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Give yourself permission not to trust a friend’s negative test, too\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if it’s a friend who’s experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and they’re insisting that they’re safe to meet with you because “they took a test and it’s negative”?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Knowing what you know — that it can sometimes take folks longer to get a positive COVID-19 test in 2024 — you should feel free to compassionately tell your friend that while you trust \u003cem>them\u003c/em>, you can’t trust an early negative test right now. There’s a good chance that they have no idea that positive tests can be increasingly delayed and will be relieved to know that by staying home, they haven’t accidentally spread an infectious disease to you or other loved ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if they disagree and insist they’re still safe to meet up? You should feel free to decline, even if it feels awkward. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">Remember, it’s not weird to not want to get COVID-19.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Stock up on free COVID-19 tests …\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding a quick, free COVID-19 test — whether an at-home antigen test or a PCR test — has gotten progressively harder at this stage of the pandemic as more sites and services have shuttered. The federal government has, at least, restarted its \u003ca href=\"https://www.covid.gov/tests\">free at-home COVID-test-ordering service\u003c/a> through USPS, meaning you can once again order another four free antigen tests to be delivered to your door for a future time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#freecovidtests\">Read more about where to find free or low-cost COVID-19 tests this winter.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>… but make sure your COVID-19 tests haven’t expired\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the COVID-19 tests being made available right now (\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970001/free-covid-tests-near-me-public-library\">for example, at your local public library\u003c/a>) may be approaching their expiration date if they haven’t already passed it. And an expired test could give you an unreliable result.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">You can check the FDA’s list of antigen test types \u003c/a>to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">whether the box you’re holding has had its shelf life extended\u003c/a> by the manufacturer. The FDA said that if a test’s shelf life has been extended, it’s because the manufacturer has given the agency enough “data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized.” (In other words, it’s still OK to use that test.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID-19\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "The JN.1 COVID Variant: Symptoms, Incubation Period and When to Test",
"headTitle": "The JN.1 COVID Variant: Symptoms, Incubation Period and When to Test | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>If it feels like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11954507/covid-symptoms-after-pride-how-to-find-test\">many people you know are getting COVID-19 again \u003c/a>… you’re not alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fueled by a new subvariant called JN.1, COVID-19 rates are way up for the start of 2024, as part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">a sharp rise that began back in November.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, what do you need to know about the symptoms of JN.1? Is there an updated incubation period to know about for COVID-19 in 2024, and where can you even find a free COVID-19 test now? Keep reading for everything you need to know, or jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#JN1covidsymptoms\">What are the symptoms of JN.1?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidincubationperiod\">What’s the incubation time for COVID-19 now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidincubationperiod\">I tested negative. Can I trust my antigen kit?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#freecovidtests\">Where can I still find free COVID-19 tests?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And remember, the new COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer — and most recently Novavax — are available across California. The new shots are free for everyone, with or without health insurance, and are formulated to target strains like these latest subvariants. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">Read where to find the new COVID-19 vaccine near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is JN.1, and why is it spreading so much?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Right now, JN.1 is the most prevalent COVID-19 subvariant in the United States, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)\u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\"> estimates currently makes up almost 62% of cases nationwide\u003c/a>. Behind it is the previous top variant, HV.1, which now only makes up 14.8% of cases across the country.[aside postID=news_11967946,news_11968709,news_11970001,news_11966797 label='COVID Is Still With Us']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(If you’re losing track of all these subvariants of the omicron variant by this stage of the pandemic, that’s understandable. To recap: The swell of COVID-19 cases in summer 2023 was fueled by EG.5, unofficially nicknamed “Eris” by some online just as XBB.1.16 before it was nicknamed “Arcturus” — even though \u003ca href=\"https://www.who.int/news/item/16-03-2023-statement-on-the-update-of-who-s-working-definitions-and-tracking-system-for-sars-cov-2-variants-of-concern-and-variants-of-interest\">the World Health Organization has revised its naming conventions\u003c/a> to reserve “Greek labels” only for “variants of concern.” After the summer of EG.5, HV.1 rose to national prominence, followed now by JN.1.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whereas HV.1 was a part of the XBB sublineage of the omicron variant, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/SARS-CoV-2-variant-JN.1.html\">JN.1 is closely related to the BA.2.86 strain\u003c/a>, the CDC said in an announcement declaring JN.1 “a variant of interest” back in December. And when you’re dealing with descendants like JN.1 and HV.1 before it, it’s important to remember that each new subvariant is more easily transmitted, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Every time something rises up the charts in the ‘tree of COVID life,’ by essence it had to have a superpower that makes them more powerful than the rest,” Chin-Hong said. “And that superpower is generally transmissibility.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>JN.1’s infectiousness means that the “strategies people could use to escape infection over the summer during our surge are probably not working right now,” Chin-Hong said — added to the fact that winter holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year prompted travel and brought many people together in crowded gatherings. All of this means that “we all get together, we mix risks from all over the country [and] we don’t have much time to recover before being exposed and exposing others,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aside from its infectiousness, the CDC said in its Dec. 8 briefing that there’s “no evidence that JN.1 presents an increased risk to public health relative to other currently circulating variant,” and “no indication of increased severity from JN.1 at this time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But, Chin-Hong stressed, JN.1’s increased transmissibility still means that “more people will get infected, which means that our hospitals will be fuller, and that will limit our ability to care for those who have other illnesses.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"JN1covidsymptoms\">\u003c/a>What are the symptoms of JN.1?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong confirms that no surprising wild card symptoms have yet been reported for JN.1, or HV.1 before it — they’re the same COVID-19 symptoms you’re used to hearing about from previous variants. Or at least, that’s how it looks right now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Like the other omicron flavors,” Chin-Hong said, “many [cases] start with a sore throat,” followed by congestion and a dry cough. From there, “the other symptoms — headache, runny nose, muscle aches, diarrhea or upset stomach, fever, loss of smell— may also join in,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The characteristics of the person becoming infected can also shape what symptoms are experienced,” Chin-Hong said, noting that a person age 75 or over or an immunocompromised person who didn’t \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">receive the new COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> “may experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html\">this is the full list of the possible symptoms of COVID-19\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Fever or chills\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cough\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fatigue\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Muscle or body aches\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Headache\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>New loss of taste or smell\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sore throat\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Congestion or runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nausea or vomiting\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Diarrhea.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember, you might have a combination of these symptoms or just one. They might be mild or feel more severe. But if you’re experiencing any of these, take a COVID-19 test (more on this below).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidcasesbayarea\">\u003c/a>What are the current COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“COVID cases” — that is, positive test results — are not tracked in the way they once were. There’s more on that below, but in the absence of up-to-date widespread data on positive COVID-19 test results, watching for the presence of the coronavirus in human sewage has become increasingly important instead for gauging the levels of COVID-19 spread in a particular area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN project monitors the presence of COVID-19 — as well as other viruses — in wastewater across the U.S. (For example, you can \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CiQQACABSABSBjM3NDMwYVoIWEJCX2JrcHR4rAGKAQY3NjI5ZDM%3D&selectedChartId=7629d3\">see the concentration of COVID-19 in wastewater collected from the Oceanside San Francisco watershed\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And when it comes to COVID-19 in Bay Area sewage, after numbers came down after that summer swell, WastewaterSCAN’s Ali Boehm told KQED by email on Jan. 8 that \u003ca href=\"https://wwscan.ghost.io/\">those levels of COVID-19 are unfortunately “high and increasing” right now\u003c/a>. In the chart below, which shows a trend line aggregated from the Bay Area wastewater sites, you can see how the current rise compares to the highest spike visible, which is the initial omicron surge of winter 2021-22.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11972211\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11972211\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1239\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater-800x516.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater-1020x658.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater-1536x991.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A chart showing COVID-19 levels collected from across Bay Area wastewater sites. \u003ccite>(WastewaterSCAN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As for other winter respiratory viruses, levels of RSV in Bay Area wastewater are “still quite high and have not clearly started decreasing,” Boehm said. One bit of good news: Boehm said that local wastewater shows that the flu is “not circulating now like it did at this time last year.” \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11968709/cold-flu-or-rsv-how-to-tell-which-virus-you-might-have-from-testing-to-symptoms\">Read more about the different symptoms of RSV and flu in relation to COVID-19.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Statewide, COVID-19 metrics are also back on the upswing after a lull. \u003ca href=\"https://covid19.ca.gov/state-dashboard/\">The state’s 7-day COVID-19 positivity test rate \u003c/a>tracks the average percentage of people in California each week who get a positive diagnostic test result from a lab after taking a PCR test. The statewide positivity rate reached its highest point for the entire year back on Sept. 2, at 17.4%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But after falling to a low of 6.1% on Nov. 3, the weekly average positivity rate has climbed again to 12.3% as of the most recently available data, collected on Jan. 1. (It’s worth noting that many people who suspect they have COVID-19 in 2023 test themselves at home with an antigen test kit, not a PCR test — so this tracking from the California Department of Public Health \u003cem>doesn’t\u003c/em> represent the full picture of COVID-19 positivity around the state.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else would you like to read an explainer on right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>After a lull following the 2023 summer swell, \u003ca href=\"https://covid19.ca.gov/state-dashboard/\">the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19\u003c/a> in California began climbing again in November and peaked on Dec. 22 with a 7-day average of 2,339 people hospitalized statewide. The most recent available data, from Dec. 31, shows a drop to a 7-day average of 1,990 patients.[aside postID=news_11960630 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1020x680.jpg']Why don’t we have firmer numbers on how many people are actually testing positive for COVID-19 right now? Earlier in the pandemic, most people were getting diagnostic PCR tests through official sites, which were then tracked through their laboratory processing and had their numbers reported — the way the state’s official test positivity rate is still tracked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the arrival of widespread antigen tests has now given more people a way to test themselves for COVID-19 at home without having to find a PCR test (albeit in a manner \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11950386/at-home-covid-tests-are-still-effective-in-2023-and-you-can-still-get-them-for-free\">different from how a PCR test “detects” the virus\u003c/a>). But while public officials have urged at-home testers to report positive results to their local health authority, very few people still do so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of this goes some way to explain why the “true” number of people who currently have COVID-19 in 2023 is a very difficult number to report — and why any official number from PCR testing almost certainly represents a big undercount.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948962\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948962\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut.jpg\" alt=\"In this photo illustration, a COVID-19 self-test package is seen on a dark table.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When COVID-19 cases rise, strongly consider rising up — and testing if you feel symptoms. \u003ccite>(Photo Illustration by Michael Ho Wai Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Is the new COVID-19 vaccine still effective against JN.1 and HV.1?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">The new COVID-19 vaccine that’s now available across California \u003c/a>is formulated to target the XBB sublineage, from which HV.1 is descended. And that same vaccine is “still effective against JN.1,” too, Chin-Hong said, despite this latest subvariant having more than “30 more mutations than XBB.1.5, which the vaccine is based on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidincubationperiod\">\u003c/a>I think I was exposed, or have symptoms. When should I take a COVID-19 test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Step 1: Know about updated incubation times for JN.1\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve heard that incubation times for the virus are getting shorter — that is, the amount of time between getting exposed to COVID-19 and testing positive for COVID-19 — it’s true. People are testing positive for COVID-19 more quickly than they were in 2020 when the average incubation period was five days because the incubation period has changed with each new variant, confirms Chin-Hong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While “we don’t have a ton” of up-to-date information on incubation times at this stage of the pandemic, notes Chin-Hong, given this general trend, it makes sense to take a COVID-19 test as early as two days after exposure if you’re already having symptoms. But there’s a crucial update for 2024…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Step 2: Don’t trust a negative early COVID-19 test\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your first test is negative, you should absolutely test again the next day if symptoms persist — and again after that if you’re still negative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s why you can’t necessarily trust a negative at-home COVID-19 test in 2024: While incubation times have gotten shorter, “paradoxically, we’re seeing people take longer to get a positive test,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why? Chin-Hong said that the hypothesis that makes sense to him is less about the efficacy of the antigen tests themselves and way more about how much quicker someone with COVID-19 might develop \u003cem>symptoms\u003c/em> in 2024 than they would have done in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a reminder, those symptoms are the sign that your body’s immune system is mounting a response to an invading virus — and back at the start of the pandemic, by the time you developed COVID-19 symptoms and took a test it would probably already be positive, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But at this stage of the pandemic, most of us now have “a lot of immune experience,” Chin-Hong said — and the average person’s immune system is increasingly “on guard” and “activated more than in 2020,” he said. So when your body detects a burgeoning coronavirus infection now, “your whole immune system just gets agitated and active, and you begin to get sick sooner, but you actually don’t have as much virus in your blood yet,” Chin-Hong said. Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician and researcher at Stanford University, also put it this way for NPR: “With our immune systems primed, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/01/07/1222847727/coronavirus-faq-my-partner-roommate-kid-got-covid-and-i-didnt-how-come\">the body’s response [now] comes much more quickly than it would have back in 2020\u003c/a> when SARS-CoV-2 was a novel pathogen.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And because many of us take a COVID-19 test when we \u003cem>start\u003c/em> to feel sick, we might actually be testing way too early at that time for an at-home antigen kit to successfully detect enough virus inside us. This mismatch between when your symptoms start and when you’ve got enough virus present in your body to result in a positive COVID-19 test “was started to be observed in early omicron, but I think it just seems more accentuated now,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, told the Los Angeles Times that for her part, \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">she attributes this delay we’re seeing in accurate test results to people acquiring accumulated immunity\u003c/a> from COVID-19 over the years, either from getting infected or vaccinated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">“It’s actually pushing back the time that people’s COVID tests are coming up positive,” Hudson said.\u003c/a> “So some people are testing at Day 1 and Day 2 … If they probably tested themselves a couple of days later, there’s a pretty good chance that it actually would turn out to be COVID.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line is: If you’re testing because you’ve started feeling unwell, don’t assume a negative result means you don’t actually have COVID-19. Play it safe, stay home as much as you can and wear a well-fitted mask if you can’t, and take another antigen test 48 hours later, Chin-Hong said. You can also seek out a PCR test, which are more sensitive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Step 3: Make sure your COVID-19 test hasn’t expired\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the COVID-19 tests being made available right now (\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970001/free-covid-tests-near-me-public-library\">for example, at your local public library\u003c/a>) may be approaching their expiration date if they haven’t already passed it. And an expired test could give you an unreliable result.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">You can check the FDA’s list of antigen test types \u003c/a>to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">whether the box you’re holding has had its shelf life extended\u003c/a> by the manufacturer. The FDA said that if a test’s shelf life has been extended, it’s because the manufacturer has given the agency enough “data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized.” (In other words, it’s still OK to use that test.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Should I be altering my behavior right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>With the onset of winter respiratory virus season, everyone should consider taking extra or new steps to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection during a rise in level, even if it feels like “a step backward” for you, at this stage of the pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This might include bringing a well-fitting N95 mask along to indoor spaces that you know could be crowded, like the grocery store. Or if you’re hosting people indoors in your home, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967946/covid-ventilation-guide-indoors-windows\">ensure the space has good ventilation by taking measures like opening windows\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If the weather allows, you might also consider favoring outdoor hangouts and meetups with friends and family at this current time, to help reduce the potential risks of COVID-19 transmission. The chances are good that the folks you’re meeting up with could also be feeling a little anxious about the recent rise in cases but might not feel able to articulate it for fear of killing the social vibe. Consider doing the quieter folks in your circle a favor and being the person who raises the issue first to keep everyone safer. Remember: It’s not weird to not want to get COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re at higher risk for serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19, it’s an especially good idea to take extra precautions against the virus right now. These groups can include older people, immunocompromised and disabled folks, and people who “haven’t been recently vaccinated, in the last six months or so,” advises Chin-Hong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another reason you might consider being extra cautious about COVID-19 right now is if you’ve got upcoming travel plans (for example, for the holidays).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even if your symptoms are mild, a COVID-19 infection can require isolation from other people for well over a week — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically#paxlovidrebound\">you can double that timeline if you get a rebound (i.e., second) infection\u003c/a>, which is surprisingly common even in people who don’t take the antiviral treatment, Paxlovid.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freecovidtests\">\u003c/a>Where can I \u003cem>still\u003c/em> find a free COVID-19 test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Good question. Finding a quick, free COVID-19 test — whether an at-home antigen test or a PCR test — has gotten progressively harder at this stage of the pandemic as more sites and services have been shuttered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federal government has, at least, restarted its \u003ca href=\"https://www.covid.gov/tests\">free at-home COVID-test-ordering service\u003c/a> through USPS, meaning you can once again order another four free antigen tests to be delivered to your door for a future time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11957645\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11957645\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A person with long hair inserts a long cottonswab in her nostril while standing in the doorway of her home.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Janet Franco-Orona swabs her nose for a COVID-19 test at her home in San José on Feb. 3, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But what do you do now if you don’t already have a supply of antigen tests for COVID-19 at home right now? Try the following:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>Purchase a COVID-19 at-home antigen test at a pharmacy near you\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>The quickest option will also be one of the most expensive up-front: Purchasing an at-home antigen test at a nearby pharmacy. (Ideally, ask someone to purchase one for you so you don’t potentially expose other people at the pharmacy — and if you really have to go yourself, wear a well-fitted N95 mask to help lower the risk you pose to others.) These at-home test kits are usually around $20 for a pack of two antigen tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11969300/how-to-get-reimbursed-for-at-home-covid-tests-in-2023\">request reimbursement from your health insurer for the cost of up to eight at-home tests per month\u003c/a>, so don’t throw away your receipts.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>Find a COVID-19 PCR testing site near you\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>PCR testing is more accurate than an antigen test — because it’s more sensitive at picking up traces of the coronavirus in your body — but it may take longer to get your results than with an at-home test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Currently, there are still some sites offering free COVID-19 testing around the state. Try using:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">MyTurn.ca.gov/testing\u003c/a> and applying the “Free Sites” filter from the drop-down menu.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/Search\">The CDC’s COVID-19 test locator.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you may be able to get a PCR test ordered by your health care provider with the costs covered. Having a test ordered by a provider is — usually — the only way to get your testing costs covered if you have Medicare, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>Try your local public library\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970001/free-covid-tests-near-me-public-library\">Free COVID-19 tests may also be available for pick-up at your local Bay Area public library \u003c/a>this winter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For more information, read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970001/free-covid-tests-near-me-public-library\">our new guide to which Bay Area public libraries are giving away free at-home antigen tests\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>If you have health insurance, contact your provider\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>If you are insured with major Bay Area providers, such as Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest option to secure a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through your particular provider. Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member’s login, and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For more ideas on how to find a free or low-cost COVID-19 test near you, see \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">the KQED guide, which includes finding a test through your Bay Area county’s public health department or at a private testing site\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11950386/at-home-covid-tests-are-still-effective-in-2023-and-you-can-still-get-them-for-free\">our guide to using at-home antigen tests in 2023 and how effective they are\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Tested positive for COVID-19? Consider asking for a Paxlovid prescription\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">Paxlovid (pronounced “pax-LOH-vid” or sometimes “PAX-loh-vid”) is a highly effective antiviral treatment for COVID-19\u003c/a>, available free by prescription in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The treatment is fairly simple and entails taking a pill orally twice a day for five days. There’s evidence that it could help \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically#paxlovidlongcovid\">lower your risks of developing long COVID-19\u003c/a>, and as well as helping to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">reduce your risks of severe illness or hospitalization\u003c/a>, it can also help ease symptoms during an infection.[aside postID=news_11954507 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66630_GettyImages-1369841386-qut-1020x680.jpg']Because of good supply, the drug is no longer reserved for people most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and everyone is encouraged to contact a health care provider to see whether they qualify.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of February 2023, you no longer need proof of a positive COVID-19 test \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically\">to get a prescription for Paxlovid either\u003c/a>. But for it to be effective, health officials recommend starting a course of Paxlovid within five days of a positive test. This means that taking a test as soon as you suspect you have COVID-19 is still very important.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you took Paxlovid for a previous COVID-19 infection, can you retake it for a new infection? Yes, it’s “definitely OK” to do so, said UCSF’s Chin-Hong if it’s a new, “distinct episode of COVID”. The only time it wouldn’t make sense to take Paxlovid a second time, Chin-Hong said, is for the \u003cem>same\u003c/em> infection — because you “will likely not benefit in taking another course even if you still test positive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re seeking a prescription, be aware that as of November there have been some changes to how Paxlovid is funded, meaning \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11966797/paxlovid-free-eligibility-california-2023\">people with health insurance should make sure they’re requesting Paxlovid “in-network” to avoid an unexpected bill. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Read more on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">how to request a prescription for Paxlovid, with or without health insurance\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID-19\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story was originally published on Nov. 22. KQED’s Lesley McClurg, Alexander Gonzalez and Brian Watt contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>If it feels like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11954507/covid-symptoms-after-pride-how-to-find-test\">many people you know are getting COVID-19 again \u003c/a>… you’re not alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fueled by a new subvariant called JN.1, COVID-19 rates are way up for the start of 2024, as part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">a sharp rise that began back in November.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, what do you need to know about the symptoms of JN.1? Is there an updated incubation period to know about for COVID-19 in 2024, and where can you even find a free COVID-19 test now? Keep reading for everything you need to know, or jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#JN1covidsymptoms\">What are the symptoms of JN.1?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidincubationperiod\">What’s the incubation time for COVID-19 now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidincubationperiod\">I tested negative. Can I trust my antigen kit?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#freecovidtests\">Where can I still find free COVID-19 tests?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And remember, the new COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer — and most recently Novavax — are available across California. The new shots are free for everyone, with or without health insurance, and are formulated to target strains like these latest subvariants. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">Read where to find the new COVID-19 vaccine near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is JN.1, and why is it spreading so much?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Right now, JN.1 is the most prevalent COVID-19 subvariant in the United States, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)\u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\"> estimates currently makes up almost 62% of cases nationwide\u003c/a>. Behind it is the previous top variant, HV.1, which now only makes up 14.8% of cases across the country.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(If you’re losing track of all these subvariants of the omicron variant by this stage of the pandemic, that’s understandable. To recap: The swell of COVID-19 cases in summer 2023 was fueled by EG.5, unofficially nicknamed “Eris” by some online just as XBB.1.16 before it was nicknamed “Arcturus” — even though \u003ca href=\"https://www.who.int/news/item/16-03-2023-statement-on-the-update-of-who-s-working-definitions-and-tracking-system-for-sars-cov-2-variants-of-concern-and-variants-of-interest\">the World Health Organization has revised its naming conventions\u003c/a> to reserve “Greek labels” only for “variants of concern.” After the summer of EG.5, HV.1 rose to national prominence, followed now by JN.1.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whereas HV.1 was a part of the XBB sublineage of the omicron variant, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/SARS-CoV-2-variant-JN.1.html\">JN.1 is closely related to the BA.2.86 strain\u003c/a>, the CDC said in an announcement declaring JN.1 “a variant of interest” back in December. And when you’re dealing with descendants like JN.1 and HV.1 before it, it’s important to remember that each new subvariant is more easily transmitted, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Every time something rises up the charts in the ‘tree of COVID life,’ by essence it had to have a superpower that makes them more powerful than the rest,” Chin-Hong said. “And that superpower is generally transmissibility.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>JN.1’s infectiousness means that the “strategies people could use to escape infection over the summer during our surge are probably not working right now,” Chin-Hong said — added to the fact that winter holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year prompted travel and brought many people together in crowded gatherings. All of this means that “we all get together, we mix risks from all over the country [and] we don’t have much time to recover before being exposed and exposing others,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aside from its infectiousness, the CDC said in its Dec. 8 briefing that there’s “no evidence that JN.1 presents an increased risk to public health relative to other currently circulating variant,” and “no indication of increased severity from JN.1 at this time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But, Chin-Hong stressed, JN.1’s increased transmissibility still means that “more people will get infected, which means that our hospitals will be fuller, and that will limit our ability to care for those who have other illnesses.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"JN1covidsymptoms\">\u003c/a>What are the symptoms of JN.1?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong confirms that no surprising wild card symptoms have yet been reported for JN.1, or HV.1 before it — they’re the same COVID-19 symptoms you’re used to hearing about from previous variants. Or at least, that’s how it looks right now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Like the other omicron flavors,” Chin-Hong said, “many [cases] start with a sore throat,” followed by congestion and a dry cough. From there, “the other symptoms — headache, runny nose, muscle aches, diarrhea or upset stomach, fever, loss of smell— may also join in,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The characteristics of the person becoming infected can also shape what symptoms are experienced,” Chin-Hong said, noting that a person age 75 or over or an immunocompromised person who didn’t \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">receive the new COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> “may experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html\">this is the full list of the possible symptoms of COVID-19\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Fever or chills\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cough\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fatigue\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Muscle or body aches\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Headache\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>New loss of taste or smell\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sore throat\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Congestion or runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nausea or vomiting\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Diarrhea.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember, you might have a combination of these symptoms or just one. They might be mild or feel more severe. But if you’re experiencing any of these, take a COVID-19 test (more on this below).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidcasesbayarea\">\u003c/a>What are the current COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“COVID cases” — that is, positive test results — are not tracked in the way they once were. There’s more on that below, but in the absence of up-to-date widespread data on positive COVID-19 test results, watching for the presence of the coronavirus in human sewage has become increasingly important instead for gauging the levels of COVID-19 spread in a particular area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN project monitors the presence of COVID-19 — as well as other viruses — in wastewater across the U.S. (For example, you can \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CiQQACABSABSBjM3NDMwYVoIWEJCX2JrcHR4rAGKAQY3NjI5ZDM%3D&selectedChartId=7629d3\">see the concentration of COVID-19 in wastewater collected from the Oceanside San Francisco watershed\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And when it comes to COVID-19 in Bay Area sewage, after numbers came down after that summer swell, WastewaterSCAN’s Ali Boehm told KQED by email on Jan. 8 that \u003ca href=\"https://wwscan.ghost.io/\">those levels of COVID-19 are unfortunately “high and increasing” right now\u003c/a>. In the chart below, which shows a trend line aggregated from the Bay Area wastewater sites, you can see how the current rise compares to the highest spike visible, which is the initial omicron surge of winter 2021-22.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11972211\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11972211\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1239\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater-800x516.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater-1020x658.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/COVID-1-08-wastewater-1536x991.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A chart showing COVID-19 levels collected from across Bay Area wastewater sites. \u003ccite>(WastewaterSCAN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As for other winter respiratory viruses, levels of RSV in Bay Area wastewater are “still quite high and have not clearly started decreasing,” Boehm said. One bit of good news: Boehm said that local wastewater shows that the flu is “not circulating now like it did at this time last year.” \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11968709/cold-flu-or-rsv-how-to-tell-which-virus-you-might-have-from-testing-to-symptoms\">Read more about the different symptoms of RSV and flu in relation to COVID-19.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Statewide, COVID-19 metrics are also back on the upswing after a lull. \u003ca href=\"https://covid19.ca.gov/state-dashboard/\">The state’s 7-day COVID-19 positivity test rate \u003c/a>tracks the average percentage of people in California each week who get a positive diagnostic test result from a lab after taking a PCR test. The statewide positivity rate reached its highest point for the entire year back on Sept. 2, at 17.4%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But after falling to a low of 6.1% on Nov. 3, the weekly average positivity rate has climbed again to 12.3% as of the most recently available data, collected on Jan. 1. (It’s worth noting that many people who suspect they have COVID-19 in 2023 test themselves at home with an antigen test kit, not a PCR test — so this tracking from the California Department of Public Health \u003cem>doesn’t\u003c/em> represent the full picture of COVID-19 positivity around the state.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else would you like to read an explainer on right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>After a lull following the 2023 summer swell, \u003ca href=\"https://covid19.ca.gov/state-dashboard/\">the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19\u003c/a> in California began climbing again in November and peaked on Dec. 22 with a 7-day average of 2,339 people hospitalized statewide. The most recent available data, from Dec. 31, shows a drop to a 7-day average of 1,990 patients.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Why don’t we have firmer numbers on how many people are actually testing positive for COVID-19 right now? Earlier in the pandemic, most people were getting diagnostic PCR tests through official sites, which were then tracked through their laboratory processing and had their numbers reported — the way the state’s official test positivity rate is still tracked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the arrival of widespread antigen tests has now given more people a way to test themselves for COVID-19 at home without having to find a PCR test (albeit in a manner \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11950386/at-home-covid-tests-are-still-effective-in-2023-and-you-can-still-get-them-for-free\">different from how a PCR test “detects” the virus\u003c/a>). But while public officials have urged at-home testers to report positive results to their local health authority, very few people still do so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of this goes some way to explain why the “true” number of people who currently have COVID-19 in 2023 is a very difficult number to report — and why any official number from PCR testing almost certainly represents a big undercount.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948962\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948962\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut.jpg\" alt=\"In this photo illustration, a COVID-19 self-test package is seen on a dark table.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When COVID-19 cases rise, strongly consider rising up — and testing if you feel symptoms. \u003ccite>(Photo Illustration by Michael Ho Wai Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Is the new COVID-19 vaccine still effective against JN.1 and HV.1?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">The new COVID-19 vaccine that’s now available across California \u003c/a>is formulated to target the XBB sublineage, from which HV.1 is descended. And that same vaccine is “still effective against JN.1,” too, Chin-Hong said, despite this latest subvariant having more than “30 more mutations than XBB.1.5, which the vaccine is based on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidincubationperiod\">\u003c/a>I think I was exposed, or have symptoms. When should I take a COVID-19 test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Step 1: Know about updated incubation times for JN.1\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve heard that incubation times for the virus are getting shorter — that is, the amount of time between getting exposed to COVID-19 and testing positive for COVID-19 — it’s true. People are testing positive for COVID-19 more quickly than they were in 2020 when the average incubation period was five days because the incubation period has changed with each new variant, confirms Chin-Hong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While “we don’t have a ton” of up-to-date information on incubation times at this stage of the pandemic, notes Chin-Hong, given this general trend, it makes sense to take a COVID-19 test as early as two days after exposure if you’re already having symptoms. But there’s a crucial update for 2024…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Step 2: Don’t trust a negative early COVID-19 test\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your first test is negative, you should absolutely test again the next day if symptoms persist — and again after that if you’re still negative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s why you can’t necessarily trust a negative at-home COVID-19 test in 2024: While incubation times have gotten shorter, “paradoxically, we’re seeing people take longer to get a positive test,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why? Chin-Hong said that the hypothesis that makes sense to him is less about the efficacy of the antigen tests themselves and way more about how much quicker someone with COVID-19 might develop \u003cem>symptoms\u003c/em> in 2024 than they would have done in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a reminder, those symptoms are the sign that your body’s immune system is mounting a response to an invading virus — and back at the start of the pandemic, by the time you developed COVID-19 symptoms and took a test it would probably already be positive, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But at this stage of the pandemic, most of us now have “a lot of immune experience,” Chin-Hong said — and the average person’s immune system is increasingly “on guard” and “activated more than in 2020,” he said. So when your body detects a burgeoning coronavirus infection now, “your whole immune system just gets agitated and active, and you begin to get sick sooner, but you actually don’t have as much virus in your blood yet,” Chin-Hong said. Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician and researcher at Stanford University, also put it this way for NPR: “With our immune systems primed, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/01/07/1222847727/coronavirus-faq-my-partner-roommate-kid-got-covid-and-i-didnt-how-come\">the body’s response [now] comes much more quickly than it would have back in 2020\u003c/a> when SARS-CoV-2 was a novel pathogen.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And because many of us take a COVID-19 test when we \u003cem>start\u003c/em> to feel sick, we might actually be testing way too early at that time for an at-home antigen kit to successfully detect enough virus inside us. This mismatch between when your symptoms start and when you’ve got enough virus present in your body to result in a positive COVID-19 test “was started to be observed in early omicron, but I think it just seems more accentuated now,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, told the Los Angeles Times that for her part, \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">she attributes this delay we’re seeing in accurate test results to people acquiring accumulated immunity\u003c/a> from COVID-19 over the years, either from getting infected or vaccinated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-09/covid-rising-home-test-taking-longer-discover-infections\">“It’s actually pushing back the time that people’s COVID tests are coming up positive,” Hudson said.\u003c/a> “So some people are testing at Day 1 and Day 2 … If they probably tested themselves a couple of days later, there’s a pretty good chance that it actually would turn out to be COVID.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line is: If you’re testing because you’ve started feeling unwell, don’t assume a negative result means you don’t actually have COVID-19. Play it safe, stay home as much as you can and wear a well-fitted mask if you can’t, and take another antigen test 48 hours later, Chin-Hong said. You can also seek out a PCR test, which are more sensitive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Step 3: Make sure your COVID-19 test hasn’t expired\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the COVID-19 tests being made available right now (\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970001/free-covid-tests-near-me-public-library\">for example, at your local public library\u003c/a>) may be approaching their expiration date if they haven’t already passed it. And an expired test could give you an unreliable result.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">You can check the FDA’s list of antigen test types \u003c/a>to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">whether the box you’re holding has had its shelf life extended\u003c/a> by the manufacturer. The FDA said that if a test’s shelf life has been extended, it’s because the manufacturer has given the agency enough “data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized.” (In other words, it’s still OK to use that test.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Should I be altering my behavior right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>With the onset of winter respiratory virus season, everyone should consider taking extra or new steps to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection during a rise in level, even if it feels like “a step backward” for you, at this stage of the pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This might include bringing a well-fitting N95 mask along to indoor spaces that you know could be crowded, like the grocery store. Or if you’re hosting people indoors in your home, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967946/covid-ventilation-guide-indoors-windows\">ensure the space has good ventilation by taking measures like opening windows\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If the weather allows, you might also consider favoring outdoor hangouts and meetups with friends and family at this current time, to help reduce the potential risks of COVID-19 transmission. The chances are good that the folks you’re meeting up with could also be feeling a little anxious about the recent rise in cases but might not feel able to articulate it for fear of killing the social vibe. Consider doing the quieter folks in your circle a favor and being the person who raises the issue first to keep everyone safer. Remember: It’s not weird to not want to get COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re at higher risk for serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19, it’s an especially good idea to take extra precautions against the virus right now. These groups can include older people, immunocompromised and disabled folks, and people who “haven’t been recently vaccinated, in the last six months or so,” advises Chin-Hong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another reason you might consider being extra cautious about COVID-19 right now is if you’ve got upcoming travel plans (for example, for the holidays).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even if your symptoms are mild, a COVID-19 infection can require isolation from other people for well over a week — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically#paxlovidrebound\">you can double that timeline if you get a rebound (i.e., second) infection\u003c/a>, which is surprisingly common even in people who don’t take the antiviral treatment, Paxlovid.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freecovidtests\">\u003c/a>Where can I \u003cem>still\u003c/em> find a free COVID-19 test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Good question. Finding a quick, free COVID-19 test — whether an at-home antigen test or a PCR test — has gotten progressively harder at this stage of the pandemic as more sites and services have been shuttered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federal government has, at least, restarted its \u003ca href=\"https://www.covid.gov/tests\">free at-home COVID-test-ordering service\u003c/a> through USPS, meaning you can once again order another four free antigen tests to be delivered to your door for a future time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11957645\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11957645\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A person with long hair inserts a long cottonswab in her nostril while standing in the doorway of her home.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Janet Franco-Orona swabs her nose for a COVID-19 test at her home in San José on Feb. 3, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But what do you do now if you don’t already have a supply of antigen tests for COVID-19 at home right now? Try the following:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>Purchase a COVID-19 at-home antigen test at a pharmacy near you\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>The quickest option will also be one of the most expensive up-front: Purchasing an at-home antigen test at a nearby pharmacy. (Ideally, ask someone to purchase one for you so you don’t potentially expose other people at the pharmacy — and if you really have to go yourself, wear a well-fitted N95 mask to help lower the risk you pose to others.) These at-home test kits are usually around $20 for a pack of two antigen tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11969300/how-to-get-reimbursed-for-at-home-covid-tests-in-2023\">request reimbursement from your health insurer for the cost of up to eight at-home tests per month\u003c/a>, so don’t throw away your receipts.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>Find a COVID-19 PCR testing site near you\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>PCR testing is more accurate than an antigen test — because it’s more sensitive at picking up traces of the coronavirus in your body — but it may take longer to get your results than with an at-home test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Currently, there are still some sites offering free COVID-19 testing around the state. Try using:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">MyTurn.ca.gov/testing\u003c/a> and applying the “Free Sites” filter from the drop-down menu.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/Search\">The CDC’s COVID-19 test locator.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you may be able to get a PCR test ordered by your health care provider with the costs covered. Having a test ordered by a provider is — usually — the only way to get your testing costs covered if you have Medicare, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>Try your local public library\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970001/free-covid-tests-near-me-public-library\">Free COVID-19 tests may also be available for pick-up at your local Bay Area public library \u003c/a>this winter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For more information, read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970001/free-covid-tests-near-me-public-library\">our new guide to which Bay Area public libraries are giving away free at-home antigen tests\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>If you have health insurance, contact your provider\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>If you are insured with major Bay Area providers, such as Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest option to secure a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through your particular provider. Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member’s login, and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For more ideas on how to find a free or low-cost COVID-19 test near you, see \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">the KQED guide, which includes finding a test through your Bay Area county’s public health department or at a private testing site\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11950386/at-home-covid-tests-are-still-effective-in-2023-and-you-can-still-get-them-for-free\">our guide to using at-home antigen tests in 2023 and how effective they are\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Tested positive for COVID-19? Consider asking for a Paxlovid prescription\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">Paxlovid (pronounced “pax-LOH-vid” or sometimes “PAX-loh-vid”) is a highly effective antiviral treatment for COVID-19\u003c/a>, available free by prescription in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The treatment is fairly simple and entails taking a pill orally twice a day for five days. There’s evidence that it could help \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically#paxlovidlongcovid\">lower your risks of developing long COVID-19\u003c/a>, and as well as helping to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">reduce your risks of severe illness or hospitalization\u003c/a>, it can also help ease symptoms during an infection.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Because of good supply, the drug is no longer reserved for people most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and everyone is encouraged to contact a health care provider to see whether they qualify.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of February 2023, you no longer need proof of a positive COVID-19 test \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically\">to get a prescription for Paxlovid either\u003c/a>. But for it to be effective, health officials recommend starting a course of Paxlovid within five days of a positive test. This means that taking a test as soon as you suspect you have COVID-19 is still very important.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you took Paxlovid for a previous COVID-19 infection, can you retake it for a new infection? Yes, it’s “definitely OK” to do so, said UCSF’s Chin-Hong if it’s a new, “distinct episode of COVID”. The only time it wouldn’t make sense to take Paxlovid a second time, Chin-Hong said, is for the \u003cem>same\u003c/em> infection — because you “will likely not benefit in taking another course even if you still test positive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re seeking a prescription, be aware that as of November there have been some changes to how Paxlovid is funded, meaning \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11966797/paxlovid-free-eligibility-california-2023\">people with health insurance should make sure they’re requesting Paxlovid “in-network” to avoid an unexpected bill. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Read more on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">how to request a prescription for Paxlovid, with or without health insurance\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID-19\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story was originally published on Nov. 22. KQED’s Lesley McClurg, Alexander Gonzalez and Brian Watt contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "How to Get Free COVID Tests from Your Local Library",
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"content": "\u003cp>Almost four years into the COVID-19 pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">finding a free antigen test\u003c/a> has become a lot harder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">COVID-19 numbers on the rise again\u003c/a> as the holidays approach — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">high levels of respiratory virus around the state generally, including RSV and flu \u003c/a>— establishing whether your runny nose and sore throat is, in fact, COVID-19 may have become even more of a priority in your own household recently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One place you now might be able to find a free COVID-19 at-home test? Your local public library.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Free COVID-19 tests, no library card needed\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many libraries around the Bay Area have a supply of antigen tests to give out to anyone who wants one — with no proof of library card or county residency required. One of those is the San Francisco Public Library system, which distributes 15,000 free tests this winter in \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/#!/filters?sort_by=weight&sort_order=ASC\">multiple branch locations around the city\u003c/a>. The library is not limiting how many tests a person can take.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#freecovidtestnearme\">Other places to find a free COVID-19 test near you\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Dolly Goyal, the library’s chief of public services, says these free tests will be beneficial for families as schools around the county get ready to close for the holidays. The library system, she says, wants “to make sure families get these before they might go on vacation or anywhere else” to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community.[aside postID='news_11968709,news_11969300,news_11957790,news_11940562' label='More COVID Guides From KQED']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Public Library urges community members to take as many antigen tests as they feel they need — because those at-home kits expire early in 2024. That said, the San Francisco Public Health Department says COVID-19 tests \u003cem>can\u003c/em> still be used past the expiration date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">You can check the FDA’s list of antigen test types to see whether the box you’re holding has had its shelf life extended by the manufacturer\u003c/a>. The FDA says that if a test’s shelf life has been extended, it’s because the manufacturer has given the agency enough “data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized.” (In other words, it’s still OK to use that test.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What other COVID-19 information do you need right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to determine whether your Bay Area county’s public library offers free COVID-19 antigen tests this winter. And if they aren’t, we have tips on where else to still find free or low-cost COVID-19 testing near you below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(Looking for information on the best time to take a COVID-19 test if you’re experiencing symptoms? \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#erisincubation\">Read our guide to current COVID-19 incubation periods.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The Bay Area public libraries giving out free COVID-19 tests\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Individual libraries may have different limits on how many COVID-19 tests you can take each time. County library systems are also often separate from city libraries — so you may wish to ask your local city library, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>See above: The San Francisco Public Library is distributing COVID-19 tests at its locations around the city. \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/#!/filters?sort_by=weight&sort_order=ASC\">Find your local San Francisco Public Library branch.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Berkeley\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Starting Monday, Dec. 18, Berkeley public libraries will have “a limited supply” of free COVID-19 tests at every location. \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/locations\">Find your local Berkeley Public Library branch.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Contra Costa County\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All 26 of Contra Costa County Library’s locations offer free COVID-19 tests. \u003ca href=\"https://ccclib.bibliocommons.com/v2/locations?_gl=1*1wxjih2*_ga*MTEyNDE2NDg0OC4xNzAyNDI2ODQ4*_ga_G99DMMNG39*MTcwMjY1NjkwMS4yLjAuMTcwMjY1NjkwMS4wLjAuMA..*_ga_ZET0BKEQP0*MTcwMjY1NjkwMS4yLjAuMTcwMjY1NjkwMS4wLjAuMA..\">Find your local Contra Costa County Library branch.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Solano County\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Free COVID-19 tests are available at every location of the Solano County Library. \u003ca href=\"https://solanolibrary.com/hours-and-locations/\">Find your local Solano County Library branch.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Mateo, Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties have confirmed to KQED that they are not currently offering COVID-19 tests at their library locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the Santa Clara County Library District is not currently offering free COVID-19 tests, \u003ca href=\"https://publichealth.sccgov.org/services/better-health-pharmacy\">county residents can pick up free antigen tests at any Better Health Pharmacy\u003c/a>. We’ll update this guide with information about Alameda County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freecovidtestnearme\">\u003c/a>Where else can I find a free or low-cost COVID-19 test near me?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government via USPS\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can once again\u003ca href=\"https://special.usps.com/testkits\"> order four free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests from covidtests.gov \u003c/a>or by phone at 800-232-0233.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Get reimbursed for COVID test purchases by your health insurance\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California law dictates that your insurer still has to offer reimbursement for the cost of up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests, although as of Nov. 12, they can require that you purchase these “in-network.” \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11969300/how-to-get-reimbursed-for-at-home-covid-tests-in-2023\">Read more about getting reimbursed for COVID-19 tests by your insurer.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 test through your health care provider\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are insured with major Bay Area providers such as Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest option to secure a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through that particular provider. Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member’s personal login, and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 test through the state or federal government\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC still maintains\u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/\"> a nationwide map of COVID-19 testing locations at testinglocator.cdc.gov,\u003c/a> and all testing facilities listed on the site “are available at no cost for people without health insurance” through the Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html\">a list of community-based testing sites around the country\u003c/a>. Select California in the “Find Testing Resources” dropdown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also use the\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\"> California Department of Public Health’s map of COVID-19 testing and treatment sites.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 test through your Bay Area county\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The majority of the county testing sites you saw at the height of the pandemic have now shut down — but your county may have several sites still operating, often in partnership with community groups. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder#findtests\">Find your county in our list of COVID-19 testing resources.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 test at your local pharmacy\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/pcrpickup\">Walgreens offers free PCR tests to take home and mail in\u003c/a>, with results in about two days. Walgreens says no insurance is required, but you must register your collection kit with Labcorp to receive results. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder#findtests\">Read more about COVID-19 testing at your local pharmacy.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 test from your school district\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many Bay Area school districts have offered COVID-19 testing for students and staff — and sometimes the families of students — during the pandemic, and some may have continued their programs into this school year. Check directly with your child’s school.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID-19\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Emily Calix and Sydney Johnson contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Many public libraries around the Bay Area are now offering free COVID-19 test pick-up. See if your county is participating and other ways to find a free COVID-19 antigen test near you.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Almost four years into the COVID-19 pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">finding a free antigen test\u003c/a> has become a lot harder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">COVID-19 numbers on the rise again\u003c/a> as the holidays approach — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">high levels of respiratory virus around the state generally, including RSV and flu \u003c/a>— establishing whether your runny nose and sore throat is, in fact, COVID-19 may have become even more of a priority in your own household recently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One place you now might be able to find a free COVID-19 at-home test? Your local public library.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Free COVID-19 tests, no library card needed\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many libraries around the Bay Area have a supply of antigen tests to give out to anyone who wants one — with no proof of library card or county residency required. One of those is the San Francisco Public Library system, which distributes 15,000 free tests this winter in \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/#!/filters?sort_by=weight&sort_order=ASC\">multiple branch locations around the city\u003c/a>. The library is not limiting how many tests a person can take.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#freecovidtestnearme\">Other places to find a free COVID-19 test near you\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Dolly Goyal, the library’s chief of public services, says these free tests will be beneficial for families as schools around the county get ready to close for the holidays. The library system, she says, wants “to make sure families get these before they might go on vacation or anywhere else” to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Public Library urges community members to take as many antigen tests as they feel they need — because those at-home kits expire early in 2024. That said, the San Francisco Public Health Department says COVID-19 tests \u003cem>can\u003c/em> still be used past the expiration date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">You can check the FDA’s list of antigen test types to see whether the box you’re holding has had its shelf life extended by the manufacturer\u003c/a>. The FDA says that if a test’s shelf life has been extended, it’s because the manufacturer has given the agency enough “data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized.” (In other words, it’s still OK to use that test.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What other COVID-19 information do you need right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to determine whether your Bay Area county’s public library offers free COVID-19 antigen tests this winter. And if they aren’t, we have tips on where else to still find free or low-cost COVID-19 testing near you below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(Looking for information on the best time to take a COVID-19 test if you’re experiencing symptoms? \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#erisincubation\">Read our guide to current COVID-19 incubation periods.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The Bay Area public libraries giving out free COVID-19 tests\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Individual libraries may have different limits on how many COVID-19 tests you can take each time. County library systems are also often separate from city libraries — so you may wish to ask your local city library, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>See above: The San Francisco Public Library is distributing COVID-19 tests at its locations around the city. \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/#!/filters?sort_by=weight&sort_order=ASC\">Find your local San Francisco Public Library branch.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Berkeley\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Starting Monday, Dec. 18, Berkeley public libraries will have “a limited supply” of free COVID-19 tests at every location. \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/locations\">Find your local Berkeley Public Library branch.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Contra Costa County\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All 26 of Contra Costa County Library’s locations offer free COVID-19 tests. \u003ca href=\"https://ccclib.bibliocommons.com/v2/locations?_gl=1*1wxjih2*_ga*MTEyNDE2NDg0OC4xNzAyNDI2ODQ4*_ga_G99DMMNG39*MTcwMjY1NjkwMS4yLjAuMTcwMjY1NjkwMS4wLjAuMA..*_ga_ZET0BKEQP0*MTcwMjY1NjkwMS4yLjAuMTcwMjY1NjkwMS4wLjAuMA..\">Find your local Contra Costa County Library branch.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Solano County\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Free COVID-19 tests are available at every location of the Solano County Library. \u003ca href=\"https://solanolibrary.com/hours-and-locations/\">Find your local Solano County Library branch.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Mateo, Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties have confirmed to KQED that they are not currently offering COVID-19 tests at their library locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the Santa Clara County Library District is not currently offering free COVID-19 tests, \u003ca href=\"https://publichealth.sccgov.org/services/better-health-pharmacy\">county residents can pick up free antigen tests at any Better Health Pharmacy\u003c/a>. We’ll update this guide with information about Alameda County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freecovidtestnearme\">\u003c/a>Where else can I find a free or low-cost COVID-19 test near me?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government via USPS\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can once again\u003ca href=\"https://special.usps.com/testkits\"> order four free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests from covidtests.gov \u003c/a>or by phone at 800-232-0233.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Get reimbursed for COVID test purchases by your health insurance\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California law dictates that your insurer still has to offer reimbursement for the cost of up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests, although as of Nov. 12, they can require that you purchase these “in-network.” \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11969300/how-to-get-reimbursed-for-at-home-covid-tests-in-2023\">Read more about getting reimbursed for COVID-19 tests by your insurer.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 test through your health care provider\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are insured with major Bay Area providers such as Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest option to secure a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through that particular provider. Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member’s personal login, and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 test through the state or federal government\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC still maintains\u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/\"> a nationwide map of COVID-19 testing locations at testinglocator.cdc.gov,\u003c/a> and all testing facilities listed on the site “are available at no cost for people without health insurance” through the Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html\">a list of community-based testing sites around the country\u003c/a>. Select California in the “Find Testing Resources” dropdown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also use the\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\"> California Department of Public Health’s map of COVID-19 testing and treatment sites.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 test through your Bay Area county\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The majority of the county testing sites you saw at the height of the pandemic have now shut down — but your county may have several sites still operating, often in partnership with community groups. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder#findtests\">Find your county in our list of COVID-19 testing resources.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 test at your local pharmacy\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/pcrpickup\">Walgreens offers free PCR tests to take home and mail in\u003c/a>, with results in about two days. Walgreens says no insurance is required, but you must register your collection kit with Labcorp to receive results. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder#findtests\">Read more about COVID-19 testing at your local pharmacy.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 test from your school district\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many Bay Area school districts have offered COVID-19 testing for students and staff — and sometimes the families of students — during the pandemic, and some may have continued their programs into this school year. Check directly with your child’s school.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID-19\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 11:15 a.m., December 13\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 2023-2024 winter respiratory virus season is here. And alongside \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the latest COVID-19 variant \u003c/a>and\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\"> the return of flu season\u003c/a>, RSV is once again on the rise around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV — which stands for Respiratory Syncytial (\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html\">pronounced “sin-SISH-uhl”\u003c/a>) Virus — usually causes “mild, cold-like symptoms,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in infants, young children and adults over 60, this respiratory virus can attack a weakened immune system to cause severe sickness, leading to hospitalization and even — in serious cases — death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People in these age groups and the people who care for them are often warned by their health care providers about the dangers of RSV transmission and offered vaccination against the virus. However, there are a lot of people who may not even know RSV exists, let alone how dangerous it can be to spread it to others accidentally — even if getting infected themselves only means mild symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about RSV testing, how to spot an RSV infection, incubation periods, and who’s eligible for the new RSV vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor1\">How bad is RSV in the Bay Area now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor2\">Can I get tested?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor3\">How do I know if my “cold” is actually RSV?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor4\">If I get infected but I’m not high risk, what should I do?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor5\">Why are younger and older people more at risk, and when is it time to seek medical attention?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor6\">Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor1\">\u003c/a>How bad is RSV around the Bay Area right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In its weekly report, on Dec. 8, the CDC said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data-research/dashboard/snapshot.html\">the U.S. is “experiencing elevated RSV activity, particularly among young children\u003c/a>” — and that there is currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html\">“high overall respiratory illness activity” in California.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The impacts on the state’s hospital capacity are already being felt, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">three-quarters of intensive care beds around California are full\u003c/a>, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.wastewaterscan.org/en/about\">The WastewaterSCAN project\u003c/a> monitors the presence of viruses — including RSV, COVID-19 and the flu — in wastewater across the U.S. Alexandria Boehm, a Stanford professor of civil and environmental engineering, who helps lead the project, provided KQED with the latest snapshot data on Nov. 30, that found RSV “levels are trending up and high,” and that “all sites in the Bay Area are categorized as in the high wastewater category” for the virus. This upward trend indicates that the Bay Area is “headed towards \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9844019/\">the levels we saw last year”\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">Levels of flu and COVID are also increasing in local wastewater, said Boehm\u003c/a>. [pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Dr.Peter Chin-Hong, UCSF infectious disease specialist\"]‘If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.’[/pullquote]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Santa Clara County, health officials recently warned of a dramatic increase in winter viruses in the county’s wastewater — and an especially sharp rise in RSV levels, which the county’s Deputy Health Officer Dr. Sarah Rudman said had doubled in the month leading up to Thanksgiving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That worries me,” Rudman told KQED on Monday, “that especially after this holiday weekend with everyone’s travel and gathering there, we’re going to see even higher levels [afterward].”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF, said that when it comes to lab testing at his hospital right now, more tests are coming back positive for RSV than for the flu or COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor2\">\u003c/a>What about testing for RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At-home testing for RSV isn’t available in the way it is for COVID-19. The only places you’d typically have access to a formal RSV test are at an urgent care center, the emergency room, or elsewhere in a hospital, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think in the future it’d be great to have a home test for COVID, flu and RSV,” he said. “But right now, we just have COVID [testing] at home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong acknowledges the downsides of being unable to access an RSV test outside of these clinical settings. “It’s good to know so that you don’t infect the very young and very old, who can have more serious consequences,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And on that note …\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor3\">\u003c/a>So, what are RSV symptoms? How are they different from COVID-19 or the flu?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>RSV, Chin-Hong said, “seems like a cold for most people. But that ‘cold’ infecting somebody under two, or older than 60, can land them in the hospital.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC,\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\"> the symptoms of RSV infection\u003c/a> “usually appear in stages and not all at once,” and can include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Decrease in appetite\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Coughing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sneezing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Wheezing\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>One big exception to this list: In some very young infants with RSV, the CDC said that “the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wheezing could be the particular symptom that might indicate you’ve got RSV rather than another respiratory virus, Chin-Hong said — although wheezing can still be a symptom of those other viruses, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re unlikely to get access to an RSV test, how can you tell if what feels like a bad cold is actually RSV — or the flu? Chin-Hong said there are a few things that might help you tell the difference:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The speed and severity of symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said the onset of symptoms for the flu will be sudden and severe, with fever and muscle pain. “You feel like a garbage truck hits you very suddenly,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Influenza, which, like RSV (and COVID-19), is already spreading throughout the Bay Area this winter, can cause serious problems even in healthy people of any age. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">Some people are also at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick\u003c/a>, including those aged 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant people and children younger than 5 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC estimates that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\"> last year’s flu season resulted in as many as 58,000 deaths from flu\u003c/a> and up to 650,000 flu hospitalizations. WastewaterSCAN’s Boehm noted, in her team’s latest snapshot, that wastewater levels for influenza are “starting to trend up, which suggests influenza infections are starting to rise in our region,” and that based on last year’s records, “we fully expect the levels to keep increasing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you haven’t already, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">consider getting your flu shot as soon as possible\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/treatment.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what to do if you get the flu.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your cold symptoms are more progressive, but you’re repeatedly testing negative for COVID-19, seriously consider the possibility that you have RSV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or, as Chin-Hong puts it: “If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The incubation period\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV has a longer incubation period than COVID-19 or a cold — the amount of time between exposure to the virus and getting sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Right now, the latest COVID-19 subvariants have an incubation period of three to five days, and a cold will take 24 to 72 hours to incubate after exposure. But RSV has a longer incubation period of “four to six days,” Chin-Hong said. So, if you know you’ve been exposed to RSV but haven’t gotten sick after a few days, unfortunately, it’s unwise to presume you’ve escaped infection.\u003cbr>\n[ad fullwidth]\u003cbr>\nWhile people infected with RSV are usually contagious for “3 to 8 days,” according to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/transmission.html\">they can also “become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness”\u003c/a> — similar to those infected with COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor4\">\u003c/a>What should I do if I have RSV but I’m not at higher risk?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re not at higher risk for severe RSV but you’re pretty sure you’ve got it, what now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manage your symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that antiviral medication is “not routinely recommended” to fight an RSV infection — in contrast to COVID-19, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11966797/paxlovid-free-eligibility-california-2023\">the antiviral drug Paxlovid is often prescribed\u003c/a>, or for the flu, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.htm\">antiviral drugs like Tamiflu can be taken\u003c/a>.[aside label=\"more virus-related coverage\" tag=\"coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\"]Most RSV infections, the agency said, “go away on their own in a week or two.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re an adult who’s not at higher risk for severe RSV, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\">the CDC recommends managing fever and pain symptoms \u003c/a>with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. It’s also important to drink fluids to prevent getting dehydrated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Stay home as much as you can\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, the big difference between having “just” a cold and having RSV is that if you spread RSV, you’re potentially endangering infants and older people who are at much higher risk from it. The best thing to do is keep away from others as much as possible while you’re sick — especially infants and people aged 60 and older. And “definitely don’t go out if you have a fever,” Chin-Hong said — “that’s probably the highest risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you really can’t stay indoors away from others? Then it’s time to wear a well-fitted face covering like an N95 or KN95 mask, Chin-Hong said. By masking, you’ll reduce the risks of spreading the virus to those around you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor5\">\u003c/a>Why are younger and older people more at risk from RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are two age groups at the highest risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death from RSV:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants and young children\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every year, as many as \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\">80,000 children under 5 years old are hospitalized in the U.S. because of RSV\u003c/a>, according to an estimate from the CDC. Children at the greatest risk from RSV include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Premature infants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Infants up to 12 months, especially (6 months and younger)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children younger than 2 years with chronic lung disease or congenital (present from birth) heart disease\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with weakened immune systems\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with neuromuscular disorders.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Part of the danger of RSV is how it can bring on more severe infections, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Bronchiolitis: when the small airways in the lungs are inflamed\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pneumonia: when the lungs are infected.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that RSV is “the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These statistics can seem scary — and RSV does undoubtedly pose a threat to many younger children. But for context, the CDC notes that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\"> “almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If an infant or young child gets infected with RSV, parents and caregivers can always call their provider’s advice line, added Chin-Hong, who said to watch for red flags, including when a young child is having difficulty feeding or breathing, or is wheezing and lethargic. “Infants with quote-unquote ‘colds’ who have any of those [symptoms] should be brought into the hospital or urgent care or the emergency room for advice,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV poses a particular risk to older people because of how our immune systems weaken with age. Every year, between \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">60,000 and 160,000 older adults in the U.S. are hospitalized with RSV, \u003c/a>and as many as 10,000 die from it, The CDC estimates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to causing more severe infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, the virus can also exacerbate existing health conditions — including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">Some younger adults are also at higher risk from RSV\u003c/a>. These groups include folks with chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems or certain other underlying medical conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When should older adults — or their caregivers — seek medical attention due to a potential RSV infection? Chin-Hong said that one of the main concerns for this age group is developing pneumonia, of which a new shortness of breath can be a symptom. Oxygen levels can also be monitored with an at-home pulse oximeter — if a person’s levels drop below 93%, Chin-Hong said that’s a sign to head to the emergency room.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>When RSV means being hospitalized\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What does hospitalization actually mean for infants and older adults with severe RSV?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hospitalization often occurs if the patient is having trouble breathing or has become dehydrated — and once in the hospital, they may require extra oxygen or fluids given through an IV if they can’t eat or drink enough on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A patient might also need to be intubated with a breathing tube inserted through the mouth, and be given mechanical ventilation to help them breathe again. While this sounds scary, hospitalization usually lasts for only a few days “in most of these cases,” according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor6\">\u003c/a>Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In addition to the general benefits of vaccination against the virus, Chin-Hong notes that “there isn’t any good therapy for RSV” currently — making a preventative vaccine even more important.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccine\">approved the first RSV vaccine for older adults\u003c/a>, and, several months later, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-vaccine-pregnant-individuals-prevent-rsv-infants\">approved another one for pregnant people\u003c/a>, as well as a separate preventative antibody treatment for infants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV vaccines for these groups are available through health care providers and pharmacies, with the shots covered partly or fully by most health insurance plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Adults age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends this group “should talk with their health care provider about whether RSV vaccination is right for them.” There is no upper age limit for getting an RSV vaccination, which is given as a single shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/older-adults.html\">Read more about older adults and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vaccinations for pregnant people are one of two ways that infants can be immunized against RSV — in this case, to pass on the benefits to the fetus. The CDC said that a baby born to a mother who got the RSV vaccine “at least two weeks before delivery” will have protection — and “in most cases,” that baby then won’t require a later RSV immunization. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\">Read more about pregnant people and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\"> health insurance coverage for this maternal vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A preventive antibody — not a vaccine — can also be given directly to a baby after birth if a maternal vaccine isn’t an option. This form of immunization is recommended for children younger than 8 months of age during their first RSV season. In some cases, this immunization is extended to children under 24 months of age “with certain conditions that place them at increased risk for severe RSV disease,” the CDC said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/child.html\">Read more about RSV immunization for infants and young children\u003c/a> and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this immunization.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>KQED’s Sara Hossaini and Lesley McClurg contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 11:15 a.m., December 13\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 2023-2024 winter respiratory virus season is here. And alongside \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the latest COVID-19 variant \u003c/a>and\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\"> the return of flu season\u003c/a>, RSV is once again on the rise around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV — which stands for Respiratory Syncytial (\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html\">pronounced “sin-SISH-uhl”\u003c/a>) Virus — usually causes “mild, cold-like symptoms,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in infants, young children and adults over 60, this respiratory virus can attack a weakened immune system to cause severe sickness, leading to hospitalization and even — in serious cases — death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People in these age groups and the people who care for them are often warned by their health care providers about the dangers of RSV transmission and offered vaccination against the virus. However, there are a lot of people who may not even know RSV exists, let alone how dangerous it can be to spread it to others accidentally — even if getting infected themselves only means mild symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about RSV testing, how to spot an RSV infection, incubation periods, and who’s eligible for the new RSV vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor1\">How bad is RSV in the Bay Area now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor2\">Can I get tested?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor3\">How do I know if my “cold” is actually RSV?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor4\">If I get infected but I’m not high risk, what should I do?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor5\">Why are younger and older people more at risk, and when is it time to seek medical attention?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor6\">Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor1\">\u003c/a>How bad is RSV around the Bay Area right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In its weekly report, on Dec. 8, the CDC said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data-research/dashboard/snapshot.html\">the U.S. is “experiencing elevated RSV activity, particularly among young children\u003c/a>” — and that there is currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html\">“high overall respiratory illness activity” in California.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The impacts on the state’s hospital capacity are already being felt, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">three-quarters of intensive care beds around California are full\u003c/a>, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.wastewaterscan.org/en/about\">The WastewaterSCAN project\u003c/a> monitors the presence of viruses — including RSV, COVID-19 and the flu — in wastewater across the U.S. Alexandria Boehm, a Stanford professor of civil and environmental engineering, who helps lead the project, provided KQED with the latest snapshot data on Nov. 30, that found RSV “levels are trending up and high,” and that “all sites in the Bay Area are categorized as in the high wastewater category” for the virus. This upward trend indicates that the Bay Area is “headed towards \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9844019/\">the levels we saw last year”\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">Levels of flu and COVID are also increasing in local wastewater, said Boehm\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "‘If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.’",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Santa Clara County, health officials recently warned of a dramatic increase in winter viruses in the county’s wastewater — and an especially sharp rise in RSV levels, which the county’s Deputy Health Officer Dr. Sarah Rudman said had doubled in the month leading up to Thanksgiving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That worries me,” Rudman told KQED on Monday, “that especially after this holiday weekend with everyone’s travel and gathering there, we’re going to see even higher levels [afterward].”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF, said that when it comes to lab testing at his hospital right now, more tests are coming back positive for RSV than for the flu or COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor2\">\u003c/a>What about testing for RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At-home testing for RSV isn’t available in the way it is for COVID-19. The only places you’d typically have access to a formal RSV test are at an urgent care center, the emergency room, or elsewhere in a hospital, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think in the future it’d be great to have a home test for COVID, flu and RSV,” he said. “But right now, we just have COVID [testing] at home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong acknowledges the downsides of being unable to access an RSV test outside of these clinical settings. “It’s good to know so that you don’t infect the very young and very old, who can have more serious consequences,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And on that note …\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor3\">\u003c/a>So, what are RSV symptoms? How are they different from COVID-19 or the flu?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>RSV, Chin-Hong said, “seems like a cold for most people. But that ‘cold’ infecting somebody under two, or older than 60, can land them in the hospital.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC,\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\"> the symptoms of RSV infection\u003c/a> “usually appear in stages and not all at once,” and can include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Decrease in appetite\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Coughing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sneezing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Wheezing\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>One big exception to this list: In some very young infants with RSV, the CDC said that “the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wheezing could be the particular symptom that might indicate you’ve got RSV rather than another respiratory virus, Chin-Hong said — although wheezing can still be a symptom of those other viruses, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re unlikely to get access to an RSV test, how can you tell if what feels like a bad cold is actually RSV — or the flu? Chin-Hong said there are a few things that might help you tell the difference:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The speed and severity of symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said the onset of symptoms for the flu will be sudden and severe, with fever and muscle pain. “You feel like a garbage truck hits you very suddenly,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Influenza, which, like RSV (and COVID-19), is already spreading throughout the Bay Area this winter, can cause serious problems even in healthy people of any age. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">Some people are also at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick\u003c/a>, including those aged 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant people and children younger than 5 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC estimates that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\"> last year’s flu season resulted in as many as 58,000 deaths from flu\u003c/a> and up to 650,000 flu hospitalizations. WastewaterSCAN’s Boehm noted, in her team’s latest snapshot, that wastewater levels for influenza are “starting to trend up, which suggests influenza infections are starting to rise in our region,” and that based on last year’s records, “we fully expect the levels to keep increasing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you haven’t already, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">consider getting your flu shot as soon as possible\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/treatment.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what to do if you get the flu.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your cold symptoms are more progressive, but you’re repeatedly testing negative for COVID-19, seriously consider the possibility that you have RSV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or, as Chin-Hong puts it: “If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The incubation period\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV has a longer incubation period than COVID-19 or a cold — the amount of time between exposure to the virus and getting sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Right now, the latest COVID-19 subvariants have an incubation period of three to five days, and a cold will take 24 to 72 hours to incubate after exposure. But RSV has a longer incubation period of “four to six days,” Chin-Hong said. So, if you know you’ve been exposed to RSV but haven’t gotten sick after a few days, unfortunately, it’s unwise to presume you’ve escaped infection.\u003cbr>\n\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cbr>\nWhile people infected with RSV are usually contagious for “3 to 8 days,” according to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/transmission.html\">they can also “become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness”\u003c/a> — similar to those infected with COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor4\">\u003c/a>What should I do if I have RSV but I’m not at higher risk?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re not at higher risk for severe RSV but you’re pretty sure you’ve got it, what now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manage your symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that antiviral medication is “not routinely recommended” to fight an RSV infection — in contrast to COVID-19, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11966797/paxlovid-free-eligibility-california-2023\">the antiviral drug Paxlovid is often prescribed\u003c/a>, or for the flu, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.htm\">antiviral drugs like Tamiflu can be taken\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Most RSV infections, the agency said, “go away on their own in a week or two.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re an adult who’s not at higher risk for severe RSV, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\">the CDC recommends managing fever and pain symptoms \u003c/a>with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. It’s also important to drink fluids to prevent getting dehydrated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Stay home as much as you can\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, the big difference between having “just” a cold and having RSV is that if you spread RSV, you’re potentially endangering infants and older people who are at much higher risk from it. The best thing to do is keep away from others as much as possible while you’re sick — especially infants and people aged 60 and older. And “definitely don’t go out if you have a fever,” Chin-Hong said — “that’s probably the highest risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you really can’t stay indoors away from others? Then it’s time to wear a well-fitted face covering like an N95 or KN95 mask, Chin-Hong said. By masking, you’ll reduce the risks of spreading the virus to those around you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor5\">\u003c/a>Why are younger and older people more at risk from RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are two age groups at the highest risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death from RSV:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants and young children\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every year, as many as \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\">80,000 children under 5 years old are hospitalized in the U.S. because of RSV\u003c/a>, according to an estimate from the CDC. Children at the greatest risk from RSV include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Premature infants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Infants up to 12 months, especially (6 months and younger)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children younger than 2 years with chronic lung disease or congenital (present from birth) heart disease\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with weakened immune systems\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with neuromuscular disorders.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Part of the danger of RSV is how it can bring on more severe infections, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Bronchiolitis: when the small airways in the lungs are inflamed\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pneumonia: when the lungs are infected.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that RSV is “the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These statistics can seem scary — and RSV does undoubtedly pose a threat to many younger children. But for context, the CDC notes that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\"> “almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If an infant or young child gets infected with RSV, parents and caregivers can always call their provider’s advice line, added Chin-Hong, who said to watch for red flags, including when a young child is having difficulty feeding or breathing, or is wheezing and lethargic. “Infants with quote-unquote ‘colds’ who have any of those [symptoms] should be brought into the hospital or urgent care or the emergency room for advice,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV poses a particular risk to older people because of how our immune systems weaken with age. Every year, between \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">60,000 and 160,000 older adults in the U.S. are hospitalized with RSV, \u003c/a>and as many as 10,000 die from it, The CDC estimates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to causing more severe infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, the virus can also exacerbate existing health conditions — including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">Some younger adults are also at higher risk from RSV\u003c/a>. These groups include folks with chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems or certain other underlying medical conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When should older adults — or their caregivers — seek medical attention due to a potential RSV infection? Chin-Hong said that one of the main concerns for this age group is developing pneumonia, of which a new shortness of breath can be a symptom. Oxygen levels can also be monitored with an at-home pulse oximeter — if a person’s levels drop below 93%, Chin-Hong said that’s a sign to head to the emergency room.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>When RSV means being hospitalized\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What does hospitalization actually mean for infants and older adults with severe RSV?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hospitalization often occurs if the patient is having trouble breathing or has become dehydrated — and once in the hospital, they may require extra oxygen or fluids given through an IV if they can’t eat or drink enough on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A patient might also need to be intubated with a breathing tube inserted through the mouth, and be given mechanical ventilation to help them breathe again. While this sounds scary, hospitalization usually lasts for only a few days “in most of these cases,” according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor6\">\u003c/a>Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In addition to the general benefits of vaccination against the virus, Chin-Hong notes that “there isn’t any good therapy for RSV” currently — making a preventative vaccine even more important.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccine\">approved the first RSV vaccine for older adults\u003c/a>, and, several months later, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-vaccine-pregnant-individuals-prevent-rsv-infants\">approved another one for pregnant people\u003c/a>, as well as a separate preventative antibody treatment for infants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV vaccines for these groups are available through health care providers and pharmacies, with the shots covered partly or fully by most health insurance plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Adults age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends this group “should talk with their health care provider about whether RSV vaccination is right for them.” There is no upper age limit for getting an RSV vaccination, which is given as a single shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/older-adults.html\">Read more about older adults and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vaccinations for pregnant people are one of two ways that infants can be immunized against RSV — in this case, to pass on the benefits to the fetus. The CDC said that a baby born to a mother who got the RSV vaccine “at least two weeks before delivery” will have protection — and “in most cases,” that baby then won’t require a later RSV immunization. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\">Read more about pregnant people and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\"> health insurance coverage for this maternal vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A preventive antibody — not a vaccine — can also be given directly to a baby after birth if a maternal vaccine isn’t an option. This form of immunization is recommended for children younger than 8 months of age during their first RSV season. In some cases, this immunization is extended to children under 24 months of age “with certain conditions that place them at increased risk for severe RSV disease,” the CDC said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/child.html\">Read more about RSV immunization for infants and young children\u003c/a> and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this immunization.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>KQED’s Sara Hossaini and Lesley McClurg contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"headTitle": "Accessing Free Paxlovid in California Amid Policy Changes | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>As 2024 inches closer,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\"> COVID-19 is unfortunately still very much with us\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ever since the drug \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-first-oral-antiviral-treatment-covid-19\">Paxlovid was authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in December 2021\u003c/a>, requesting this antiviral pill has been part of many people’s COVID plans for treatment and recovery for the last couple of years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But now, starting this month, a few changes to how Paxlovid is funded are here — which could potentially have consequences for how you request and access the drug. And if you’ve asked for Paxlovid before or plan on seeking out the antiviral drug if you get COVID, there are some updates you might not necessarily expect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Paxlovid has been proven to be highly effective at reducing severe disease and hospitalization from COVID, and there’s now also evidence it can help reduce the risks of long COVID, too. The drug has also been free by prescription in California for \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Questions-and-Answers-Treatment-Information-for-Providers-and-Facilities.aspx#question3\">patients with mild to moderate illness “with risk of progression to severe disease,”\u003c/a> according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The agency notes that many common conditions might qualify you for this, including physical inactivity, obesity and depression.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for everything you need to know about requesting Paxlovid in or after November so you’re prepared for any bumps along the way. If you’re met with unexpected Paxlovid charges, this information might help you understand why that’s happening — and how to avoid or challenge those new costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#healthinsurance\">If you have health insurance: How to avoid new potential costs for Paxlovid\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#nohealthinsurance\">If you don’t have health insurance: How to find free Paxlovid\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Paxlovid is transitioning to the commercial market\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Like COVID vaccines (more on that below), Paxlovid supplies in the United States are moving away from being bought by the federal government and into the commercial market — like countless other drugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The government paid Pfizer, the makers of Paxlovid, around $530 per course of the drug. Now, Pfizer said \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-shifting-covid-antivirals-commercial-market-nov-1-2023-10-27/\">the company has set the price of Paxlovid at around $1,400 per five-day course\u003c/a>, and commercial ordering of the drug began on Nov. 1. Regardless of this change, health insurers still have to cover your Paxlovid (more on \u003cem>that\u003c/em> below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>There’s also \u003ca href=\"https://aspr.hhs.gov/COVID-19/Therapeutics/Products/Lagevrio/Pages/default.aspx\">a Paxlovid alternative called Lagevrio (molnupiravir),\u003c/a> which is undergoing the same transition to the commercial market this month. While the FDA’s data has shown that \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/22/1081898013/doctors-find-limited-use-for-less-effective-covid-pill\">molnupiravir is a less effective drug than Paxlovid\u003c/a>, doctors may still prescribe it instead for several reasons, including the risk of Paxlovid’s interactions with other medications you’re taking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This move follows the trend of COVID care transitioning away from federal funding and into the traditional commercial health care market. This is also what’s happened with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">the new COVID vaccines now available in the U.S.\u003c/a>, which is why these kinds of vaccines were once offered at government-funded vaccination sites but are now being offered through providers and paid for by any health insurance you have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the earlier years of the pandemic, the federal government paying for COVID care was “a way to sort of just get a lot of people covered and then … figure out the financing after the fact,” said Anthony Wright, executive director of consumer advocate group Health Access California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But these resources are still available for folks, and people should take advantage of them, even though there’s no longer sort of a federal blanket policy,” Wright said. “It’s now more of a patchwork policy depending on your plan, depending on your location, etc.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: Paxlovid’s entry into the commercial market, with a much higher sticker price, means that any out-of-pocket costs could potentially be far greater. Hopefully, you won’t have to pay them.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>There’ll still be a federal stockpile of Paxlovid (for a while)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Because the federal government \u003cem>did\u003c/em> buy so much Paxlovid from Pfizer during the last couple of years, there’s still what a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official described as “an ample supply of federally-owned therapeutics with millions of treatment courses still in the field.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The existence of this federal stockpile means that until Dec. 15, health care providers can still order Paxlovid from the government — rather than Pfizer — to distribute until supplies run out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Federally purchased Paxlovid has been prescribed free so far during the pandemic, and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said that these supplies “will remain free to all patients regardless of insurance status.” This free federal supply is “expected to last through the end of the year in most areas, although this will vary depending on demand,” CDPH said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once that supply runs out, “the price of commercial product will depend on the individual’s insurance.” But because you won’t necessarily know if you are indeed getting Paxlovid free from the government and not purchased from Pfizer, if you have health insurance, it’s important to make sure you’re getting your prescription “in-network.” \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#healthinsurance\">Jump straight to more information about getting Paxlovid through your health insurance. \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: If you are prescribed Paxlovid in the next few months, you could be getting a course that came straight from the government’s own supply rather than one purchased from Pfizer. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Federal stockpile or not, your California health insurer still has to cover Paxlovid\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>We’re now six months out from the end of the federal public health emergency for COVID, which ended on May 11 and had big effects on nationwide funding for COVID vaccines and testing. But thanks to laws passed in California during the pandemic, Californians kept a lot more COVID coverage than folks living in other states. Specifically, State Bill 1473 required insurers to keep covering the costs of COVID therapeutic treatments like Paxlovid, as well as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">reimbursing their members for the costs of up to eight over-the-counter COVID tests a month\u003c/a> after the end of the public health emergency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) said that health plans regulated by their agency — which includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/healthcareincalifornia/typesofplans.aspx\">HMO plans and “some other kinds of plans” \u003c/a>— “must cover COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatment with no health plan prior authorization.” California law said the DMHC “also prohibits cost sharing and utilization management for therapeutics/Paxlovid, similar to testing and vaccines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: Your health insurer can’t deny you coverage of Paxlovid. But that said …\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"healthinsurance\">\u003c/a>If you have health insurance, be sure to request Paxlovid “in-network” for it to be covered starting Nov. 12\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>That California law also forced insurers to cover these costs regardless of whether a patient sought COVID services “in-network.” But it only kept the current situation in place until six months after the end of the federal emergency — a period that ended on Nov. 11.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previously, Paxlovid supplies were funded by the federal government and were free regardless of health insurance status — so the concept of getting your Paxlovid “in-network” just didn’t apply. But as California reaches that “six months after the end of the federal emergency” mark, it means that starting Nov. 12, insurers can require their members to obtain certain COVID care and treatment “in-network.” And, confirms DMHC, “after November 11, if [patients] access the services from an out-of-network provider, they may be charged cost-sharing, such as a co-pay or co-insurance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>DMHC stresses that “if health plan members access these services from a provider in their health plan’s network, they will not need to pay anything for these services.” Going out of network after Nov. 12 could look like getting a telehealth visit with a provider who’s not in your health plan’s network or using an out-of-network pharmacy for the Paxlovid prescription, if your plan requires you to only use certain pharmacies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s hard to give blanket advice because it really depends plan by plan,” said Health Access’ Wright, but “in general,” he stresses that people should now seek their COVID treatment, or their COVID vaccine, “in the way that they have normally got other health care through their plan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As long as you are getting the care in the way that you have typically got other care, including other prescriptions … then you should be OK,” Wright said. “You can double-check with your plan if you’re worried about it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you believe you’ve been wrongly charged for the cost of Paxlovid — or a COVID test or vaccine, for that matter? DMHC said that if you get a bill you don’t believe you should be paying for, such as a “qualifying” treatment, you “should first contact [your] health plan to file a grievance, sometimes called an appeal, and include a copy of the bill.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you “do not agree” with your health plan’s response to your grievance, or “if the plan takes more than 30 days to fix the problem,” \u003ca href=\"http://www.HealthHelp.ca.gov\">DMHC advises contacting their \u003c/a>Help Center online or calling them at 1-888-466-2219.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your health plan should also not claim you \u003cem>have\u003c/em> to go out-of-network to get COVID care, Wright said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If your plan is not providing you access to any of these therapeutics or tests or treatments, then they’re violating the consumer protections of what you’re entitled to as a plan member,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Yes, it will need to be in network, but [plans] are required to provide that in-network care in a timely fashion,” he emphasized. “And if they don’t, that you have a right to complain [to DMHC] and get that care.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You don’t have to go out-of-network and deal with a big bill,” he added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: If you have health insurance, be certain you’re going in-network to request and pick up Paxlovid after Nov. 12.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"nohealthinsurance\">\u003c/a>If you don’t have insurance, Paxlovid will still be free\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance and have wanted Paxlovid for the last few years, the California Department of Health (CDPH) advises using \u003ca href=\"https://sesamecare.com/covidca\">Sesame Care, California’s COVID telehealth service\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This program is intended “to support uninsured and underinsured individuals within the State of California who cannot connect with a healthcare provider within 24 hours of receiving a positive test result,” CDPH said. Uninsured folks should visit \u003ca href=\"https://sesamecare.com/covid\">sesamecare.com/covid\u003c/a> to make a free phone or video appointment through Sesame Care or call (833) 686-5051 (6 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT, seven days a week). When you speak to a provider through Sesame Care, they’ll prescribe you Paxlovid if you’re eligible, and it will either be mailed to you or made available at a nearby pharmacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This Sesame Care consultation and the Paxlovid prescription should be free. Sesame Care’s site said that if you are asked to pay for any of these services, you should call Sesame Care at (888) 897-1244 so they “can follow up with the pharmacy.” CDPH confirms that this service “will continue to provide free appointments through February 2024.” (Be careful only to use Sesame Care’s free COVID care webpage at \u003ca href=\"https://sesamecare.com/covid\">sesamecare.com/covid\u003c/a> and not click away to other parts of Sesame Care’s website. Sesame warns that if you enter Sesame Care’s regular website, you’ll be charged for its services.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the long term, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-shifting-covid-antivirals-commercial-market-nov-1-2023-10-27/\">the costs of Paxlovid for uninsured and underinsured will be covered\u003c/a> through a separate federal program through 2028.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you \u003cem>have\u003c/em> health insurance, you can also use Sesame Care for a free telehealth appointment if you haven’t been able to connect with your regular health care provider within 24 hours of receiving a positive test result, according to CDPH. But bear in mind that CDPH also said that “the cost of the medication may vary on the patient’s insurance status after commercialization of Paxlovid/Lagevrio begins in November.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, the federal stockpiles of these drugs will still be around for a while, and CDPH confirms that “federally purchased COVID-19 medications that are still in supply will remain free to all patients regardless of insurance status.” But “once the federal supply runs out, the price of commercial product will depend on the individual’s insurance,” the agency said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, be very clear about that detail with the telehealth provider you speak to through Sesame Care, and ask if it’s possible to know whether any Paxlovid prescription you get is coming from that free federal stockpile and whether you should anticipate any cost-sharing from your insurance for getting the prescription through Sesame Care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: Don’t panic about the new commercial sticker price of Paxlovid if you don’t have health insurance — there are still ways to get it for free. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The official eligibility criteria for a Paxlovid prescription hasn’t changed (yet)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Back in December 2021, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-first-oral-antiviral-treatment-covid-19\">Paxlovid was the first oral antiviral treatment for COVID authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)\u003c/a>. Due to limited supply, Paxlovid was initially only used to treat the patients deemed most at risk from severe illness from COVID — but later in 2022, it was expanded to more pharmacies across the United States as part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/04/26/1094735822/biden-will-make-paxlovid-a-highly-effective-covid-drug-available-to-more-pharmac\">a nationwide push to get Paxlovid to more COVID patients \u003c/a>who could benefit from it due to existing health factors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/CAHAN/Reminder-to-Prescribe-COVID-19-Therapeutics-to-Mitigate-Impact-of-Winter-Respiratory-Surge.aspx\">California even sent out an advisory to health care providers in December 2022, reminding them of “ample supply\u003c/a>” and urging them only to refuse to prescribe Paxlovid in “situations in which the risk of prescribing clearly outweighs the benefits of treatment in preventing hospitalization, death, and the potential for reduced risk of long COVID.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/antivirals-including-antibody-products/ritonavir-boosted-nirmatrelvir--paxlovid-/\">The state’s most up-to-date guidance for Paxlovid prescriptions\u003c/a> comes from the National Institute of Health (NIH), which notes that the drug is recommended for people with “mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of disease progression.” As for what constitutes that “high risk,” NIH follows \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html\">the CDC’s list of medical conditions that might potentially put a person at higher risk\u003c/a> of severe disease, hospitalization or death from COVID, which includes immunocompromise, disabilities, mental health conditions including depression, body mass, physical inactivity and being a current or former smoker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So will Paxlovid’s move to the commercial market (and differences in how you access a prescription in-network) change who’s eligible to be prescribed the antiviral? When KQED asked CDPH, the agency said they would continue “to review and update guidance” and pointed to \u003ca href=\"https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/antivirals-including-antibody-products/ritonavir-boosted-nirmatrelvir--paxlovid-/\">the NIH’s Paxlovid guidance\u003c/a> as “the most up-to-date.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Health Access’s Wright said that as the price of Paxlovid goes up, insurers might as well “be more watchful about those guidelines,” but that “it shouldn’t have an impact on people’s out-of-pocket [expenses], even if it does provide a cost that we all will bear with the premiums.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: If you test positive for COVID, it’s still worth asking your provider whether you’re a good candidate for Paxlovid — even if you don’t consider yourself “high risk.” \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "As 2024 nears, COVID-19 persists. Since the FDA approved Paxlovid, changes in funding have impacted access to the antiviral. For those considering or previously requesting it, there may be unexpected updates.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As 2024 inches closer,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\"> COVID-19 is unfortunately still very much with us\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ever since the drug \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-first-oral-antiviral-treatment-covid-19\">Paxlovid was authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in December 2021\u003c/a>, requesting this antiviral pill has been part of many people’s COVID plans for treatment and recovery for the last couple of years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But now, starting this month, a few changes to how Paxlovid is funded are here — which could potentially have consequences for how you request and access the drug. And if you’ve asked for Paxlovid before or plan on seeking out the antiviral drug if you get COVID, there are some updates you might not necessarily expect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Paxlovid has been proven to be highly effective at reducing severe disease and hospitalization from COVID, and there’s now also evidence it can help reduce the risks of long COVID, too. The drug has also been free by prescription in California for \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Questions-and-Answers-Treatment-Information-for-Providers-and-Facilities.aspx#question3\">patients with mild to moderate illness “with risk of progression to severe disease,”\u003c/a> according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The agency notes that many common conditions might qualify you for this, including physical inactivity, obesity and depression.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for everything you need to know about requesting Paxlovid in or after November so you’re prepared for any bumps along the way. If you’re met with unexpected Paxlovid charges, this information might help you understand why that’s happening — and how to avoid or challenge those new costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#healthinsurance\">If you have health insurance: How to avoid new potential costs for Paxlovid\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#nohealthinsurance\">If you don’t have health insurance: How to find free Paxlovid\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Paxlovid is transitioning to the commercial market\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Like COVID vaccines (more on that below), Paxlovid supplies in the United States are moving away from being bought by the federal government and into the commercial market — like countless other drugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The government paid Pfizer, the makers of Paxlovid, around $530 per course of the drug. Now, Pfizer said \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-shifting-covid-antivirals-commercial-market-nov-1-2023-10-27/\">the company has set the price of Paxlovid at around $1,400 per five-day course\u003c/a>, and commercial ordering of the drug began on Nov. 1. Regardless of this change, health insurers still have to cover your Paxlovid (more on \u003cem>that\u003c/em> below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>There’s also \u003ca href=\"https://aspr.hhs.gov/COVID-19/Therapeutics/Products/Lagevrio/Pages/default.aspx\">a Paxlovid alternative called Lagevrio (molnupiravir),\u003c/a> which is undergoing the same transition to the commercial market this month. While the FDA’s data has shown that \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/22/1081898013/doctors-find-limited-use-for-less-effective-covid-pill\">molnupiravir is a less effective drug than Paxlovid\u003c/a>, doctors may still prescribe it instead for several reasons, including the risk of Paxlovid’s interactions with other medications you’re taking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This move follows the trend of COVID care transitioning away from federal funding and into the traditional commercial health care market. This is also what’s happened with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">the new COVID vaccines now available in the U.S.\u003c/a>, which is why these kinds of vaccines were once offered at government-funded vaccination sites but are now being offered through providers and paid for by any health insurance you have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the earlier years of the pandemic, the federal government paying for COVID care was “a way to sort of just get a lot of people covered and then … figure out the financing after the fact,” said Anthony Wright, executive director of consumer advocate group Health Access California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But these resources are still available for folks, and people should take advantage of them, even though there’s no longer sort of a federal blanket policy,” Wright said. “It’s now more of a patchwork policy depending on your plan, depending on your location, etc.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: Paxlovid’s entry into the commercial market, with a much higher sticker price, means that any out-of-pocket costs could potentially be far greater. Hopefully, you won’t have to pay them.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>There’ll still be a federal stockpile of Paxlovid (for a while)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Because the federal government \u003cem>did\u003c/em> buy so much Paxlovid from Pfizer during the last couple of years, there’s still what a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official described as “an ample supply of federally-owned therapeutics with millions of treatment courses still in the field.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The existence of this federal stockpile means that until Dec. 15, health care providers can still order Paxlovid from the government — rather than Pfizer — to distribute until supplies run out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Federally purchased Paxlovid has been prescribed free so far during the pandemic, and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said that these supplies “will remain free to all patients regardless of insurance status.” This free federal supply is “expected to last through the end of the year in most areas, although this will vary depending on demand,” CDPH said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once that supply runs out, “the price of commercial product will depend on the individual’s insurance.” But because you won’t necessarily know if you are indeed getting Paxlovid free from the government and not purchased from Pfizer, if you have health insurance, it’s important to make sure you’re getting your prescription “in-network.” \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#healthinsurance\">Jump straight to more information about getting Paxlovid through your health insurance. \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: If you are prescribed Paxlovid in the next few months, you could be getting a course that came straight from the government’s own supply rather than one purchased from Pfizer. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Federal stockpile or not, your California health insurer still has to cover Paxlovid\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>We’re now six months out from the end of the federal public health emergency for COVID, which ended on May 11 and had big effects on nationwide funding for COVID vaccines and testing. But thanks to laws passed in California during the pandemic, Californians kept a lot more COVID coverage than folks living in other states. Specifically, State Bill 1473 required insurers to keep covering the costs of COVID therapeutic treatments like Paxlovid, as well as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">reimbursing their members for the costs of up to eight over-the-counter COVID tests a month\u003c/a> after the end of the public health emergency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) said that health plans regulated by their agency — which includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/healthcareincalifornia/typesofplans.aspx\">HMO plans and “some other kinds of plans” \u003c/a>— “must cover COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatment with no health plan prior authorization.” California law said the DMHC “also prohibits cost sharing and utilization management for therapeutics/Paxlovid, similar to testing and vaccines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: Your health insurer can’t deny you coverage of Paxlovid. But that said …\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"healthinsurance\">\u003c/a>If you have health insurance, be sure to request Paxlovid “in-network” for it to be covered starting Nov. 12\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>That California law also forced insurers to cover these costs regardless of whether a patient sought COVID services “in-network.” But it only kept the current situation in place until six months after the end of the federal emergency — a period that ended on Nov. 11.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previously, Paxlovid supplies were funded by the federal government and were free regardless of health insurance status — so the concept of getting your Paxlovid “in-network” just didn’t apply. But as California reaches that “six months after the end of the federal emergency” mark, it means that starting Nov. 12, insurers can require their members to obtain certain COVID care and treatment “in-network.” And, confirms DMHC, “after November 11, if [patients] access the services from an out-of-network provider, they may be charged cost-sharing, such as a co-pay or co-insurance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>DMHC stresses that “if health plan members access these services from a provider in their health plan’s network, they will not need to pay anything for these services.” Going out of network after Nov. 12 could look like getting a telehealth visit with a provider who’s not in your health plan’s network or using an out-of-network pharmacy for the Paxlovid prescription, if your plan requires you to only use certain pharmacies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s hard to give blanket advice because it really depends plan by plan,” said Health Access’ Wright, but “in general,” he stresses that people should now seek their COVID treatment, or their COVID vaccine, “in the way that they have normally got other health care through their plan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As long as you are getting the care in the way that you have typically got other care, including other prescriptions … then you should be OK,” Wright said. “You can double-check with your plan if you’re worried about it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you believe you’ve been wrongly charged for the cost of Paxlovid — or a COVID test or vaccine, for that matter? DMHC said that if you get a bill you don’t believe you should be paying for, such as a “qualifying” treatment, you “should first contact [your] health plan to file a grievance, sometimes called an appeal, and include a copy of the bill.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you “do not agree” with your health plan’s response to your grievance, or “if the plan takes more than 30 days to fix the problem,” \u003ca href=\"http://www.HealthHelp.ca.gov\">DMHC advises contacting their \u003c/a>Help Center online or calling them at 1-888-466-2219.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your health plan should also not claim you \u003cem>have\u003c/em> to go out-of-network to get COVID care, Wright said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If your plan is not providing you access to any of these therapeutics or tests or treatments, then they’re violating the consumer protections of what you’re entitled to as a plan member,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Yes, it will need to be in network, but [plans] are required to provide that in-network care in a timely fashion,” he emphasized. “And if they don’t, that you have a right to complain [to DMHC] and get that care.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You don’t have to go out-of-network and deal with a big bill,” he added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: If you have health insurance, be certain you’re going in-network to request and pick up Paxlovid after Nov. 12.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"nohealthinsurance\">\u003c/a>If you don’t have insurance, Paxlovid will still be free\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance and have wanted Paxlovid for the last few years, the California Department of Health (CDPH) advises using \u003ca href=\"https://sesamecare.com/covidca\">Sesame Care, California’s COVID telehealth service\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This program is intended “to support uninsured and underinsured individuals within the State of California who cannot connect with a healthcare provider within 24 hours of receiving a positive test result,” CDPH said. Uninsured folks should visit \u003ca href=\"https://sesamecare.com/covid\">sesamecare.com/covid\u003c/a> to make a free phone or video appointment through Sesame Care or call (833) 686-5051 (6 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT, seven days a week). When you speak to a provider through Sesame Care, they’ll prescribe you Paxlovid if you’re eligible, and it will either be mailed to you or made available at a nearby pharmacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This Sesame Care consultation and the Paxlovid prescription should be free. Sesame Care’s site said that if you are asked to pay for any of these services, you should call Sesame Care at (888) 897-1244 so they “can follow up with the pharmacy.” CDPH confirms that this service “will continue to provide free appointments through February 2024.” (Be careful only to use Sesame Care’s free COVID care webpage at \u003ca href=\"https://sesamecare.com/covid\">sesamecare.com/covid\u003c/a> and not click away to other parts of Sesame Care’s website. Sesame warns that if you enter Sesame Care’s regular website, you’ll be charged for its services.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the long term, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-shifting-covid-antivirals-commercial-market-nov-1-2023-10-27/\">the costs of Paxlovid for uninsured and underinsured will be covered\u003c/a> through a separate federal program through 2028.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you \u003cem>have\u003c/em> health insurance, you can also use Sesame Care for a free telehealth appointment if you haven’t been able to connect with your regular health care provider within 24 hours of receiving a positive test result, according to CDPH. But bear in mind that CDPH also said that “the cost of the medication may vary on the patient’s insurance status after commercialization of Paxlovid/Lagevrio begins in November.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, the federal stockpiles of these drugs will still be around for a while, and CDPH confirms that “federally purchased COVID-19 medications that are still in supply will remain free to all patients regardless of insurance status.” But “once the federal supply runs out, the price of commercial product will depend on the individual’s insurance,” the agency said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, be very clear about that detail with the telehealth provider you speak to through Sesame Care, and ask if it’s possible to know whether any Paxlovid prescription you get is coming from that free federal stockpile and whether you should anticipate any cost-sharing from your insurance for getting the prescription through Sesame Care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: Don’t panic about the new commercial sticker price of Paxlovid if you don’t have health insurance — there are still ways to get it for free. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The official eligibility criteria for a Paxlovid prescription hasn’t changed (yet)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Back in December 2021, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-first-oral-antiviral-treatment-covid-19\">Paxlovid was the first oral antiviral treatment for COVID authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)\u003c/a>. Due to limited supply, Paxlovid was initially only used to treat the patients deemed most at risk from severe illness from COVID — but later in 2022, it was expanded to more pharmacies across the United States as part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/04/26/1094735822/biden-will-make-paxlovid-a-highly-effective-covid-drug-available-to-more-pharmac\">a nationwide push to get Paxlovid to more COVID patients \u003c/a>who could benefit from it due to existing health factors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/CAHAN/Reminder-to-Prescribe-COVID-19-Therapeutics-to-Mitigate-Impact-of-Winter-Respiratory-Surge.aspx\">California even sent out an advisory to health care providers in December 2022, reminding them of “ample supply\u003c/a>” and urging them only to refuse to prescribe Paxlovid in “situations in which the risk of prescribing clearly outweighs the benefits of treatment in preventing hospitalization, death, and the potential for reduced risk of long COVID.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/antivirals-including-antibody-products/ritonavir-boosted-nirmatrelvir--paxlovid-/\">The state’s most up-to-date guidance for Paxlovid prescriptions\u003c/a> comes from the National Institute of Health (NIH), which notes that the drug is recommended for people with “mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of disease progression.” As for what constitutes that “high risk,” NIH follows \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html\">the CDC’s list of medical conditions that might potentially put a person at higher risk\u003c/a> of severe disease, hospitalization or death from COVID, which includes immunocompromise, disabilities, mental health conditions including depression, body mass, physical inactivity and being a current or former smoker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So will Paxlovid’s move to the commercial market (and differences in how you access a prescription in-network) change who’s eligible to be prescribed the antiviral? When KQED asked CDPH, the agency said they would continue “to review and update guidance” and pointed to \u003ca href=\"https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/antivirals-including-antibody-products/ritonavir-boosted-nirmatrelvir--paxlovid-/\">the NIH’s Paxlovid guidance\u003c/a> as “the most up-to-date.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Health Access’s Wright said that as the price of Paxlovid goes up, insurers might as well “be more watchful about those guidelines,” but that “it shouldn’t have an impact on people’s out-of-pocket [expenses], even if it does provide a cost that we all will bear with the premiums.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The takeaway: If you test positive for COVID, it’s still worth asking your provider whether you’re a good candidate for Paxlovid — even if you don’t consider yourself “high risk.” \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Face Masks Are Returning to Hospitals. What's Your Bay Area County Doing?",
"headTitle": "Face Masks Are Returning to Hospitals. What’s Your Bay Area County Doing? | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>As winter approaches, there’s a higher chance of v\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/news/health-officer-directs-health-care-personnel-wear-masks-during-respiratory-virus-season\">iruses like COVID, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the flu going through our communities\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The arrival of what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/forecast-outbreak-analytics/about/season-outlook.html\">respiratory disease season\u003c/a> has prompted almost all of the nine Bay Area counties to issue types of face mask requirements for their staff in health care facilities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Alameda County, for example, a masking order started Wednesday and will last through April 30, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#facemasks\">Is your Bay Area country requiring masks for health care patients as well as staff?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“The fall and winter of 2022-23 saw substantial waves of RSV, flu and COVID-19, and a similar pattern is expected this year,” an Alameda County health department spokesperson told KQED in an email.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://covid-19.acgov.org/face-masks.page#:~:text=Masking%20Requirements&text=Beginning%20November%201%2C%202023%2C%20Staff,mask%20in%20patient%20care%20areas.\">Alameda County will now require staff and other workers to wear “high-quality, well-fitting masks in patient care areas”\u003c/a> of specific health care settings, including hospitals, nursing facilities and dialysis centers, regardless of their COVID vaccination status. The county spokesperson says this will help “combat the spread of these viruses to vulnerable patients and residents and minimize the associated risk of severe illness and death.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Only Solano County stops short of a mask mandate for these staff, instead only “recommending” the usage of masks during the winter virus season.[aside postID='news_11960630,news_11957790,news_11940562' label='More COVID Guides']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, of the nine Bay Area counties, only two — Santa Clara and Marin — require visitors, patients, and workers to also wear masks in these settings, as confirmed by the county’s public health department spokesperson. In Marin County, all individuals in patient care areas are asked to mask — except those under six years old or with a medical excuse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of the counties — like San Francisco, Alameda and San Mateo — are only enforcing the mask rule on staff or patient-facing workers, although some do recommend all entering health care facilities wear masks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s Health Officer also recommends continuing “appropriate protections based on their situation,” such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">getting the new COVID vaccine\u003c/a>, wearing a well-fitted mask in appropriate settings, staying at home if you are feeling ill, and staying aware of medications like Paxlovid that help with the severity of the COVID infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scroll down to find out your county’s current masking rules, according to their county spokesperson.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Masks have been found to be effective at reducing the transmission of COVID “when worn consistently and correctly,” says the CDC, and any mask is better than no mask” in protecting your individual health — especially ahead of the holiday season when many people gather and travel.“ Wearing a mask also reduces the likelihood of community spread and helps protect those at higher risk for severe illness or death from COVID, like older or immunocompromised people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it feels like everyone you know got COVID again in the last few months, you are not alone. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">Read KQED’s guide to the latest COVID variant’s symptoms and what incubation periods now look like for the virus.\u003c/a> And remember, COVID is not the only illness in the mix — the flu is circulating along with RSV. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">Read KQED’s guide to getting your flu and RSV shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11966144\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11966144\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A health care worker wearing blue scrubs and a white face mask holds a vial of COVID vaccine.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Registered nurse Devin Perez prepares a dose of the Moderna vaccine. \u003ccite>(Jessica Christian/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"facemasks\">\u003c/a>What are your Bay Area county’s masking rules for health care settings?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> Staff and health care personnel; does not require patients or visitors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 through April 30, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> Staff and other workers in specified Health Care Facilities. Patients and visitors are recommended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 through April 30, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> Patients, visitors and staff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 through next March\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> Staff in the patient care areas of in-patient facilities such as hospitals must wear masks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 through April 30, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> “Mask requirement will apply to all individuals within the facility while they are in patient care areas,” a Marin County spokesperson told KQED. “Children under age 6 and those with a valid medical reason are exempt.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 through March 31, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> All patient-facing county staff are required to mask. Patients are recommended to mask, but it’s not required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Effective Nov. 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/DocumentCenter/View/30036/Order-for-Mandatory-Masking-of-Healthcare-Workers-10123?bidId=\">Only staff must mask in Napa\u003c/a>, but visitors are recommended for at-risk patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 to April 30, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/disease-control/covid-19/orders-from-the-health-officer/order-of-the-health-officer-of-the-county-of-sonoma-no-rvp23-01\">Only health care workers in Sonoma patient settings\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 to April 30, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=41877\">Solano has only “recommended” masking for health care staffers\u003c/a> and suggests that those who manage health care settings “utilize the guidance that is appropriate for your facility.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 to April 30, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Respiratory disease season is here, and almost all Bay Area counties have issued types of mask requirements for health care facilities. Check what your county is mandating in our list.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As winter approaches, there’s a higher chance of v\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/news/health-officer-directs-health-care-personnel-wear-masks-during-respiratory-virus-season\">iruses like COVID, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the flu going through our communities\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The arrival of what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/forecast-outbreak-analytics/about/season-outlook.html\">respiratory disease season\u003c/a> has prompted almost all of the nine Bay Area counties to issue types of face mask requirements for their staff in health care facilities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Alameda County, for example, a masking order started Wednesday and will last through April 30, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#facemasks\">Is your Bay Area country requiring masks for health care patients as well as staff?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“The fall and winter of 2022-23 saw substantial waves of RSV, flu and COVID-19, and a similar pattern is expected this year,” an Alameda County health department spokesperson told KQED in an email.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://covid-19.acgov.org/face-masks.page#:~:text=Masking%20Requirements&text=Beginning%20November%201%2C%202023%2C%20Staff,mask%20in%20patient%20care%20areas.\">Alameda County will now require staff and other workers to wear “high-quality, well-fitting masks in patient care areas”\u003c/a> of specific health care settings, including hospitals, nursing facilities and dialysis centers, regardless of their COVID vaccination status. The county spokesperson says this will help “combat the spread of these viruses to vulnerable patients and residents and minimize the associated risk of severe illness and death.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Only Solano County stops short of a mask mandate for these staff, instead only “recommending” the usage of masks during the winter virus season.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, of the nine Bay Area counties, only two — Santa Clara and Marin — require visitors, patients, and workers to also wear masks in these settings, as confirmed by the county’s public health department spokesperson. In Marin County, all individuals in patient care areas are asked to mask — except those under six years old or with a medical excuse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of the counties — like San Francisco, Alameda and San Mateo — are only enforcing the mask rule on staff or patient-facing workers, although some do recommend all entering health care facilities wear masks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s Health Officer also recommends continuing “appropriate protections based on their situation,” such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">getting the new COVID vaccine\u003c/a>, wearing a well-fitted mask in appropriate settings, staying at home if you are feeling ill, and staying aware of medications like Paxlovid that help with the severity of the COVID infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scroll down to find out your county’s current masking rules, according to their county spokesperson.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Masks have been found to be effective at reducing the transmission of COVID “when worn consistently and correctly,” says the CDC, and any mask is better than no mask” in protecting your individual health — especially ahead of the holiday season when many people gather and travel.“ Wearing a mask also reduces the likelihood of community spread and helps protect those at higher risk for severe illness or death from COVID, like older or immunocompromised people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it feels like everyone you know got COVID again in the last few months, you are not alone. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">Read KQED’s guide to the latest COVID variant’s symptoms and what incubation periods now look like for the virus.\u003c/a> And remember, COVID is not the only illness in the mix — the flu is circulating along with RSV. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">Read KQED’s guide to getting your flu and RSV shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11966144\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11966144\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A health care worker wearing blue scrubs and a white face mask holds a vial of COVID vaccine.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1297701066-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Registered nurse Devin Perez prepares a dose of the Moderna vaccine. \u003ccite>(Jessica Christian/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"facemasks\">\u003c/a>What are your Bay Area county’s masking rules for health care settings?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> Staff and health care personnel; does not require patients or visitors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 through April 30, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> Staff and other workers in specified Health Care Facilities. Patients and visitors are recommended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 through April 30, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> Patients, visitors and staff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 through next March\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> Staff in the patient care areas of in-patient facilities such as hospitals must wear masks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 through April 30, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> “Mask requirement will apply to all individuals within the facility while they are in patient care areas,” a Marin County spokesperson told KQED. “Children under age 6 and those with a valid medical reason are exempt.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 through March 31, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> All patient-facing county staff are required to mask. Patients are recommended to mask, but it’s not required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Effective Nov. 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/DocumentCenter/View/30036/Order-for-Mandatory-Masking-of-Healthcare-Workers-10123?bidId=\">Only staff must mask in Napa\u003c/a>, but visitors are recommended for at-risk patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 to April 30, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/disease-control/covid-19/orders-from-the-health-officer/order-of-the-health-officer-of-the-county-of-sonoma-no-rvp23-01\">Only health care workers in Sonoma patient settings\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 to April 30, 2024\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Who has to wear a mask in these settings?\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=41877\">Solano has only “recommended” masking for health care staffers\u003c/a> and suggests that those who manage health care settings “utilize the guidance that is appropriate for your facility.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When is this in effect?\u003c/em> Nov. 1 to April 30, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>We’re over three years into the COVID pandemic. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">as we’ve seen this summer, with the new Eris variant\u003c/a>, COVID continues to infect folks of all ages and still results in severe disease and hospitalization for some.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But please don’t forget: The flu remains a potentially serious threat to your health too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#whenflushot\">When should I get my flu shot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#boosterflushot\">Can I get my new COVID vaccine and my flu shot at the same time? What about the RSV vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#flushotnearme\">Where can I get a flu shot, with or without insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why is the flu so serious?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Back in \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2020-2021.htm\">2020, the U.S. saw a record-low number of flu cases\u003c/a> — most likely due to widespread mask-wearing, increased hygiene, social distancing and remote work and school. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that flu activity has overall “been lower\u003c/a> than observed before the pandemic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nonetheless, the CDC estimates that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\"> last year’s flu season resulted in 19,000–58,000 deaths from flu\u003c/a> and 300,000–650,000 flu hospitalizations. The agency says that the 2022–2023 flu season caused up to 54 million illnesses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the organization says that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-2022estimates.htm\">in the 2021–2022 flu season, just under half of adults got a flu shot\u003c/a> — a slight decrease from the previous season.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why should I get a flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Getting a flu vaccine can prevent you from getting sick with the flu, which is a draining, unpleasant experience even if your symptoms are not severe. And if you \u003cem>do\u003c/em> get the flu, having a flu shot can also stop you from getting sick enough to have to visit the hospital (and be exposed to all the COVID risks hospital settings can still bring).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC says the flu vaccine also offers other potential health impacts, such as being associated with \u003ca class=\"tp-link-policy\" href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24150467/\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">lower rates of certain cardiac events\u003c/a> for people who have heart disease. It’s also the best, safest way not only to protect \u003cem>yourself\u003c/em> against the influenza virus, but also to minimize the chance you will spread it to others — folks who could be at far higher risk for serious complications or even death if they were to become infected. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what the flu shot can do for you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to find out whether you should be getting your flu shot right now, and where to find free or low-cost flu shot options near you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"whenflushot\">\u003c/a>Should I get a flu shot now, or wait?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This 2023–2024 season, as with previous seasons, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2022-2023/flu-vaccination-recommendations-adopted.htm\">the CDC says that September and October are “the best times for most people to get vaccinated.”\u003c/a> These recommendations are based on traditional predictions of flu season starting in November and peaking around January or February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11838737\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1900px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11838737\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">It takes 2 weeks after your flu shot for your body to develop the antibodies it needs to protect you from the flu virus. \u003ccite>(Queen's University/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF says that yes, there’s evidence that \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28039340/\">your risk of getting the flu increases every month after your flu shot, due to the antibodies waning over time\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when medical professionals talk about strategically “waiting” to get a flu shot, they’re aiming that advice at those who are at particularly high risk for more serious complications related to the flu. That includes:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>People over 65.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Folks with chronic medical conditions.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pregnant people (or those who are planning to become pregnant).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Kids under 5.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Delaying inoculations for these populations is based on the idea of getting the shot at a time Chin-Hong calls “the sweet spot,” around mid-to-late October. Two weeks later, right around early November, the antibodies should have developed, just as flu season is (usually) getting serious. Think of it as getting the “biggest bang for your buck,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re in one of those vulnerable categories, yes, you can think about waiting, says Chin-Hong. People over 65 might also consider requesting special flu vaccines for this age group — read more about this below. As with all health matters, if you’re looking for advice, it’s best to consult your health care provider or someone you see regularly for your medical needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And what if you’re under 65, not pregnant and don’t have other risk factors for severe flu? If you can truly trust yourself to plan ahead and not forget to make the appointment, getting it by Halloween (i.e., before October is up) is best, Chin-Hong said. But remember: Not only are you human, and it might slip your mind, but predictions about how the flu season might behave are just that — predictions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flu cases might start to rise earlier than anticipated, throwing previous notions of a “best time” to get the vaccine into disarray. So, take that “October rule” with “a grain of salt,” Chin-Hong advised, and “get [your flu shot] when you get it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you plan to get your flu shot in October with the best of intentions, but you still forget? If Nov. 1 comes and goes, and you realize you haven’t been vaccinated, all is not lost — since the CDC says that “vaccination after October can still provide protection during the peak of flu season,” which is usually February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, just go get the shot already — whenever that may be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11838740\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"boosterflushot\">\u003c/a>Can I get my new COVID vaccine and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023#shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">It’s totally fine, and safe, to get your flu shot at the same time\u003c/a> as your new COVID vaccine, and you’ll find that COVID vaccine appointments will often prompt you to “add on” a flu shot at the same session — especially at pharmacies. Although, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment too).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if that optimal time to get your flu shot is “sometime before Halloween” according to Chin-Hong — as long as flu season behaves as expected and doesn’t start in earnest before November — should you get your new COVID shot \u003cem>first\u003c/em>, and follow up with a flu shot later?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can trust yourself to remember to seek out your flu shot by the end of October (or schedule an appointment for October in advance), yes: You might consider getting your new COVID vaccine earlier, separately from your flu shot. And if not — or if life is getting hectic, and a two-for-one vaccination appointment ensures that you actually \u003ci>will \u003c/i>get your shots rather than forgetting — just go ahead and get your COVID and flu shots at the same time, when you can.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also the fact that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">you might \u003cem>have\u003c/em> to wait a little longer for your COVID shot anyway\u003c/a>. Public health officials are urging people to first seek out the new vaccine via their health care provider, but supplies haven’t yet reached many providers. Kaiser Permanente, for example, is telling patients that \u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine\">shots of the new COVID vaccine won’t become available through Kaiser until early October\u003c/a>. All this to say: You might not have a choice about waiting to get your new COVID shot — by which time, you might be approaching that optimal October flu shot time anyway, and can choose a double vaccination appointment at that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong reiterated that “if you really wanted to optimize” the timing of your flu shot, yes, “sometime in October \u003cem>is\u003c/em> probably the best.” But ultimately, he says that just \u003cem>getting\u003c/em> the shots is better than not getting them at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">Read more about where to find the new COVID vaccine near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about the RSV vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC says that the respiratory syncytial virus — RSV — is “a common cause of respiratory illness in infants and young children, as well as older adults.” The disease results in up to 160,000 hospitalizations and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/hcp/older-adults-faqs.html\">up to 10,000 deaths annually among adults ages 65 years and older\u003c/a>, says the agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/index.html\">The vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus — RSV — is accordingly recommended by the CDC\u003c/a> for infants, young children and adults ages 60 and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">experts NPR talked to for their fall booster guide\u003c/a> recommended getting the RSV vaccine separately from the COVID and flu vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think the recommendation would be if you’re going in, get your flu and COVID shot. If you’re eligible for RSV, maybe space that out by a week or two,” Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/peter-hotez-23229\">Peter Hotez\u003c/a>, who leads the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told NPR.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID, flu and RSV vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"highrisk\">\u003c/a>If I have risk factors for severe flu, what kind of flu shot should I get?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re age 65 or older, there are now three types of flu vaccines it’s recommended you get — because they’ll be even more effective for you than a regular flu shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said folks in this age group should seek out these three types of vaccines because you’ll be getting “essentially a high-dose shot” or a vaccine that contains an “adjuvant” — which, in simple terms, “makes the flu shot more powerful in terms of waking up the immune system,” he said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the three kinds of flu shots available to people ages 65 and older.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pregnant people can get a regular flu shot, although some types of flu vaccines are off-limits to pregnant people. The CDC says that getting vaccinated when you’re pregnant will not only help protect you from the flu, but also — if your baby is born during the immunity period — protect your infant in the first few months of their life when they’re too young to get vaccinated themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This benefit to the baby is also the reason that pregnant people are one of the few groups who might want to consider getting a flu shot \u003cem>early\u003c/em>, instead of waiting — to ensure their baby isn’t left completely unprotected for those first six months after birth when they can’t get a vaccine. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the benefits of getting a flu shot if you’re pregnant.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children ages 6 months and older can get a regular dose of the flu shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/children-high-risk.htm\">Flu can be particularly dangerous for kids\u003c/a>, and the CDC says that a 2022 study showed that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of severe, life-threatening influenza by 75%.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"flushotnearme\">\u003c/a>Where can I get a flu shot if I have insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is available without extra cost as a preventive service from your usual health care provider, or at most pharmacies (see below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a good idea to wear a mask, maintain social distancing wherever possible while waiting for your shot, and dress in a top with sleeves you can easily pull up to your shoulder, to make receiving the injection even easier (and quicker).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Common places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/\">CDC’s Find Flu Vaccines tool.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California)\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler\">Rite Aid flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/immunizations.html\">Albertsons (Safeway) flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get a flu shot if I \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you want a flu shot but don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to free up these particular resources for those who are not covered.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county’s public health department may also be offering flu shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/\">San Francisco Department of Public Health’s AITC clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinic\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you’re unable to pay).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[ad fullwidth]\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>And a reminder … the flu vaccine can’t give you the flu\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The virus that the flu shot contains has been inactivated or severely weakened, so \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/misconceptions.htm#:~:text=Can%20a%20flu%20vaccine%20give,protein%20from%20the%20flu%20virus.\">you just aren’t physically able to get the flu from your flu shot\u003c/a>, confirms the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm#side-effects\">The flu vaccine can cause side effects\u003c/a> like any medical product, but they’re “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm\">generally mild and go away on their own within a few days\u003c/a>,” the agency says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Common flu shot side effects can include soreness or swelling at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea and muscle aches. (But not the flu.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s Alexander Gonzalez.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>We’re over three years into the COVID pandemic. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">as we’ve seen this summer, with the new Eris variant\u003c/a>, COVID continues to infect folks of all ages and still results in severe disease and hospitalization for some.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But please don’t forget: The flu remains a potentially serious threat to your health too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#whenflushot\">When should I get my flu shot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#boosterflushot\">Can I get my new COVID vaccine and my flu shot at the same time? What about the RSV vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#flushotnearme\">Where can I get a flu shot, with or without insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why is the flu so serious?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Back in \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2020-2021.htm\">2020, the U.S. saw a record-low number of flu cases\u003c/a> — most likely due to widespread mask-wearing, increased hygiene, social distancing and remote work and school. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that flu activity has overall “been lower\u003c/a> than observed before the pandemic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nonetheless, the CDC estimates that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\"> last year’s flu season resulted in 19,000–58,000 deaths from flu\u003c/a> and 300,000–650,000 flu hospitalizations. The agency says that the 2022–2023 flu season caused up to 54 million illnesses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the organization says that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-2022estimates.htm\">in the 2021–2022 flu season, just under half of adults got a flu shot\u003c/a> — a slight decrease from the previous season.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why should I get a flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Getting a flu vaccine can prevent you from getting sick with the flu, which is a draining, unpleasant experience even if your symptoms are not severe. And if you \u003cem>do\u003c/em> get the flu, having a flu shot can also stop you from getting sick enough to have to visit the hospital (and be exposed to all the COVID risks hospital settings can still bring).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC says the flu vaccine also offers other potential health impacts, such as being associated with \u003ca class=\"tp-link-policy\" href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24150467/\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">lower rates of certain cardiac events\u003c/a> for people who have heart disease. It’s also the best, safest way not only to protect \u003cem>yourself\u003c/em> against the influenza virus, but also to minimize the chance you will spread it to others — folks who could be at far higher risk for serious complications or even death if they were to become infected. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what the flu shot can do for you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to find out whether you should be getting your flu shot right now, and where to find free or low-cost flu shot options near you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"whenflushot\">\u003c/a>Should I get a flu shot now, or wait?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This 2023–2024 season, as with previous seasons, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2022-2023/flu-vaccination-recommendations-adopted.htm\">the CDC says that September and October are “the best times for most people to get vaccinated.”\u003c/a> These recommendations are based on traditional predictions of flu season starting in November and peaking around January or February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11838737\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1900px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11838737\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">It takes 2 weeks after your flu shot for your body to develop the antibodies it needs to protect you from the flu virus. \u003ccite>(Queen's University/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF says that yes, there’s evidence that \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28039340/\">your risk of getting the flu increases every month after your flu shot, due to the antibodies waning over time\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when medical professionals talk about strategically “waiting” to get a flu shot, they’re aiming that advice at those who are at particularly high risk for more serious complications related to the flu. That includes:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>People over 65.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Folks with chronic medical conditions.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pregnant people (or those who are planning to become pregnant).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Kids under 5.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Delaying inoculations for these populations is based on the idea of getting the shot at a time Chin-Hong calls “the sweet spot,” around mid-to-late October. Two weeks later, right around early November, the antibodies should have developed, just as flu season is (usually) getting serious. Think of it as getting the “biggest bang for your buck,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re in one of those vulnerable categories, yes, you can think about waiting, says Chin-Hong. People over 65 might also consider requesting special flu vaccines for this age group — read more about this below. As with all health matters, if you’re looking for advice, it’s best to consult your health care provider or someone you see regularly for your medical needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And what if you’re under 65, not pregnant and don’t have other risk factors for severe flu? If you can truly trust yourself to plan ahead and not forget to make the appointment, getting it by Halloween (i.e., before October is up) is best, Chin-Hong said. But remember: Not only are you human, and it might slip your mind, but predictions about how the flu season might behave are just that — predictions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flu cases might start to rise earlier than anticipated, throwing previous notions of a “best time” to get the vaccine into disarray. So, take that “October rule” with “a grain of salt,” Chin-Hong advised, and “get [your flu shot] when you get it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you plan to get your flu shot in October with the best of intentions, but you still forget? If Nov. 1 comes and goes, and you realize you haven’t been vaccinated, all is not lost — since the CDC says that “vaccination after October can still provide protection during the peak of flu season,” which is usually February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, just go get the shot already — whenever that may be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11838740\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"boosterflushot\">\u003c/a>Can I get my new COVID vaccine and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023#shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">It’s totally fine, and safe, to get your flu shot at the same time\u003c/a> as your new COVID vaccine, and you’ll find that COVID vaccine appointments will often prompt you to “add on” a flu shot at the same session — especially at pharmacies. Although, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment too).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if that optimal time to get your flu shot is “sometime before Halloween” according to Chin-Hong — as long as flu season behaves as expected and doesn’t start in earnest before November — should you get your new COVID shot \u003cem>first\u003c/em>, and follow up with a flu shot later?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can trust yourself to remember to seek out your flu shot by the end of October (or schedule an appointment for October in advance), yes: You might consider getting your new COVID vaccine earlier, separately from your flu shot. And if not — or if life is getting hectic, and a two-for-one vaccination appointment ensures that you actually \u003ci>will \u003c/i>get your shots rather than forgetting — just go ahead and get your COVID and flu shots at the same time, when you can.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also the fact that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">you might \u003cem>have\u003c/em> to wait a little longer for your COVID shot anyway\u003c/a>. Public health officials are urging people to first seek out the new vaccine via their health care provider, but supplies haven’t yet reached many providers. Kaiser Permanente, for example, is telling patients that \u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine\">shots of the new COVID vaccine won’t become available through Kaiser until early October\u003c/a>. All this to say: You might not have a choice about waiting to get your new COVID shot — by which time, you might be approaching that optimal October flu shot time anyway, and can choose a double vaccination appointment at that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong reiterated that “if you really wanted to optimize” the timing of your flu shot, yes, “sometime in October \u003cem>is\u003c/em> probably the best.” But ultimately, he says that just \u003cem>getting\u003c/em> the shots is better than not getting them at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">Read more about where to find the new COVID vaccine near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about the RSV vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC says that the respiratory syncytial virus — RSV — is “a common cause of respiratory illness in infants and young children, as well as older adults.” The disease results in up to 160,000 hospitalizations and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/hcp/older-adults-faqs.html\">up to 10,000 deaths annually among adults ages 65 years and older\u003c/a>, says the agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/index.html\">The vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus — RSV — is accordingly recommended by the CDC\u003c/a> for infants, young children and adults ages 60 and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">experts NPR talked to for their fall booster guide\u003c/a> recommended getting the RSV vaccine separately from the COVID and flu vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think the recommendation would be if you’re going in, get your flu and COVID shot. If you’re eligible for RSV, maybe space that out by a week or two,” Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/peter-hotez-23229\">Peter Hotez\u003c/a>, who leads the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told NPR.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID, flu and RSV vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"highrisk\">\u003c/a>If I have risk factors for severe flu, what kind of flu shot should I get?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re age 65 or older, there are now three types of flu vaccines it’s recommended you get — because they’ll be even more effective for you than a regular flu shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said folks in this age group should seek out these three types of vaccines because you’ll be getting “essentially a high-dose shot” or a vaccine that contains an “adjuvant” — which, in simple terms, “makes the flu shot more powerful in terms of waking up the immune system,” he said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the three kinds of flu shots available to people ages 65 and older.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pregnant people can get a regular flu shot, although some types of flu vaccines are off-limits to pregnant people. The CDC says that getting vaccinated when you’re pregnant will not only help protect you from the flu, but also — if your baby is born during the immunity period — protect your infant in the first few months of their life when they’re too young to get vaccinated themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This benefit to the baby is also the reason that pregnant people are one of the few groups who might want to consider getting a flu shot \u003cem>early\u003c/em>, instead of waiting — to ensure their baby isn’t left completely unprotected for those first six months after birth when they can’t get a vaccine. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the benefits of getting a flu shot if you’re pregnant.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children ages 6 months and older can get a regular dose of the flu shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/children-high-risk.htm\">Flu can be particularly dangerous for kids\u003c/a>, and the CDC says that a 2022 study showed that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of severe, life-threatening influenza by 75%.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"flushotnearme\">\u003c/a>Where can I get a flu shot if I have insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is available without extra cost as a preventive service from your usual health care provider, or at most pharmacies (see below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a good idea to wear a mask, maintain social distancing wherever possible while waiting for your shot, and dress in a top with sleeves you can easily pull up to your shoulder, to make receiving the injection even easier (and quicker).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Common places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/\">CDC’s Find Flu Vaccines tool.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California)\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler\">Rite Aid flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/immunizations.html\">Albertsons (Safeway) flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get a flu shot if I \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you want a flu shot but don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to free up these particular resources for those who are not covered.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county’s public health department may also be offering flu shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/\">San Francisco Department of Public Health’s AITC clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinic\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you’re unable to pay).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>And a reminder … the flu vaccine can’t give you the flu\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The virus that the flu shot contains has been inactivated or severely weakened, so \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/misconceptions.htm#:~:text=Can%20a%20flu%20vaccine%20give,protein%20from%20the%20flu%20virus.\">you just aren’t physically able to get the flu from your flu shot\u003c/a>, confirms the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm#side-effects\">The flu vaccine can cause side effects\u003c/a> like any medical product, but they’re “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm\">generally mild and go away on their own within a few days\u003c/a>,” the agency says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Common flu shot side effects can include soreness or swelling at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea and muscle aches. (But not the flu.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s Alexander Gonzalez.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 4:40 p.m. Wednesday\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Have you been wondering \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960155/new-covid-booster-to-protect-against-worrisome-variant-lab-data-suggests\">“When will the new COVID vaccine be available?” \u003c/a>The short answer is: It’s here, but it’s still taking a while for these shots to become widely accessible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back on September 12, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0912-COVID-19-Vaccine.html\">updated COVID vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer (also known as Comirnaty) were formally authorized\u003c/a>, and are now starting to roll out across the United States, amid \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">a rise in COVID cases locally and nationally. \u003c/a>This was after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) signed off on making these updated shots available to everyone age 6 months and older through health care providers and county public health departments, as well as at health centers and pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Safeway. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-updated-novavax-covid-19-vaccine-formulated-better-protect-against-currently\">new Novavax COVID booster has now also been authorized\u003c/a> for people age 12 and older, and will be available soon too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I find a new COVID vaccine near me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">Why was I asked to pay for my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">Why can’t I get a new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser health insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Unlike previous rounds of the vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aren’t calling this latest shot a “booster” — so you won’t see that language online around appointments. Instead, they’re referring to it as a “new” or “updated” COVID vaccine for 2023 that’s been updated to better target a more recent strain of the coronavirus than previous vaccines: This time, the omicron variant known as XBB.1.5.[aside postID=news_11954507 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66630_GettyImages-1369841386-qut-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about the new COVID booster shots from Pfizer and Moderna and how to find a free COVID vaccine near you. Or jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I find the new COVID vaccine near me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#shouldigetnewcovidvaccine\">If I don’t have major health risks, should I still get the new COVID vaccine now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">I’ve had COVID recently. Can I still get the new COVID vaccine?\u003cbr>\n\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">Should I get my 2023 flu shot at the same time as my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why has the new COVID vaccine rollout seemed so different this time? Do I have to pay for it now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering why the new COVID vaccine seems to be taking so long to become widely available, or why \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/covid-vaccine-price-18375815.php\">you’re hearing reports of people being charged over $150 to receive the new vaccine at a pharmacy\u003c/a>, it’s because of one major change for 2023: This is the first time during the COVID pandemic that the federal government \u003cem>isn’t\u003c/em> footing the bill for these vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html\">The shots have now transitioned into the traditional health care market\u003c/a>. So for most people with health insurance, their insurer will now cover the cost of getting the new COVID vaccine direct, much like your plan might cover your flu shot — and this is why many county public health officials are urging people to first seek out the new vaccine via their health care provider. (It’s also why those county-run vaccination sites that were so common at the height of the pandemic will now not exist on the same scale, and will primarily be targeted toward folks without insurance.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">And if you’re one of those people who don’t have insurance, the White House will still cover the costs of your COVID vaccines\u003c/a> through a federal program until December 2024. But this means you may now have a narrower choice of places to get it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line is that your updated vaccine \u003cem>should\u003c/em> still be free, the way COVID vaccines have been throughout the pandemic. But because of delays in the rollout, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/covid-vaccine-price-18375815.php\">some people have reported being asked to pay\u003c/a> at pharmacies for their new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This change in who pays for your COVID vaccine, and how, has already caused issues for folks seeking vaccines, as their public health officials have urged them to. As the \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em> reported, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/covid-vaccine-price-18375815.php\">some Medicare patients have found themselves being charged large sums to receive the vaccine at pharmacies\u003c/a>, when the costs should have been covered. Representatives from the pharmacies and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cms.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services\u003c/a> attributed this to a glitch in the system around billing codes, with a CVS spokesperson telling the \u003cem>Chronicle\u003c/em> that some “payers are still updating their systems and may not yet be set up to cover the updated COVID-19 vaccines.” If this happens to you, CVS says that a pharmacist can help you reschedule your appointment for a later date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may have also experienced making an appointment for your new COVID vaccine and having it canceled due to a lack of supply. If so, you’re not alone. As \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em> has reported, \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/09/covid-vaccine-update-us-appointments\">CVS and Walgreens blamed canceled appointments on supply-chain issues\u003c/a>, but \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/22/well/covid-vaccine-booster-insurance.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Moderna and Pfizer told The Associated Press\u003c/a> that they had sufficient supply and had, in fact, delivered millions of doses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sara Rosenbaum, a health law and policy professor at George Washington University, also told \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em> that \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/09/covid-vaccine-update-us-appointments\">some pharmacies did not initially stock enough of these new vaccines\u003c/a> because they weren’t sure how large the public demand for the shots would be. Corporations “fear that vaccines will sit around on their shelves unused,” Rosenbaum said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"kaisernewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why can’t I get my new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Another reason you might be charged for your new COVID vaccine right now, or denied the shot if you refuse to pay out of pocket: if you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Usually, if you have health insurance, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. Health systems like Kaiser are the exception to this, and so you almost certainly won’t be able to get your new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, “Kaiser Permanente recommends members receive their updated COVID-19 vaccinations at a Kaiser Permanente facility,” a Kaiser spokesperson told KQED, adding that the cost of the new COVID vaccines would be covered “according to the coverage of routine vaccinations provided by members’ plan benefits when administered at a Kaiser Permanente facility.” This has meant that those who have health insurance through Kaiser have faced a longer wait for their new COVID vaccine than folks with other types of insurance, unless they were prepared to pay these large costs up-front. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">CVS, for example, charges $190.99 for the new COVID vaccine\u003c/a> “if CVS is not in network with your insurance plan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But some good news: Kaiser now appears to be rolling out the new COVID vaccine for its members. Having initially stated that the new vaccines would be available at Kaiser facilities in “early October,” \u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/covid-19-vaccine-locations/\">Kaiser’s website now says that the updated shots are “available by walk-in” at “most flu clinics,”\u003c/a> but not by appointment yet. The website also states that Kaiser does not yet have the updated Moderna vaccine, but that the health system expects “to have supply soon.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’ll keep updating this guide with information as we get it.\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/covid-19-vaccine-locations/\"> Find a Kaiser location near you currently offering the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is the Novavax COVID vaccine available as well as Moderna and Pfizer’s new vaccines?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes: After \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/12/1199003441/cdc-advisers-back-broad-rollout-out-of-new-covid-boosters\">a period of FDA review\u003c/a>, the\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-updated-novavax-covid-19-vaccine-formulated-better-protect-against-currently\"> new Novavax COVID booster has now been authorized\u003c/a> for people age 12 and older who have not already been vaccinated with the new Moderna or Pfizer COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike Pfizer and Moderna’s new COVID shots, the Novavax vaccine is a non-mRNA, protein-based vaccine. One reason some people choose the Novavax vaccine is based on aftereffects from getting the shot — as \u003cem>Science\u003c/em> has reported,\u003ca href=\"https://www.science.org/content/article/should-you-pick-novavax-s-covid-19-shot-over-mrna-options\"> Novavax “appeared less likely than mRNA shots to cause side effects like headache and fatigue”\u003c/a> in clinical trials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since the new Novavax COVID vaccine was authorized several weeks after Moderna and Pfizer’s, you should expect it to take a little while for Novavax supply to reach health care providers and vaccination locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How is this new COVID vaccine different from the last one I got?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The last COVID booster shots were offered back in September 2022. This “bivalent vaccine” was so-called because it targeted both the original strain of the coronavirus and the widespread BA.4/BA.5 omicron subvariants, and was also referred to as “the omicron booster.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This new fall COVID vaccine is an updated shot that supersedes and replaces the bivalent booster, which you should now consider outdated. The “recipe” for this new vaccine will address a single, newer target: The XBB.1.5 subvariant of omicron.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\">XBB.1.5 is no longer the dominant strain\u003c/a> of the coronavirus in the United States — so what does that mean for how much this new COVID vaccine is going to protect you from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the newer strains doing the rounds, like EG.5\u003c/a> (unofficially called “Eris” by some online)? Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, says that because EG.5 and other strains like it are all subvariants of the omicron variant, this means that you should think of these most recent COVID variants as “all kind of flavors of XBB.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“COVID hasn’t really changed too much. … since winter to now,” said Chin-Hong. And because recent strains have “just been variations on the theme,” he says, the fact that this updated vaccine is targeted towards XBB.1.5 means it “is going to be pretty decent at targeting these variants” too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What about that other new variant, BA.2.86? Experts were initially worried that this new strain would be better at evading immunity from previous COVID infections and COVID vaccines, but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960155/new-covid-booster-to-protect-against-worrisome-variant-lab-data-suggests\">new data suggests that BA.2.86 probably isn’t, in fact, any better than any of the other strains at evading your immune system.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"eligiblebooster\">\u003c/a>Who can get the new COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As of Sept. 12, anyone age 6 months and up who got their last COVID vaccine shot at least two months ago — whether that was their primary vaccination series or their last booster shot — can get an updated COVID vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna, as soon as \u003ca href=\"#where\">vaccination appointments become available. \u003c/a>It’s important to note that appointments have not become immediately widespread and may not be for a while, depending on your location. \u003ca href=\"#where\">Jump straight to where you can find a new COVID vaccine near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have more tools than ever to prevent the worst outcomes from COVID-19,” said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen when authorizing the shots on Sept. 12, after review and approval by the FDA and the CDC’s advisory panel. The agency was, she said, “now recommending updated COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 6 months and older to better protect you and your loved ones.” Unlike with the bivalent booster, there is no specific guidance for certain age groups, but, as with other vaccines, children under 12 will be offered a pediatric (smaller) dose of this vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"shouldigetnewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>I know the new COVID vaccine is recommended for basically everyone. But do I really need it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s a fair question, and \u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/cdc-faces-dilemma-over-recommending-new-covid-booster-for-all/amp/\">it’s not like there’s even consensus within the medical community\u003c/a> on the question of whether a younger person with no pre-existing health conditions or other risks for severe disease, hospitalization, or death truly needs to rush to get this new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC endorsed vaccines for everyone pointing to data showing COVID still poses risks for people at any age, and how\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2023-02/slides-02-24/COVID-07-Britton-508.pdf\"> vaccination against the coronavirus continues to provide greater protection against illness and hospitalization for all age groups (PDF).\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also a practical element to the CDC’s decision to broadly recommend the vaccine for everyone over 6 months of age — because their recommendation means that \u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/cdc-faces-dilemma-over-recommending-new-covid-booster-for-all/amp/\">now health insurers \u003cem>have\u003c/em> \u003cem>to\u003c/em> cover your 2023 COVID vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those people that health officials are urging to get the new updated COVID shot are, as with previous vaccines and boosters, those age 65 and over, folks with weakened immune systems or certain other \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html\">medical conditions that increase their risk of getting severely sick, hospitalized or dying from COVID\u003c/a>, as well as pregnant people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re not a part of these groups, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">there are still other reasons you might consider getting your updated shot regardless.\u003c/a> These include playing your part in reducing the community spread of COVID, protecting others most vulnerable to severe illness, and reducing the personal inconvenience to you and your family that an infection (and the isolation it requires) can bring to your household and your job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for long COVID, there’s mounting evidence that \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/09/1198342040/long-covid-causes-treatment-research\">getting a vaccine reduces the risk of long COVID\u003c/a> among both adults and children, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2023-09-12/04-COVID-Saydah-508.pdf\">as the CDC’s Sharon Saydah noted in Sept. 12’s meeting (PDF)\u003c/a> to discuss the recommendations for the new shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If somebody’s timing their vaccine around the holidays, or a big trip? In addition to the chronic symptoms, that might be a justification for some young folks,” said UCSF’s Chin-Hong. “Risk is very personal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, if you’re unsure whether you should get the updated COVID vaccine, or when you should get it, as with all matters relating to your health it’s best to speak directly to your health care provider about the best options available to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s the cost of the vaccine, whether I have insurance or not?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This is the first time during the COVID pandemic that the federal government \u003cem>isn’t\u003c/em> footing the bill for these vaccines. Now that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11948759/how-to-access-covid-care-in-california-as-u-s-public-health-emergency-ends\">the White House’s public health emergency for COVID has ended\u003c/a>, these COVID vaccines are no longer purchased or distributed by the federal government. Now, \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html\">COVID shots are transitioning to the traditional health care market\u003c/a> and will be increasingly considered the way that other preventative vaccines, like flu shots, are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For most people with health insurance, their insurer will cover the cost of getting the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11961117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11961117 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A nurse gives a little boy a shot while his mother gives him encouragement.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">COVID shots are transitioning to the traditional health care market and will be increasingly considered the way that other preventative vaccines, like flu shots, are. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">But if you \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have insurance, the White House will still cover your COVID vaccines\u003c/a> through \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">a federal program called the Bridge Access Program\u003c/a>, which lasts through December 2024. This means you’ll now have a narrower choice of places to get your COVID vaccine because you’ll have to make sure the vaccination location you’ve chosen participates in the Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC says people without insurance will be able to \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">visit the federal government’s vaccines.gov site\u003c/a> to find a location where they can get the new COVID vaccine for free. When searching for a vaccination location near you using this site, be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uninsured children ages 18 and under can still get free COVID vaccines — and other free immunizations — as part of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html\">Vaccines for Children Program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">\u003c/a>I got COVID recently. Do I have to wait before getting my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, the CDC advises that you “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/COVID-19-immunization-schedule-ages-6months-older.pdf\">may consider delaying vaccination by 3 months from symptom onset.”(PDF)\u003c/a> And if your case was asymptomatic, use the date of your positive test instead of the onset of your symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means, that if you had a COVID infection \u003cem>after\u003c/em> mid-June 2023, you may wish to delay getting your new COVID vaccine until you hit your three-month mark. But as with all matters relating to your health, it’s best to speak directly to your health care provider about the best option for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Should I get my 2023 flu shot at the same time as my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s totally fine, and safe, to get your flu shot at the same time as your new COVID vaccine, and you’ll often find that COVID vaccine appointments will prompt you to “add on” a flu shot at the same session — especially at pharmacies. Although, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment too).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, the recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that, like with your COVID vaccine, it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This 2023–2024 season, the CDC says that “ideally” September and October are good months to get your flu shot. UCSF’s Chin-Hong says that his “optimal sweet point” for getting this shot is “sometime before Halloween” — but notes that this is based on traditional predictions of flu season starting in November and peaking around January or February. If flu cases start to rise earlier, you should seek out your flu shot sooner, he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All this means that if you can trust yourself to remember to seek out your flu shot by the end of October (or schedule an appointment for October in advance), you might consider getting your new COVID vaccine earlier, separately from your flu shot. And if not — or if life is getting hectic, and a two-for-one vaccination appointment ensures that you actually \u003ci>will \u003c/i>get your shots rather than forgetting — go ahead and get your COVID and flu shots at the same time, when you can.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I ‘mix and match’ COVID vaccines for my new shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, according to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/\">everyone \u003cem>except\u003c/em> the under-5 age group can “mix and match” vaccine brands\u003c/a>, regardless of whether you originally got Pfizer or Moderna for your previous COVID vaccine or booster.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, for instance, someone 5 or older who originally got the Moderna vaccine can now get a new updated vaccine from either Moderna or Pfizer — and vice versa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890214\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11890214\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A man sitting on a large porch lifts up his sleeve as he awaits his vaccine, beside a woman in an orange safety vest preparing the vaccine.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-2048x1362.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1920x1277.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse prepares a first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for Jose Luis Sánchez at a clinic in Pasadena, on Aug. 19, 2021. The clinic was one of the first in the city to offer ‘supplemental’ third coronavirus shots to people with immunological conditions, according to organizers. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"where\">\u003c/a>Where can I find a new COVID vaccine this fall?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Don’t assume you’ll be proactively contacted about getting the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that a certain location may only be offering a certain brand of the new vaccine, whether that’s Moderna or Pfizer (or soon, Novavax). So be sure that the location you’re walking into or making an appointment for offers the type of updated vaccine you need or want, particularly if you’re trying to find an updated COVID vaccine for a child under 5. \u003ca href=\"#mix\">Read more about “mixing and matching” COVID vaccines.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also make sure the appointment you schedule for your new vaccine is at least two months after your last COVID vaccine shot, or three months after your last COVID infection. (When you’re making an appointment for a new vaccine, you’ll likely be asked for the date of your last COVID vaccine dose or booster dose for this reason, to ensure you’re not getting your shot too soon.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890217\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003ca href=\"#mix\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11890217 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of a hand gripping a vaccination card and writing on it with a pen.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1920x1278.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse marks a coronavirus vaccination card with a third booster dose of Pfizer at a vaccine clinic in Pasadena on Aug. 19, 2021. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images))\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>1. Find a new COVID vaccine through a local pharmacy \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For future reference, pharmacies are usually the first place new vaccine shots become available when announced because pharmacies take their cue from the federal government, not the state. Several pharmacy chains, including CVS and Walgreens, are now offering online appointments for the new COVID vaccine, and some may also accept walk-in appointments with no prescheduling required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that pharmacies can’t vaccinate kids under 3, except for CVS MinuteClinics, who are permitted to vaccinate kids as young as 18 months old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. One big exception to this: If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, you almost certainly \u003cem>won’t\u003c/em> be able to get your new COVID vaccine for free (i.e., covered by your insurance) at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, “Kaiser Permanente recommends members receive their updated COVID-19 vaccinations at a Kaiser Permanente facility,” a Kaiser spokesperson told KQED, and that the cost of the new COVID vaccines would be covered “according to the coverage of routine vaccinations provided by members’ plan benefits when administered at a Kaiser Permanente facility.” Otherwise, you’ll almost certainly be asked to pay out of pocket to get your shot at a pharmacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, \u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">if you are a member of a health system like Kaiser \u003c/a>and are unsure about what your health insurance covers, reach out to your provider to check if you will need to obtain your new COVID vaccine through them, in order to have it covered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance, some pharmacies will be offering appointments that don’t require health insurance. Visit the federal government’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a> website to search for a location near you, and be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program,” (the name of the federal program that’s funding new COVID vaccines for uninsured people). For example, a CVS spokesperson confirmed to KQED that the pharmacy chain is participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?icid=cvs-home-hero1-banner-1-link2-coronavirus-vaccine\">CVS COVID vaccine appointments. \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19?ban=covid_vaccine_landing_schedule\">Walgreens COVID vaccine appointments\u003c/a>, or call (800) WALGREENS/(800) 925-4733.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier?utm_source=state&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=Covid19&utm_content=Covid19scheduler_CA_2_12_21\">Rite Aid COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mhealthappointments.com/covidappt\">Safeway (Albertsons) COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2. Find a new COVID vaccine through your health care provider, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, check with your health care provider to see whether they can offer you an updated COVID vaccine. The San Francisco Department of Public Health stresses that “Health care providers are the first place to go for COVID-19 and flu health care.” That said, you could still be looking at a wait for supplies to reach your health care provider, even this long after the new shots were first authorized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance but get medical care through a city- or county-run provider, you should check with that location to see whether they can offer you the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to trying to talk with your health care provider directly, check the website of your provider to see whether it’s offering the ability to make appointments, and sign up for their vaccine notifications if that’s an option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>3. Find a new COVID vaccine through vaccines.gov \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visit the federal government’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a> website to see when appointments for the new updated COVID vaccine in or near your zip code become available. Right now, the majority of Bay Area appointments visible on vaccines.gov appear to be at pharmacies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov \u003c/a>is also the CDC’s recommendation for finding a vaccination site if you’re uninsured. When searching for a vaccination location near you using this site, be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program,” because that’s the name of the federal program that’ll be funding new COVID vaccines for uninsured people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>4. Find a new Moderna or Pfizer COVID vaccine through My Turn\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout the pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn has been the state’s site\u003c/a> for all Californians to schedule vaccination appointments or find walk-in locations, regardless of health insurance status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the new COVID vaccines are now being distributed through the traditional health care market, My Turn’s services are now geared primarily toward uninsured people. The site’s homepage says that “if you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t cover routine vaccinations, My Turn will provide a list of locations that offer vaccines at no cost for the uninsured.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">If you visit the My Turn page\u003c/a>, select “Make an Appointment.” My Turn will ask for your information, and the ZIP code or location you’d like to use to search for vaccine appointments. You can give your home location, or input other locations to see which sites might be available farther away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can’t travel to a clinic for your new COVID vaccine because of health or transportation issues, you can note this when registering on My Turn, and a representative from the CDPH is supposed to call you to arrange an in-home visit or transportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My Turn will ask you to provide a cellphone number and an email address. The state says this is so you can use two-factor authentication to confirm your identity and make your appointment, and to prevent bots from automatically scooping up available appointments online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have an email address or a cellphone number, or you have questions, you can call the California COVID-19 hotline at (833) 422-4255 (Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. PT) and sign up over the phone. Both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking operators are available. Callers needing information in other languages will be connected to a translation service that offers assistance in over 250 languages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11889661\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11889661\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/michigan_shot_gettyimages-1234850852-8f2a1402d5a0ab808313f55bdac52f950c8ad974-scaled-e1632414475184.jpg\" alt=\"Blue-gloved hands administer a vaccine into a shoulder.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rufus Peoples receives his booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine during an Oakland County Health Department vaccination clinic at the Southfield Pavilion on Aug. 24, 2021, in Southfield, Michigan. \u003ccite>(Emily Elconin/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>5. Find a new COVID vaccine through your county (when available)\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Visit your county’s public health website \u003c/a>to learn if your county will soon be offering the new updated COVID vaccine to its residents, particularly those who are uninsured or under-insured.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Find your Bay Area county in our list.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? What questions didn’t you have answered in this guide? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site, and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The new COVID vaccine was authorized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuesday, and is now rolling out across the US. Here's how to find a free COVID vaccine near you.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 4:40 p.m. Wednesday\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Have you been wondering \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960155/new-covid-booster-to-protect-against-worrisome-variant-lab-data-suggests\">“When will the new COVID vaccine be available?” \u003c/a>The short answer is: It’s here, but it’s still taking a while for these shots to become widely accessible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back on September 12, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0912-COVID-19-Vaccine.html\">updated COVID vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer (also known as Comirnaty) were formally authorized\u003c/a>, and are now starting to roll out across the United States, amid \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">a rise in COVID cases locally and nationally. \u003c/a>This was after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) signed off on making these updated shots available to everyone age 6 months and older through health care providers and county public health departments, as well as at health centers and pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Safeway. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-updated-novavax-covid-19-vaccine-formulated-better-protect-against-currently\">new Novavax COVID booster has now also been authorized\u003c/a> for people age 12 and older, and will be available soon too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I find a new COVID vaccine near me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">Why was I asked to pay for my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">Why can’t I get a new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser health insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Unlike previous rounds of the vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aren’t calling this latest shot a “booster” — so you won’t see that language online around appointments. Instead, they’re referring to it as a “new” or “updated” COVID vaccine for 2023 that’s been updated to better target a more recent strain of the coronavirus than previous vaccines: This time, the omicron variant known as XBB.1.5.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about the new COVID booster shots from Pfizer and Moderna and how to find a free COVID vaccine near you. Or jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I find the new COVID vaccine near me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#shouldigetnewcovidvaccine\">If I don’t have major health risks, should I still get the new COVID vaccine now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">I’ve had COVID recently. Can I still get the new COVID vaccine?\u003cbr>\n\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">Should I get my 2023 flu shot at the same time as my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why has the new COVID vaccine rollout seemed so different this time? Do I have to pay for it now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering why the new COVID vaccine seems to be taking so long to become widely available, or why \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/covid-vaccine-price-18375815.php\">you’re hearing reports of people being charged over $150 to receive the new vaccine at a pharmacy\u003c/a>, it’s because of one major change for 2023: This is the first time during the COVID pandemic that the federal government \u003cem>isn’t\u003c/em> footing the bill for these vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html\">The shots have now transitioned into the traditional health care market\u003c/a>. So for most people with health insurance, their insurer will now cover the cost of getting the new COVID vaccine direct, much like your plan might cover your flu shot — and this is why many county public health officials are urging people to first seek out the new vaccine via their health care provider. (It’s also why those county-run vaccination sites that were so common at the height of the pandemic will now not exist on the same scale, and will primarily be targeted toward folks without insurance.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">And if you’re one of those people who don’t have insurance, the White House will still cover the costs of your COVID vaccines\u003c/a> through a federal program until December 2024. But this means you may now have a narrower choice of places to get it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line is that your updated vaccine \u003cem>should\u003c/em> still be free, the way COVID vaccines have been throughout the pandemic. But because of delays in the rollout, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/covid-vaccine-price-18375815.php\">some people have reported being asked to pay\u003c/a> at pharmacies for their new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This change in who pays for your COVID vaccine, and how, has already caused issues for folks seeking vaccines, as their public health officials have urged them to. As the \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em> reported, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/covid-vaccine-price-18375815.php\">some Medicare patients have found themselves being charged large sums to receive the vaccine at pharmacies\u003c/a>, when the costs should have been covered. Representatives from the pharmacies and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cms.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services\u003c/a> attributed this to a glitch in the system around billing codes, with a CVS spokesperson telling the \u003cem>Chronicle\u003c/em> that some “payers are still updating their systems and may not yet be set up to cover the updated COVID-19 vaccines.” If this happens to you, CVS says that a pharmacist can help you reschedule your appointment for a later date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may have also experienced making an appointment for your new COVID vaccine and having it canceled due to a lack of supply. If so, you’re not alone. As \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em> has reported, \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/09/covid-vaccine-update-us-appointments\">CVS and Walgreens blamed canceled appointments on supply-chain issues\u003c/a>, but \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/22/well/covid-vaccine-booster-insurance.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Moderna and Pfizer told The Associated Press\u003c/a> that they had sufficient supply and had, in fact, delivered millions of doses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sara Rosenbaum, a health law and policy professor at George Washington University, also told \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em> that \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/09/covid-vaccine-update-us-appointments\">some pharmacies did not initially stock enough of these new vaccines\u003c/a> because they weren’t sure how large the public demand for the shots would be. Corporations “fear that vaccines will sit around on their shelves unused,” Rosenbaum said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"kaisernewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why can’t I get my new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Another reason you might be charged for your new COVID vaccine right now, or denied the shot if you refuse to pay out of pocket: if you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Usually, if you have health insurance, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. Health systems like Kaiser are the exception to this, and so you almost certainly won’t be able to get your new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, “Kaiser Permanente recommends members receive their updated COVID-19 vaccinations at a Kaiser Permanente facility,” a Kaiser spokesperson told KQED, adding that the cost of the new COVID vaccines would be covered “according to the coverage of routine vaccinations provided by members’ plan benefits when administered at a Kaiser Permanente facility.” This has meant that those who have health insurance through Kaiser have faced a longer wait for their new COVID vaccine than folks with other types of insurance, unless they were prepared to pay these large costs up-front. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">CVS, for example, charges $190.99 for the new COVID vaccine\u003c/a> “if CVS is not in network with your insurance plan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But some good news: Kaiser now appears to be rolling out the new COVID vaccine for its members. Having initially stated that the new vaccines would be available at Kaiser facilities in “early October,” \u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/covid-19-vaccine-locations/\">Kaiser’s website now says that the updated shots are “available by walk-in” at “most flu clinics,”\u003c/a> but not by appointment yet. The website also states that Kaiser does not yet have the updated Moderna vaccine, but that the health system expects “to have supply soon.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’ll keep updating this guide with information as we get it.\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/covid-19-vaccine-locations/\"> Find a Kaiser location near you currently offering the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is the Novavax COVID vaccine available as well as Moderna and Pfizer’s new vaccines?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes: After \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/12/1199003441/cdc-advisers-back-broad-rollout-out-of-new-covid-boosters\">a period of FDA review\u003c/a>, the\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-updated-novavax-covid-19-vaccine-formulated-better-protect-against-currently\"> new Novavax COVID booster has now been authorized\u003c/a> for people age 12 and older who have not already been vaccinated with the new Moderna or Pfizer COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike Pfizer and Moderna’s new COVID shots, the Novavax vaccine is a non-mRNA, protein-based vaccine. One reason some people choose the Novavax vaccine is based on aftereffects from getting the shot — as \u003cem>Science\u003c/em> has reported,\u003ca href=\"https://www.science.org/content/article/should-you-pick-novavax-s-covid-19-shot-over-mrna-options\"> Novavax “appeared less likely than mRNA shots to cause side effects like headache and fatigue”\u003c/a> in clinical trials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since the new Novavax COVID vaccine was authorized several weeks after Moderna and Pfizer’s, you should expect it to take a little while for Novavax supply to reach health care providers and vaccination locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How is this new COVID vaccine different from the last one I got?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The last COVID booster shots were offered back in September 2022. This “bivalent vaccine” was so-called because it targeted both the original strain of the coronavirus and the widespread BA.4/BA.5 omicron subvariants, and was also referred to as “the omicron booster.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This new fall COVID vaccine is an updated shot that supersedes and replaces the bivalent booster, which you should now consider outdated. The “recipe” for this new vaccine will address a single, newer target: The XBB.1.5 subvariant of omicron.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\">XBB.1.5 is no longer the dominant strain\u003c/a> of the coronavirus in the United States — so what does that mean for how much this new COVID vaccine is going to protect you from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the newer strains doing the rounds, like EG.5\u003c/a> (unofficially called “Eris” by some online)? Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, says that because EG.5 and other strains like it are all subvariants of the omicron variant, this means that you should think of these most recent COVID variants as “all kind of flavors of XBB.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“COVID hasn’t really changed too much. … since winter to now,” said Chin-Hong. And because recent strains have “just been variations on the theme,” he says, the fact that this updated vaccine is targeted towards XBB.1.5 means it “is going to be pretty decent at targeting these variants” too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What about that other new variant, BA.2.86? Experts were initially worried that this new strain would be better at evading immunity from previous COVID infections and COVID vaccines, but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960155/new-covid-booster-to-protect-against-worrisome-variant-lab-data-suggests\">new data suggests that BA.2.86 probably isn’t, in fact, any better than any of the other strains at evading your immune system.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"eligiblebooster\">\u003c/a>Who can get the new COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As of Sept. 12, anyone age 6 months and up who got their last COVID vaccine shot at least two months ago — whether that was their primary vaccination series or their last booster shot — can get an updated COVID vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna, as soon as \u003ca href=\"#where\">vaccination appointments become available. \u003c/a>It’s important to note that appointments have not become immediately widespread and may not be for a while, depending on your location. \u003ca href=\"#where\">Jump straight to where you can find a new COVID vaccine near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have more tools than ever to prevent the worst outcomes from COVID-19,” said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen when authorizing the shots on Sept. 12, after review and approval by the FDA and the CDC’s advisory panel. The agency was, she said, “now recommending updated COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 6 months and older to better protect you and your loved ones.” Unlike with the bivalent booster, there is no specific guidance for certain age groups, but, as with other vaccines, children under 12 will be offered a pediatric (smaller) dose of this vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"shouldigetnewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>I know the new COVID vaccine is recommended for basically everyone. But do I really need it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s a fair question, and \u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/cdc-faces-dilemma-over-recommending-new-covid-booster-for-all/amp/\">it’s not like there’s even consensus within the medical community\u003c/a> on the question of whether a younger person with no pre-existing health conditions or other risks for severe disease, hospitalization, or death truly needs to rush to get this new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC endorsed vaccines for everyone pointing to data showing COVID still poses risks for people at any age, and how\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2023-02/slides-02-24/COVID-07-Britton-508.pdf\"> vaccination against the coronavirus continues to provide greater protection against illness and hospitalization for all age groups (PDF).\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also a practical element to the CDC’s decision to broadly recommend the vaccine for everyone over 6 months of age — because their recommendation means that \u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/cdc-faces-dilemma-over-recommending-new-covid-booster-for-all/amp/\">now health insurers \u003cem>have\u003c/em> \u003cem>to\u003c/em> cover your 2023 COVID vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those people that health officials are urging to get the new updated COVID shot are, as with previous vaccines and boosters, those age 65 and over, folks with weakened immune systems or certain other \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html\">medical conditions that increase their risk of getting severely sick, hospitalized or dying from COVID\u003c/a>, as well as pregnant people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re not a part of these groups, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">there are still other reasons you might consider getting your updated shot regardless.\u003c/a> These include playing your part in reducing the community spread of COVID, protecting others most vulnerable to severe illness, and reducing the personal inconvenience to you and your family that an infection (and the isolation it requires) can bring to your household and your job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for long COVID, there’s mounting evidence that \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/09/1198342040/long-covid-causes-treatment-research\">getting a vaccine reduces the risk of long COVID\u003c/a> among both adults and children, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2023-09-12/04-COVID-Saydah-508.pdf\">as the CDC’s Sharon Saydah noted in Sept. 12’s meeting (PDF)\u003c/a> to discuss the recommendations for the new shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If somebody’s timing their vaccine around the holidays, or a big trip? In addition to the chronic symptoms, that might be a justification for some young folks,” said UCSF’s Chin-Hong. “Risk is very personal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, if you’re unsure whether you should get the updated COVID vaccine, or when you should get it, as with all matters relating to your health it’s best to speak directly to your health care provider about the best options available to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s the cost of the vaccine, whether I have insurance or not?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This is the first time during the COVID pandemic that the federal government \u003cem>isn’t\u003c/em> footing the bill for these vaccines. Now that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11948759/how-to-access-covid-care-in-california-as-u-s-public-health-emergency-ends\">the White House’s public health emergency for COVID has ended\u003c/a>, these COVID vaccines are no longer purchased or distributed by the federal government. Now, \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html\">COVID shots are transitioning to the traditional health care market\u003c/a> and will be increasingly considered the way that other preventative vaccines, like flu shots, are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For most people with health insurance, their insurer will cover the cost of getting the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11961117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11961117 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A nurse gives a little boy a shot while his mother gives him encouragement.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">COVID shots are transitioning to the traditional health care market and will be increasingly considered the way that other preventative vaccines, like flu shots, are. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">But if you \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have insurance, the White House will still cover your COVID vaccines\u003c/a> through \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html\">a federal program called the Bridge Access Program\u003c/a>, which lasts through December 2024. This means you’ll now have a narrower choice of places to get your COVID vaccine because you’ll have to make sure the vaccination location you’ve chosen participates in the Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC says people without insurance will be able to \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">visit the federal government’s vaccines.gov site\u003c/a> to find a location where they can get the new COVID vaccine for free. When searching for a vaccination location near you using this site, be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uninsured children ages 18 and under can still get free COVID vaccines — and other free immunizations — as part of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html\">Vaccines for Children Program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">\u003c/a>I got COVID recently. Do I have to wait before getting my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, the CDC advises that you “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/COVID-19-immunization-schedule-ages-6months-older.pdf\">may consider delaying vaccination by 3 months from symptom onset.”(PDF)\u003c/a> And if your case was asymptomatic, use the date of your positive test instead of the onset of your symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means, that if you had a COVID infection \u003cem>after\u003c/em> mid-June 2023, you may wish to delay getting your new COVID vaccine until you hit your three-month mark. But as with all matters relating to your health, it’s best to speak directly to your health care provider about the best option for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Should I get my 2023 flu shot at the same time as my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s totally fine, and safe, to get your flu shot at the same time as your new COVID vaccine, and you’ll often find that COVID vaccine appointments will prompt you to “add on” a flu shot at the same session — especially at pharmacies. Although, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment too).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, the recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that, like with your COVID vaccine, it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This 2023–2024 season, the CDC says that “ideally” September and October are good months to get your flu shot. UCSF’s Chin-Hong says that his “optimal sweet point” for getting this shot is “sometime before Halloween” — but notes that this is based on traditional predictions of flu season starting in November and peaking around January or February. If flu cases start to rise earlier, you should seek out your flu shot sooner, he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All this means that if you can trust yourself to remember to seek out your flu shot by the end of October (or schedule an appointment for October in advance), you might consider getting your new COVID vaccine earlier, separately from your flu shot. And if not — or if life is getting hectic, and a two-for-one vaccination appointment ensures that you actually \u003ci>will \u003c/i>get your shots rather than forgetting — go ahead and get your COVID and flu shots at the same time, when you can.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I ‘mix and match’ COVID vaccines for my new shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, according to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/\">everyone \u003cem>except\u003c/em> the under-5 age group can “mix and match” vaccine brands\u003c/a>, regardless of whether you originally got Pfizer or Moderna for your previous COVID vaccine or booster.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, for instance, someone 5 or older who originally got the Moderna vaccine can now get a new updated vaccine from either Moderna or Pfizer — and vice versa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890214\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11890214\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A man sitting on a large porch lifts up his sleeve as he awaits his vaccine, beside a woman in an orange safety vest preparing the vaccine.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-2048x1362.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1920x1277.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse prepares a first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for Jose Luis Sánchez at a clinic in Pasadena, on Aug. 19, 2021. The clinic was one of the first in the city to offer ‘supplemental’ third coronavirus shots to people with immunological conditions, according to organizers. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"where\">\u003c/a>Where can I find a new COVID vaccine this fall?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Don’t assume you’ll be proactively contacted about getting the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that a certain location may only be offering a certain brand of the new vaccine, whether that’s Moderna or Pfizer (or soon, Novavax). So be sure that the location you’re walking into or making an appointment for offers the type of updated vaccine you need or want, particularly if you’re trying to find an updated COVID vaccine for a child under 5. \u003ca href=\"#mix\">Read more about “mixing and matching” COVID vaccines.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also make sure the appointment you schedule for your new vaccine is at least two months after your last COVID vaccine shot, or three months after your last COVID infection. (When you’re making an appointment for a new vaccine, you’ll likely be asked for the date of your last COVID vaccine dose or booster dose for this reason, to ensure you’re not getting your shot too soon.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890217\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003ca href=\"#mix\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11890217 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of a hand gripping a vaccination card and writing on it with a pen.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1920x1278.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse marks a coronavirus vaccination card with a third booster dose of Pfizer at a vaccine clinic in Pasadena on Aug. 19, 2021. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images))\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>1. Find a new COVID vaccine through a local pharmacy \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For future reference, pharmacies are usually the first place new vaccine shots become available when announced because pharmacies take their cue from the federal government, not the state. Several pharmacy chains, including CVS and Walgreens, are now offering online appointments for the new COVID vaccine, and some may also accept walk-in appointments with no prescheduling required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that pharmacies can’t vaccinate kids under 3, except for CVS MinuteClinics, who are permitted to vaccinate kids as young as 18 months old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. One big exception to this: If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, you almost certainly \u003cem>won’t\u003c/em> be able to get your new COVID vaccine for free (i.e., covered by your insurance) at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, “Kaiser Permanente recommends members receive their updated COVID-19 vaccinations at a Kaiser Permanente facility,” a Kaiser spokesperson told KQED, and that the cost of the new COVID vaccines would be covered “according to the coverage of routine vaccinations provided by members’ plan benefits when administered at a Kaiser Permanente facility.” Otherwise, you’ll almost certainly be asked to pay out of pocket to get your shot at a pharmacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, \u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">if you are a member of a health system like Kaiser \u003c/a>and are unsure about what your health insurance covers, reach out to your provider to check if you will need to obtain your new COVID vaccine through them, in order to have it covered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance, some pharmacies will be offering appointments that don’t require health insurance. Visit the federal government’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a> website to search for a location near you, and be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program,” (the name of the federal program that’s funding new COVID vaccines for uninsured people). For example, a CVS spokesperson confirmed to KQED that the pharmacy chain is participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?icid=cvs-home-hero1-banner-1-link2-coronavirus-vaccine\">CVS COVID vaccine appointments. \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19?ban=covid_vaccine_landing_schedule\">Walgreens COVID vaccine appointments\u003c/a>, or call (800) WALGREENS/(800) 925-4733.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier?utm_source=state&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=Covid19&utm_content=Covid19scheduler_CA_2_12_21\">Rite Aid COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mhealthappointments.com/covidappt\">Safeway (Albertsons) COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2. Find a new COVID vaccine through your health care provider, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, check with your health care provider to see whether they can offer you an updated COVID vaccine. The San Francisco Department of Public Health stresses that “Health care providers are the first place to go for COVID-19 and flu health care.” That said, you could still be looking at a wait for supplies to reach your health care provider, even this long after the new shots were first authorized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance but get medical care through a city- or county-run provider, you should check with that location to see whether they can offer you the new COVID vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to trying to talk with your health care provider directly, check the website of your provider to see whether it’s offering the ability to make appointments, and sign up for their vaccine notifications if that’s an option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>3. Find a new COVID vaccine through vaccines.gov \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visit the federal government’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a> website to see when appointments for the new updated COVID vaccine in or near your zip code become available. Right now, the majority of Bay Area appointments visible on vaccines.gov appear to be at pharmacies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov \u003c/a>is also the CDC’s recommendation for finding a vaccination site if you’re uninsured. When searching for a vaccination location near you using this site, be sure to check the box marked “Participating in Bridge Access Program,” because that’s the name of the federal program that’ll be funding new COVID vaccines for uninsured people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>4. Find a new Moderna or Pfizer COVID vaccine through My Turn\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout the pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn has been the state’s site\u003c/a> for all Californians to schedule vaccination appointments or find walk-in locations, regardless of health insurance status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the new COVID vaccines are now being distributed through the traditional health care market, My Turn’s services are now geared primarily toward uninsured people. The site’s homepage says that “if you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t cover routine vaccinations, My Turn will provide a list of locations that offer vaccines at no cost for the uninsured.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">If you visit the My Turn page\u003c/a>, select “Make an Appointment.” My Turn will ask for your information, and the ZIP code or location you’d like to use to search for vaccine appointments. You can give your home location, or input other locations to see which sites might be available farther away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can’t travel to a clinic for your new COVID vaccine because of health or transportation issues, you can note this when registering on My Turn, and a representative from the CDPH is supposed to call you to arrange an in-home visit or transportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My Turn will ask you to provide a cellphone number and an email address. The state says this is so you can use two-factor authentication to confirm your identity and make your appointment, and to prevent bots from automatically scooping up available appointments online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have an email address or a cellphone number, or you have questions, you can call the California COVID-19 hotline at (833) 422-4255 (Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. PT) and sign up over the phone. Both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking operators are available. Callers needing information in other languages will be connected to a translation service that offers assistance in over 250 languages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11889661\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11889661\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/michigan_shot_gettyimages-1234850852-8f2a1402d5a0ab808313f55bdac52f950c8ad974-scaled-e1632414475184.jpg\" alt=\"Blue-gloved hands administer a vaccine into a shoulder.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rufus Peoples receives his booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine during an Oakland County Health Department vaccination clinic at the Southfield Pavilion on Aug. 24, 2021, in Southfield, Michigan. \u003ccite>(Emily Elconin/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>5. Find a new COVID vaccine through your county (when available)\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Visit your county’s public health website \u003c/a>to learn if your county will soon be offering the new updated COVID vaccine to its residents, particularly those who are uninsured or under-insured.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Find your Bay Area county in our list.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? What questions didn’t you have answered in this guide? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site, and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Another COVID Variant? What to Know About BA.2.86, Your Immunity and Boosters",
"headTitle": "Another COVID Variant? What to Know About BA.2.86, Your Immunity and Boosters | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I’ve heard there is yet another new variant of SARS-CoV-2. Say it ain’t so!\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, it is so. Viruses mutate, new variants emerge. That’s happened a number of times with SARS-CoV-2 since the start of the pandemic in 2020. And it’s happening again. In mid-August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced: “A new variant of SARS-CoV-2 called BA.2.86 was detected in samples from people in Denmark and Israel. At least two cases have been identified in the United States. This variant is notable because it has multiple genetic differences from previous versions of SARS-CoV-2.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact there are 35 mutations on the spike protein compared to currently circulating variants. That’s as big of a difference as there was between the original virus and the omicron variant identified in November 2021.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The spike protein is what the virus uses to enter our cells. Those mutations could potentially help the virus evade the protection provided by COVID vaccinations and prior infections, says \u003ca href=\"https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/about\">Katelyn Jetelina,\u003c/a> an epidemiologist and scientific consultant to the CDC, who writes the “Your Local Epidemiologist” blog.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC and the World Health Organization are taking a closer look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s not yet enough data to assess the potential of this variant to cause a wave. But the CDC said on Wednesday that, “based on what [it] knows now, existing tests used to detect and medications used to treat COVID-19 appear to be effective” for the variant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC also believes that BA.2.86 may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines because the mutations on the spike protein could allow it to evade our immune systems despite prior vaccinations and having had COVID-19. Scientists are evaluating the effectiveness of the new booster expected to be approved by mid September.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And companies that make antigen tests, vaccines and treatments are testing them to see if they are effective on the variant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If the conclusion is that this variant poses a significant risk of triggering waves of cases due to its mutations, it will get it own name. That name, next in the Greek alphabet for COVID variants, would be pi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I have a 66-year-old friend who’s never stopped wearing a mask and still refuses to go to restaurants, movies or even socialize indoors. He has had the latest booster. Are these extreme precautions still warranted at this stage? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s complicated,” says \u003ca href=\"https://profiles.mountsinai.org/waleed-javaid\">Dr. Waleed Javaid,\u003c/a> epidemiologist and director of Infection Prevention and Control at Mount Sinai Downtown in New York City. “Some people refused to mask, and others refuse to unmask. Part of it is knowing your risks, like if you are traveling in a crowded space.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Javaid says we need to to be empathetic to the needs of others. “We don’t know other peoples’ risks. Some people may have serious illnesses, immunocompromising conditions, cancers, or transplants — and not share this information with their friends or loved ones.”[pullquote size='medium' align='right' citation=\"Dr. Waleed Javaid, director, Infection Prevention and Control at Mount Sinai Downtown in New York City\"]‘We don’t know other peoples’ risks. Some people may have serious illnesses, immunocompromising conditions, cancers, or transplants — and not share this information with their friends or loved ones.’[/pullquote]\u003ca href=\"https://publichealth.jhu.edu/faculty/1972/andrew-stanley-pekosz\">Andrew Pekosz,\u003c/a> a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health, says “it’s still very, very clear” that the hospitalizations and deaths from COVID — \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#hospitalizations-landing\">currently on the rise\u003c/a> — are being driven by certain portions of the population: those over the age of 65, those with underlying medical conditions, individuals on cancer treatment, solid organ transplant recipients and people who are immunocompromised. “In my opinion, if you are in those groups that should more than justify taking a few extra precautions if you want to minimize your risk,” he says. “And I think we as a society needs to be a little bit more accepting of those individuals who feel the need to take those steps to protect themselves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for case counts, the end of the public health emergency for COVID means many data points on cases are no longer collected. But in the U.S., \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklyhospitaladmissions_7dayeddiagnosed_00\">emergency room visits\u003c/a> are still tallied and are rising. U.S. hospitalizations are still reported as well and have been increasing steadily since July, based on CDC data. For the week ending Aug. 12, there were 12,613 new hospitalizations for the virus, up from 10,370 the previous week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How long will it take for the new booster, coming in the fall, to confer protection? A week? Ten days? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>First, news alert: A meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/25/2023-18288/advisory-committee-on-immunization-practices\">has been set for Sept. 12\u003c/a> to discuss the updated COVID-19 booster, likely to be followed by the CDC director adopting their recommendation very soon after and making recommendations on who should get the updated shot. Pharmacies and doctors offices are already gearing up to give the shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now back to the immunity you can expect. “It takes up to two weeks for you to have the best protection [from a vaccine],” says Dr. Javaid. Andrew Pekosz says for COVID the vaccines may even work a bit faster because of prior immunity people have from vaccines and from \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/burden.html#est-infections\">having had the virus.\u003c/a> “Within ten days you would detect increases in your immunity and by two weeks you should be at pretty good levels that would be protecting you from a COVID-19 infection and particularly severe COVID-19,” Pekosz says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When does protection of COVID vaccines and boosters wane? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t have that long-term data available yet,” says Dr. Javaid. “There are multiple factors involved. There are patient factors, illnesses, immunocompromising conditions and the ability to mount immune response depending on medications — like steroids — that suppress the immune system. There are also viral factors, like if the virus mutates enough to evade our immune system.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In general, says Javaid, being vaccinated will provide some degree of protection against infection that can last for months or even years because of the body’s immune memory. This means vaccinated individuals will likely have milder symptoms than unvaccinated. And so far, Javaid says, the vaccines have held up well against severe disease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>There are three vaccines this fall — the flu vaccine, the expected fall COVID booster and the RSV vaccine. Can I get them all at once?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can get the flu shot and fall booster together without any interference of the effectiveness of either, says \u003ca href=\"https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/profiles/Frieman-Matthew/\">Matthew Frieman,\u003c/a> research professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “In fact,” says Frieman, “vaccines that would combine the two are in clinical trials.”[aside postID=news_11954507,news_11957790,news_11948759 label='COVID resources']Dr. Javaid points out that children get vaccines that combine protection — like one for mumps, measles and rubella (German measles) with no problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/coadministration.htm\">The CDC gives the thumbs up to getting the flu and COVID vaccines together as well\u003c/a> and says you can even get them in the same arm, though getting each in a different arm can help reduce short-term pain that can come with getting a vaccination.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for timing … The new boosters aren’t here yet. October is considered the best month to get a flu shot since protection can wane over the flu season, which ends in May or June. So assuming that the new booster is out by then, you could go for a two-fer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then there are new vaccines, just recently approved, for \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html\">respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)\u003c/a>, which is also a fall virus and which is most dangerous for very young kids and older adults. A vaccine is recommended for people 60+ and is available now, and another was just approved\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/08/21/1194677541/pfizers-rsv-vaccine-to-protect-babies-gets-greenlight-from-fda\"> for pregnant women\u003c/a> to provide protection for their babies from RSV right from birth. There’s also a treatment for infants that works like a vaccine to protect them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there isn’t yet data available on whether people over 60 can take the RSV vaccine simultaneously with the COVID and flu vaccines. You may want to consult with your doctor about timing for the RSV vaccine if you are in a risk group, suggests the immunologist Pekosz.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I’m over 65. Does that impact immunity from the booster? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In older adults the body may not be as aggressive in making antibodies as it in younger years, says Dr. Javaid. “This is why it’s a good idea to ask your doctor if the CDC recommends more frequent boosting for your age or for individuals in certain risk groups.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pekosz adds that for your average over-65er, “the immune response from the vaccine should last from four to six months in terms of protecting from severe disease.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And everyone should be considering the updated booster when it’s available, says Pekosz, “because the variants that are circulating now are very different from what was in the last vaccine for COVID-19.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html\">\u003cstrong>The CDC advises\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> that people exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID wear a mask for at least 10 days and people who test positive themselves wear a mask for at least five days. A reader asks if five days is enough for someone who is infected? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Javaid says that if you are exposed to COVID-19 and don’t develop symptoms right away, it’s good to stay masked for the CDC’s recommended time because if you do develop the virus in the days ahead, your infectiousness is highest in the first few days, and you can’t be sure when that might be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s news on home tests as well. On this week’s reporter’s call, the CDC said there is some funding to send tests to libraries and public health departments so check to see if free tests are available. And also check prices since online and retail stores may sometimes discount home tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>See \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">all KQED COVID resources and explainers\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Fran Kritz is a health policy reporter based in Washington, D.C., and a regular contributor to NPR. She also reports for the \u003c/em>Washington Post\u003cem> and \u003c/em>Verywell Health\u003cem>. Find her on Twitter: @fkritz\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org\">npr.org\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I’ve heard there is yet another new variant of SARS-CoV-2. Say it ain’t so!\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, it is so. Viruses mutate, new variants emerge. That’s happened a number of times with SARS-CoV-2 since the start of the pandemic in 2020. And it’s happening again. In mid-August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced: “A new variant of SARS-CoV-2 called BA.2.86 was detected in samples from people in Denmark and Israel. At least two cases have been identified in the United States. This variant is notable because it has multiple genetic differences from previous versions of SARS-CoV-2.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact there are 35 mutations on the spike protein compared to currently circulating variants. That’s as big of a difference as there was between the original virus and the omicron variant identified in November 2021.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The spike protein is what the virus uses to enter our cells. Those mutations could potentially help the virus evade the protection provided by COVID vaccinations and prior infections, says \u003ca href=\"https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/about\">Katelyn Jetelina,\u003c/a> an epidemiologist and scientific consultant to the CDC, who writes the “Your Local Epidemiologist” blog.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC and the World Health Organization are taking a closer look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s not yet enough data to assess the potential of this variant to cause a wave. But the CDC said on Wednesday that, “based on what [it] knows now, existing tests used to detect and medications used to treat COVID-19 appear to be effective” for the variant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC also believes that BA.2.86 may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines because the mutations on the spike protein could allow it to evade our immune systems despite prior vaccinations and having had COVID-19. Scientists are evaluating the effectiveness of the new booster expected to be approved by mid September.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And companies that make antigen tests, vaccines and treatments are testing them to see if they are effective on the variant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If the conclusion is that this variant poses a significant risk of triggering waves of cases due to its mutations, it will get it own name. That name, next in the Greek alphabet for COVID variants, would be pi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://publichealth.jhu.edu/faculty/1972/andrew-stanley-pekosz\">Andrew Pekosz,\u003c/a> a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health, says “it’s still very, very clear” that the hospitalizations and deaths from COVID — \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#hospitalizations-landing\">currently on the rise\u003c/a> — are being driven by certain portions of the population: those over the age of 65, those with underlying medical conditions, individuals on cancer treatment, solid organ transplant recipients and people who are immunocompromised. “In my opinion, if you are in those groups that should more than justify taking a few extra precautions if you want to minimize your risk,” he says. “And I think we as a society needs to be a little bit more accepting of those individuals who feel the need to take those steps to protect themselves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for case counts, the end of the public health emergency for COVID means many data points on cases are no longer collected. But in the U.S., \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklyhospitaladmissions_7dayeddiagnosed_00\">emergency room visits\u003c/a> are still tallied and are rising. U.S. hospitalizations are still reported as well and have been increasing steadily since July, based on CDC data. For the week ending Aug. 12, there were 12,613 new hospitalizations for the virus, up from 10,370 the previous week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How long will it take for the new booster, coming in the fall, to confer protection? A week? Ten days? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>First, news alert: A meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/25/2023-18288/advisory-committee-on-immunization-practices\">has been set for Sept. 12\u003c/a> to discuss the updated COVID-19 booster, likely to be followed by the CDC director adopting their recommendation very soon after and making recommendations on who should get the updated shot. Pharmacies and doctors offices are already gearing up to give the shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now back to the immunity you can expect. “It takes up to two weeks for you to have the best protection [from a vaccine],” says Dr. Javaid. Andrew Pekosz says for COVID the vaccines may even work a bit faster because of prior immunity people have from vaccines and from \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/burden.html#est-infections\">having had the virus.\u003c/a> “Within ten days you would detect increases in your immunity and by two weeks you should be at pretty good levels that would be protecting you from a COVID-19 infection and particularly severe COVID-19,” Pekosz says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When does protection of COVID vaccines and boosters wane? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t have that long-term data available yet,” says Dr. Javaid. “There are multiple factors involved. There are patient factors, illnesses, immunocompromising conditions and the ability to mount immune response depending on medications — like steroids — that suppress the immune system. There are also viral factors, like if the virus mutates enough to evade our immune system.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In general, says Javaid, being vaccinated will provide some degree of protection against infection that can last for months or even years because of the body’s immune memory. This means vaccinated individuals will likely have milder symptoms than unvaccinated. And so far, Javaid says, the vaccines have held up well against severe disease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>There are three vaccines this fall — the flu vaccine, the expected fall COVID booster and the RSV vaccine. Can I get them all at once?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can get the flu shot and fall booster together without any interference of the effectiveness of either, says \u003ca href=\"https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/profiles/Frieman-Matthew/\">Matthew Frieman,\u003c/a> research professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “In fact,” says Frieman, “vaccines that would combine the two are in clinical trials.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Dr. Javaid points out that children get vaccines that combine protection — like one for mumps, measles and rubella (German measles) with no problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/coadministration.htm\">The CDC gives the thumbs up to getting the flu and COVID vaccines together as well\u003c/a> and says you can even get them in the same arm, though getting each in a different arm can help reduce short-term pain that can come with getting a vaccination.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for timing … The new boosters aren’t here yet. October is considered the best month to get a flu shot since protection can wane over the flu season, which ends in May or June. So assuming that the new booster is out by then, you could go for a two-fer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then there are new vaccines, just recently approved, for \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html\">respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)\u003c/a>, which is also a fall virus and which is most dangerous for very young kids and older adults. A vaccine is recommended for people 60+ and is available now, and another was just approved\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/08/21/1194677541/pfizers-rsv-vaccine-to-protect-babies-gets-greenlight-from-fda\"> for pregnant women\u003c/a> to provide protection for their babies from RSV right from birth. There’s also a treatment for infants that works like a vaccine to protect them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there isn’t yet data available on whether people over 60 can take the RSV vaccine simultaneously with the COVID and flu vaccines. You may want to consult with your doctor about timing for the RSV vaccine if you are in a risk group, suggests the immunologist Pekosz.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I’m over 65. Does that impact immunity from the booster? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In older adults the body may not be as aggressive in making antibodies as it in younger years, says Dr. Javaid. “This is why it’s a good idea to ask your doctor if the CDC recommends more frequent boosting for your age or for individuals in certain risk groups.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pekosz adds that for your average over-65er, “the immune response from the vaccine should last from four to six months in terms of protecting from severe disease.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And everyone should be considering the updated booster when it’s available, says Pekosz, “because the variants that are circulating now are very different from what was in the last vaccine for COVID-19.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html\">\u003cstrong>The CDC advises\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> that people exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID wear a mask for at least 10 days and people who test positive themselves wear a mask for at least five days. A reader asks if five days is enough for someone who is infected? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Javaid says that if you are exposed to COVID-19 and don’t develop symptoms right away, it’s good to stay masked for the CDC’s recommended time because if you do develop the virus in the days ahead, your infectiousness is highest in the first few days, and you can’t be sure when that might be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s news on home tests as well. On this week’s reporter’s call, the CDC said there is some funding to send tests to libraries and public health departments so check to see if free tests are available. And also check prices since online and retail stores may sometimes discount home tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>See \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">all KQED COVID resources and explainers\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Fran Kritz is a health policy reporter based in Washington, D.C., and a regular contributor to NPR. She also reports for the \u003c/em>Washington Post\u003cem> and \u003c/em>Verywell Health\u003cem>. Find her on Twitter: @fkritz\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org\">npr.org\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "How to Find COVID Tests, Care and Vaccines in California When Federal Emergency Ends",
"headTitle": "How to Find COVID Tests, Care and Vaccines in California When Federal Emergency Ends | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Update, June 20: As of June 1, you can no longer \u003ca href=\"https://covidtests.gov/\">order free COVID-19 tests from the federal government and USPS\u003c/a>. A message on the \u003ca href=\"https://covidtests.gov/\">covidtests.gov site\u003c/a> says that ordering has “been suspended to preserve remaining supply.” \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Thursday, May 11, the White House officially ended the public health emergency for COVID-19. This comes after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11941075/californias-covid-emergency-ends-feb-28-what-does-that-actually-mean-for-you\">California ended its own state of emergency back in February\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The end of the federal public health emergency will have big impacts on how people in the United States access COVID care, and how much they’ll pay for it. But a lot of these changes won’t actually apply to Californians — at least not for folks with health insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about how your access to COVID vaccines, bivalent boosters, free tests and treatments like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically\">Paxlovid\u003c/a> has changed — or hasn’t changed — since May 11.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidinsurance\">How you’ll be affected if you have health insurance in California\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidnoinsurance\">How you’ll be affected if you are uninsured in California\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>I thought the state of emergency had already ended?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You’re not wrong. There have just been several states of emergency for COVID, on the local, national and international levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Feb. 28, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11941075/californias-covid-emergency-ends-feb-28-what-does-that-actually-mean-for-you\">California ended its own COVID state of emergency\u003c/a>. This move was characterized as \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/health-california-covid-gavin-newsom-government-and-politics-0a013cc71e580d33fe59f93bc6c2b16e\">“a symbolic end” to the pandemic in the state\u003c/a>, and a “decision [that] will have little practical impact on most people’s lives.” When the state announced the order would be lifted in February, the majority of the 600 pandemic-related orders Newsom had issued since March 2020 had been lifted. Many cities around California still had their own states of emergency, and have lifted those since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_11948673 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS53199_014_Richmond_LifelongCOVIDClinic_01192022-qut-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On April 10, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2023/04/11/1169191865/biden-ends-covid-national-emergency\">the federal national emergency ended early\u003c/a>. This emergency order, which was separate from the federal public health emergency that’s ending this week, was originally set to also expire on May 11 — but a bipartisan congressional resolution moved to bring this order to a close ahead of schedule.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>On May 5, \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/covid-is-no-longer-global-health-emergency-who-2023-05-05/\">the World Health Organization (WHO) ended the international global emergency status for COVID\u003c/a>, saying that individual countries should now manage the coronavirus. It also recommended that the United Nations retire its characterization of COVID as a “public health emergency of international concern,” which has been in place since January 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidinsurance\">\u003c/a>I’m hearing that free COVID tests and care are going away after May 11. Is that true?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No — at least not for people with health insurance in California, including people on Medi-Cal. (\u003ca href=\"#covidnoinsurance\">Jump straight to how you’ll be affected if you are uninsured in California.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s true that the end of these national emergencies \u003cem>will\u003c/em> have big effects on nationwide funding for COVID vaccines and testing. This means that in other states, people with health insurance will find that their insurers no longer have to cover the costs of COVID care like testing and treatment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But California has enacted several laws that force insurers to keep covering COVID care even after the state and federal states of emergency end (more on this below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>COVID vaccines will most likely remain free for people with insurance for all of the United States\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House’s COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish K. Jha promised that COVID vaccines will remain free in the U.S. for insured people as a preventive service covered under the Affordable Care Act of 2010.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB510\">Senate Bill 510\u003c/a> requires insurers in California to keep covering COVID costs like testing and vaccination after the national public health emergency ends anyway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948942\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948942\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A white medication box with blue, pink and yellow stripes on the left-hand side. The words "Paxlovid 150 mg + 100 mg film-coated tablets" is printed in blue. A woman's hands are holding either side of the box. It's a close-up shot.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paxlovid, Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral treatment. \u003ccite>(Europa Press/C.Lujan.POOL via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>People in California with health insurance can still get Paxlovid for free\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another California law — \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB1473\">SB 1473\u003c/a> — requires insurers to keep covering the costs of COVID therapeutic treatments like Paxlovid. This also applies to people on Medi-Cal and Medicare. This law only keeps the current situation in place until six months after the \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-07/with-covid-emergency-ending-will-i-have-to-pay-for-tests\">end of the federal public health emergency, on Nov. 11\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically\">Click here to find a prescription for Paxlovid.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>People in California with health insurance can still get reimbursed for COVID tests \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB1473\">SB 1473\u003c/a> also requires insurers to keep reimbursing their members for the costs of up to eight over-the-counter COVID tests a month. This also applies to people on Medi-Cal, but again, \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-07/with-covid-emergency-ending-will-i-have-to-pay-for-tests\">this law is only in effect until Nov. 11\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Read about how to get reimbursed for COVID tests by your insurer.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you see signs in your local pharmacy saying that May 11 was your last chance to get the cost of your COVID tests reimbursed by your insurer, remember: If you live in California, this isn’t accurate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus\">Medicare no longer covers the cost of over-the-counter COVID tests \u003c/a>(people on Medicare Part B, medical insurance, were previously able to get free antigen tests.) \u003ca href=\"https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-diagnostic-tests\">The only COVID tests Medicare still covers\u003c/a> are diagnostic tests done by a laboratory and ordered by your health care provider, for Medicare Part B users (some Medicare Advantage Plans may require cost sharing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What happens after Nov. 11? If you want Paxlovid or to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">get reimbursed for COVID tests by an insurer\u003c/a> after that date, you’ll have to make sure you are obtaining these services “in network.” Right now, specific details about what that will look like in practice come November are still lacking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidnoinsurance\">\u003c/a>After May 11, how can people in California without health insurance access COVID care?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Thanks to state legislation from 2020, California has offered uninsured state residents free COVID testing, hospital care and treatment via Medi-Cal providers during the pandemic — if they signed up for the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Pages/COVID-19-Presumptive-Eligibility-Program.aspx\">COVID-19 Uninsured Group program\u003c/a>, managed by the Department of Health Care Services. But this program is ending on May 31, 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Documents/COVID-19-Sunset-Notice.pdf\">The state is now asking uninsured people that were enrolled in the Uninsured Group program (PDF)\u003c/a> to instead “apply for no-cost or low-cost health coverage through Medi-Cal or Covered California.” You can \u003ca href=\"https://www.coveredca.com/\">visit coveredca.com\u003c/a> and use the calculator tool on the home page to see whether you qualify for Medi-Cal or Covered California coverage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948954\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948954\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up shot of a health care professional in black gloves holding a COVID-19 rapid test, which is pictured as a thick, white paper test with holes for a cotton swab to rest inside.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A rapid COVID-19 test held by a health care professional at a Unidos en Salud testing site, a collaboration of UCSF and the Latino Task Force, during a post-holiday COVID-19 outreach event on 24th and Mission streets in San Francisco on Nov. 30, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The state’s materials for uninsured people state that Covered California has a special enrollment period “due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.” This special enrollment period “will end 60 days after the last day of the month when the Public Health Emergency ends” — which is July 30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To enroll by the end of this special pandemic enrollment period, the state suggests to \u003ca href=\"https://www.coveredca.com/apply/\">visit coveredca.com/apply\u003c/a> and choose “Pandemic (COVID-19)/Public Health Emergency” as your qualifying life event from the “Special Enrollment” drop-down menu. The date of your qualifying life event should be the current date. You can also enroll in Covered California if you have \u003ca href=\"https://www.coveredca.com/support/before-you-buy/qualifying-life-events/\">another qualifying life event\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Accessing COVID vaccines in California when you’re uninsured\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state’s Department of Health Care Services is advising uninsured people enrolled in their COVID-19 Uninsured Group program that “\u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Documents/COVID-19-Sunset-Notice.pdf\">after this program ends, you can still get vaccinated for free (PDF)\u003c/a>,” and to visit California’s vaccines site \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">myturn.ca.gov\u003c/a> for more information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House has also promised that\u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/04/18/fact-sheet-hhs-announces-hhs-bridge-access-program-covid-19-vaccines-treatments-maintain-access-covid-19-care-uninsured.html\"> COVID vaccines will stay free for people without insurance nationally\u003c/a>, thanks to a program that the Biden administration says should be funded through the end of 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) told KQED in an email that “for the uninsured, free COVID-19 vaccines and pill medications at most pharmacies, public health clinics, and federally-supported clinics will continue for now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Low-cost or free COVID-19 doctor visits may also be obtained through Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and free clinics,” said CDPH. \u003ca href=\"https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/\">Find an FQHC near you via the federal Health Resources and Services Administration’s map.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Finding Paxlovid and other COVID treatments in California when you’re uninsured\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Californians without insurance currently have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance#noinsurance\">several options to get a free prescription for the COVID antiviral drug Paxlovid\u003c/a>, or other COVID therapeutics — including using \u003ca href=\"https://sesamecare.com/covid\">Sesame Care, the state’s free COVID telehealth service\u003c/a>, which is still operational for now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948933\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948933\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut.jpg\" alt=\"President Joe Biden speaks from the presidential podium inside the White House. He has short, gray hair, and wears a navy suit and tie. The presidential seal is in gold in the center of the podium and gold curtains are seen in the background.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">US President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the COVID-19 response and the vaccination program in the East Room of the White House on Aug. 18, 2021, in Washington, DC. On May 11, the White House will officially end the public health emergency for COVID-19. \u003ccite>(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The White House has promised that the same program that will fund free COVID vaccines for uninsured people through 2024 will also \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/04/18/fact-sheet-hhs-announces-hhs-bridge-access-program-covid-19-vaccines-treatments-maintain-access-covid-19-care-uninsured.html\">allow people without insurance to still get Paxlovid for free at certain participating pharmacies\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Finding COVID tests in California when you’re uninsured\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House website \u003ca href=\"https://www.covid.gov/tests\">covid.gov/tests\u003c/a> has been offering separate orders of free COVID antigen tests for each household during the pandemic. This program looks to be continuing after the federal public health emergency ended on May 11, but it’s unclear how much longer it’ll last.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if your household hasn’t ordered any free tests since Dec. 15, 2022, consider \u003ca href=\"http://covid.gov/tests\">placing your order for another four free COVID tests\u003c/a> ASAP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948931\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948931\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A doctor in all white holds a clip board and wears a white mask as they stand with other masked individuals at a COVID-19 testing site. One man sits helping people who are in line. He wears an orange and yellow vest.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A doctor stands at the entrance of a COVID-19 testing event at Acts Full Gospel Church in Oakland on Oct. 31, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Currently, there are still some sites offering free COVID testing around the state; \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">see them at myturn.ca.gov/testing\u003c/a> by applying the “Free Sites” filter from the drop-down menu. It’s not yet clear how many of these will continue operating in the coming months. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">For more ideas on how to find a free or low-cost COVID test near you, see our KQED guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site, and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story has been updated to reflect that Medicare no longer covers the cost of over-the-counter COVID tests, only PCR tests ordered by a health care provider for Medicare Part B users.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "On Thursday, May 11, the White House will officially end the public health emergency for COVID-19. Here's our guide to help Californians navigate these upcoming changes.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Update, June 20: As of June 1, you can no longer \u003ca href=\"https://covidtests.gov/\">order free COVID-19 tests from the federal government and USPS\u003c/a>. A message on the \u003ca href=\"https://covidtests.gov/\">covidtests.gov site\u003c/a> says that ordering has “been suspended to preserve remaining supply.” \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Thursday, May 11, the White House officially ended the public health emergency for COVID-19. This comes after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11941075/californias-covid-emergency-ends-feb-28-what-does-that-actually-mean-for-you\">California ended its own state of emergency back in February\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The end of the federal public health emergency will have big impacts on how people in the United States access COVID care, and how much they’ll pay for it. But a lot of these changes won’t actually apply to Californians — at least not for folks with health insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about how your access to COVID vaccines, bivalent boosters, free tests and treatments like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically\">Paxlovid\u003c/a> has changed — or hasn’t changed — since May 11.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidinsurance\">How you’ll be affected if you have health insurance in California\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidnoinsurance\">How you’ll be affected if you are uninsured in California\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>I thought the state of emergency had already ended?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You’re not wrong. There have just been several states of emergency for COVID, on the local, national and international levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Feb. 28, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11941075/californias-covid-emergency-ends-feb-28-what-does-that-actually-mean-for-you\">California ended its own COVID state of emergency\u003c/a>. This move was characterized as \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/health-california-covid-gavin-newsom-government-and-politics-0a013cc71e580d33fe59f93bc6c2b16e\">“a symbolic end” to the pandemic in the state\u003c/a>, and a “decision [that] will have little practical impact on most people’s lives.” When the state announced the order would be lifted in February, the majority of the 600 pandemic-related orders Newsom had issued since March 2020 had been lifted. Many cities around California still had their own states of emergency, and have lifted those since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On April 10, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2023/04/11/1169191865/biden-ends-covid-national-emergency\">the federal national emergency ended early\u003c/a>. This emergency order, which was separate from the federal public health emergency that’s ending this week, was originally set to also expire on May 11 — but a bipartisan congressional resolution moved to bring this order to a close ahead of schedule.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>On May 5, \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/covid-is-no-longer-global-health-emergency-who-2023-05-05/\">the World Health Organization (WHO) ended the international global emergency status for COVID\u003c/a>, saying that individual countries should now manage the coronavirus. It also recommended that the United Nations retire its characterization of COVID as a “public health emergency of international concern,” which has been in place since January 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidinsurance\">\u003c/a>I’m hearing that free COVID tests and care are going away after May 11. Is that true?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No — at least not for people with health insurance in California, including people on Medi-Cal. (\u003ca href=\"#covidnoinsurance\">Jump straight to how you’ll be affected if you are uninsured in California.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s true that the end of these national emergencies \u003cem>will\u003c/em> have big effects on nationwide funding for COVID vaccines and testing. This means that in other states, people with health insurance will find that their insurers no longer have to cover the costs of COVID care like testing and treatment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But California has enacted several laws that force insurers to keep covering COVID care even after the state and federal states of emergency end (more on this below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>COVID vaccines will most likely remain free for people with insurance for all of the United States\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House’s COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish K. Jha promised that COVID vaccines will remain free in the U.S. for insured people as a preventive service covered under the Affordable Care Act of 2010.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB510\">Senate Bill 510\u003c/a> requires insurers in California to keep covering COVID costs like testing and vaccination after the national public health emergency ends anyway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948942\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948942\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A white medication box with blue, pink and yellow stripes on the left-hand side. The words "Paxlovid 150 mg + 100 mg film-coated tablets" is printed in blue. A woman's hands are holding either side of the box. It's a close-up shot.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paxlovid, Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral treatment. \u003ccite>(Europa Press/C.Lujan.POOL via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>People in California with health insurance can still get Paxlovid for free\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another California law — \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB1473\">SB 1473\u003c/a> — requires insurers to keep covering the costs of COVID therapeutic treatments like Paxlovid. This also applies to people on Medi-Cal and Medicare. This law only keeps the current situation in place until six months after the \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-07/with-covid-emergency-ending-will-i-have-to-pay-for-tests\">end of the federal public health emergency, on Nov. 11\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically\">Click here to find a prescription for Paxlovid.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>People in California with health insurance can still get reimbursed for COVID tests \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB1473\">SB 1473\u003c/a> also requires insurers to keep reimbursing their members for the costs of up to eight over-the-counter COVID tests a month. This also applies to people on Medi-Cal, but again, \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-07/with-covid-emergency-ending-will-i-have-to-pay-for-tests\">this law is only in effect until Nov. 11\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Read about how to get reimbursed for COVID tests by your insurer.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you see signs in your local pharmacy saying that May 11 was your last chance to get the cost of your COVID tests reimbursed by your insurer, remember: If you live in California, this isn’t accurate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus\">Medicare no longer covers the cost of over-the-counter COVID tests \u003c/a>(people on Medicare Part B, medical insurance, were previously able to get free antigen tests.) \u003ca href=\"https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-diagnostic-tests\">The only COVID tests Medicare still covers\u003c/a> are diagnostic tests done by a laboratory and ordered by your health care provider, for Medicare Part B users (some Medicare Advantage Plans may require cost sharing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What happens after Nov. 11? If you want Paxlovid or to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">get reimbursed for COVID tests by an insurer\u003c/a> after that date, you’ll have to make sure you are obtaining these services “in network.” Right now, specific details about what that will look like in practice come November are still lacking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidnoinsurance\">\u003c/a>After May 11, how can people in California without health insurance access COVID care?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Thanks to state legislation from 2020, California has offered uninsured state residents free COVID testing, hospital care and treatment via Medi-Cal providers during the pandemic — if they signed up for the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Pages/COVID-19-Presumptive-Eligibility-Program.aspx\">COVID-19 Uninsured Group program\u003c/a>, managed by the Department of Health Care Services. But this program is ending on May 31, 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Documents/COVID-19-Sunset-Notice.pdf\">The state is now asking uninsured people that were enrolled in the Uninsured Group program (PDF)\u003c/a> to instead “apply for no-cost or low-cost health coverage through Medi-Cal or Covered California.” You can \u003ca href=\"https://www.coveredca.com/\">visit coveredca.com\u003c/a> and use the calculator tool on the home page to see whether you qualify for Medi-Cal or Covered California coverage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948954\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948954\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up shot of a health care professional in black gloves holding a COVID-19 rapid test, which is pictured as a thick, white paper test with holes for a cotton swab to rest inside.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS46094_002_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDTesting_11302020-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A rapid COVID-19 test held by a health care professional at a Unidos en Salud testing site, a collaboration of UCSF and the Latino Task Force, during a post-holiday COVID-19 outreach event on 24th and Mission streets in San Francisco on Nov. 30, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The state’s materials for uninsured people state that Covered California has a special enrollment period “due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.” This special enrollment period “will end 60 days after the last day of the month when the Public Health Emergency ends” — which is July 30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To enroll by the end of this special pandemic enrollment period, the state suggests to \u003ca href=\"https://www.coveredca.com/apply/\">visit coveredca.com/apply\u003c/a> and choose “Pandemic (COVID-19)/Public Health Emergency” as your qualifying life event from the “Special Enrollment” drop-down menu. The date of your qualifying life event should be the current date. You can also enroll in Covered California if you have \u003ca href=\"https://www.coveredca.com/support/before-you-buy/qualifying-life-events/\">another qualifying life event\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Accessing COVID vaccines in California when you’re uninsured\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state’s Department of Health Care Services is advising uninsured people enrolled in their COVID-19 Uninsured Group program that “\u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Documents/COVID-19-Sunset-Notice.pdf\">after this program ends, you can still get vaccinated for free (PDF)\u003c/a>,” and to visit California’s vaccines site \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">myturn.ca.gov\u003c/a> for more information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House has also promised that\u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/04/18/fact-sheet-hhs-announces-hhs-bridge-access-program-covid-19-vaccines-treatments-maintain-access-covid-19-care-uninsured.html\"> COVID vaccines will stay free for people without insurance nationally\u003c/a>, thanks to a program that the Biden administration says should be funded through the end of 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) told KQED in an email that “for the uninsured, free COVID-19 vaccines and pill medications at most pharmacies, public health clinics, and federally-supported clinics will continue for now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Low-cost or free COVID-19 doctor visits may also be obtained through Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and free clinics,” said CDPH. \u003ca href=\"https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/\">Find an FQHC near you via the federal Health Resources and Services Administration’s map.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Finding Paxlovid and other COVID treatments in California when you’re uninsured\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Californians without insurance currently have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance#noinsurance\">several options to get a free prescription for the COVID antiviral drug Paxlovid\u003c/a>, or other COVID therapeutics — including using \u003ca href=\"https://sesamecare.com/covid\">Sesame Care, the state’s free COVID telehealth service\u003c/a>, which is still operational for now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948933\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948933\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut.jpg\" alt=\"President Joe Biden speaks from the presidential podium inside the White House. He has short, gray hair, and wears a navy suit and tie. The presidential seal is in gold in the center of the podium and gold curtains are seen in the background.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS51555_GettyImages-1334915315-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">US President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the COVID-19 response and the vaccination program in the East Room of the White House on Aug. 18, 2021, in Washington, DC. On May 11, the White House will officially end the public health emergency for COVID-19. \u003ccite>(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The White House has promised that the same program that will fund free COVID vaccines for uninsured people through 2024 will also \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/04/18/fact-sheet-hhs-announces-hhs-bridge-access-program-covid-19-vaccines-treatments-maintain-access-covid-19-care-uninsured.html\">allow people without insurance to still get Paxlovid for free at certain participating pharmacies\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Finding COVID tests in California when you’re uninsured\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House website \u003ca href=\"https://www.covid.gov/tests\">covid.gov/tests\u003c/a> has been offering separate orders of free COVID antigen tests for each household during the pandemic. This program looks to be continuing after the federal public health emergency ended on May 11, but it’s unclear how much longer it’ll last.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if your household hasn’t ordered any free tests since Dec. 15, 2022, consider \u003ca href=\"http://covid.gov/tests\">placing your order for another four free COVID tests\u003c/a> ASAP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948931\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948931\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A doctor in all white holds a clip board and wears a white mask as they stand with other masked individuals at a COVID-19 testing site. One man sits helping people who are in line. He wears an orange and yellow vest.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS45880_033_KQED_Oakland_COVID19Testing_10312020-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A doctor stands at the entrance of a COVID-19 testing event at Acts Full Gospel Church in Oakland on Oct. 31, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Currently, there are still some sites offering free COVID testing around the state; \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">see them at myturn.ca.gov/testing\u003c/a> by applying the “Free Sites” filter from the drop-down menu. It’s not yet clear how many of these will continue operating in the coming months. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">For more ideas on how to find a free or low-cost COVID test near you, see our KQED guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site, and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story has been updated to reflect that Medicare no longer covers the cost of over-the-counter COVID tests, only PCR tests ordered by a health care provider for Medicare Part B users.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "The 'Arcturus' COVID Variant Is Already in the Bay Area. What We Know About XBB.1.16",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was updated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A new COVID-19 variant is making its way through the Bay Area. But health experts say there’s no need to panic yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The XBB.1.16 strain — \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/TRyanGregory/status/1635398471120482306\">dubbed “Arcturus” by some online\u003c/a> — was added to the World Health Organization’s list of variants of interest in April, and has been detected in California, according to wastewater surveillance systems.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#arcturuspinkeye\">What’s the connection between Arcturus and pink eye?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>It’s still early, but Arcturus is already “set to be the dominant strain by summer — and the rate of increase is very steep,” Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As COVID continues to evolve with our lives, KQED is monitoring new variants and challenges the virus presents and how to stay safe. Keep reading for what we know so far about XBB.1.16, this omicron subvariant.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is the Arcturus strain present in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes. \u003ca href=\"https://wwscan.ghost.io/\">The Arcturus variant has been detected in San Francisco, Sacramento and San José\u003c/a>, according to wastewater data from Stanford University’s Sewer Coronavirus Alert Network, or SCAN, system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are seeing it more frequently in the more recent samples,” said Alexandria Boehm, a professor at Stanford who oversees the SCAN system. The wastewater data takes two weeks to process, and the most recent showed that 10% of the genomes in the wastewater could be classified as XBB.1.16, i.e. the Arcturus variant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>More recent estimates based on COVID testing among patients at UCSF showed the omicron offshoot variant is now present in about 12% of identified cases of COVID-19, according to Chin-Hong. That’s way up from 2% back on April 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because so \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">many COVID testing resources have been wound down by officials in recent months\u003c/a>, the exact level of the virus in the community is difficult to measure. “We are not doing as much surveillance as we used to — but even though we don’t have formal numbers yet, it’s here,” said Chin-Hong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The good news is that \u003ca href=\"https://covid19.ca.gov/state-dashboard/\">cases of COVID-19, including hospitalizations, are near their lowest levels\u003c/a> since the beginning of the pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11902349\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11902349 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A hand holds an at-home COVID test, while another person's hand points to the test.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">What should you know about the latest COVID variant? \u003ccite>(Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>How is the Arcturus strain different from previous strains of the coronavirus?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As a strain of COVID, Arcturus is very similar to its predecessors and falls under the BA.2 omicron lineage. But it differs by having an extra protein.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Arcturus is expected to be more transmissible than past variants and that is why it is quickly outcompeting other variants, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of what scientists know now about the latest variant comes from India, where it first rose to concern in January. And so far, there is little evidence that infections with this variant are more severe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The global risk assessment for XBB.1.16 is low as compared to XBB.1.5 and the other currently circulating variants, at this current time and with available evidence,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/21042023xbb.1.16ra-v2.pdf\">a risk assessment report from the WHO (PDF)\u003c/a> reads. “No changes in severity have been reported in countries where XBB.1.16 are reported to be circulating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In India and Indonesia, there has been a slight increase in bed occupancy numbers,” said the statement. “However, the levels are much lower than seen in previous variant waves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"arcturuspinkeye\">\u003c/a>What’s the connection between the Arcturus variant and pink eye?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Reports from India have anecdotally connected some cases of the latest variant with conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye, in children who are infected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While rare, it’s not a totally new response with COVID generally, according to Chin-Hong. About 1% to 3% of all COVID cases have included pink eye symptoms, which include a red coloring of the white part of the eyeball, eye irritation and tears. It can also cause discharge or crust around the eye area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Anecdotally, it seems there is more in this subvariant. But a lot of viruses can cause pink eye, like a regular cold virus, so that’s not unusual,” Chin-Hong explained. “Just like how COVID makes your nose run, it can affect other moist surfaces of the body like the nose or mouth, and the eye is one of the places that can get infected. Other viruses as well can cause that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a statement to KQED, the San Francisco Department of Public Health noted this particular element among the symptoms to watch for this spring, saying that “while more research needs to be done regarding the symptoms of this [Arcturus] subvariant, people who are displaying common symptoms of COVID-19, as well as people who have pink eye, should stay home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who is most at risk of severe illness and hospitalization with Arcturus?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As with nearly all other COVID variants, older populations are most at risk of serious illness, hospitalization or death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you’re vulnerable to infection, it may be easier to get infected with this variant,” said Chin-Hong. “But for most people, getting infected may not be a huge deal because they have a lot of immunity and T cells and B cells from antibodies, other recent infections and vaccines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have the tools to make deaths close to zero, but we still have many more deaths with COVID than the regular flu virus,” he said. “So it’s important to protect the most vulnerable in our community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Public Health says the agency continues to “strongly recommend that those eligible \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11924327/where-can-i-find-a-new-omicron-covid-booster-shot-near-me\">seek the bivalent vaccine\u003c/a>, which provides protection against known variants that have been circulating,” and notes that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11945763/can-i-get-second-bivalent-booster-cdc-who-eligible\">people age 65 and over — as well as those with weak immune systems — may now get their second dose\u003c/a> of the bivalent vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I protect myself and my community from this new variant?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Stay up-to-date on vaccinations. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11941531/when-can-i-get-a-second-bivalent-covid-booster-heres-what-we-know-right-now\">Our guide has everything you need to know about boosters and annual shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Get tested if you start feeling sick. Read more about finding \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">free testing options near you\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Have a plan to get treatments like Paxlovid. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically\">Read and share our guide for finding treatments and seeking coverage or reimbursement.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site, and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "The 'Arcturus' COVID Variant Is Already in the Bay Area. What We Know About XBB.1.16 | KQED",
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"headline": "The 'Arcturus' COVID Variant Is Already in the Bay Area. What We Know About XBB.1.16",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was updated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A new COVID-19 variant is making its way through the Bay Area. But health experts say there’s no need to panic yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The XBB.1.16 strain — \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/TRyanGregory/status/1635398471120482306\">dubbed “Arcturus” by some online\u003c/a> — was added to the World Health Organization’s list of variants of interest in April, and has been detected in California, according to wastewater surveillance systems.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#arcturuspinkeye\">What’s the connection between Arcturus and pink eye?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>It’s still early, but Arcturus is already “set to be the dominant strain by summer — and the rate of increase is very steep,” Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As COVID continues to evolve with our lives, KQED is monitoring new variants and challenges the virus presents and how to stay safe. Keep reading for what we know so far about XBB.1.16, this omicron subvariant.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is the Arcturus strain present in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes. \u003ca href=\"https://wwscan.ghost.io/\">The Arcturus variant has been detected in San Francisco, Sacramento and San José\u003c/a>, according to wastewater data from Stanford University’s Sewer Coronavirus Alert Network, or SCAN, system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are seeing it more frequently in the more recent samples,” said Alexandria Boehm, a professor at Stanford who oversees the SCAN system. The wastewater data takes two weeks to process, and the most recent showed that 10% of the genomes in the wastewater could be classified as XBB.1.16, i.e. the Arcturus variant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>More recent estimates based on COVID testing among patients at UCSF showed the omicron offshoot variant is now present in about 12% of identified cases of COVID-19, according to Chin-Hong. That’s way up from 2% back on April 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because so \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">many COVID testing resources have been wound down by officials in recent months\u003c/a>, the exact level of the virus in the community is difficult to measure. “We are not doing as much surveillance as we used to — but even though we don’t have formal numbers yet, it’s here,” said Chin-Hong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The good news is that \u003ca href=\"https://covid19.ca.gov/state-dashboard/\">cases of COVID-19, including hospitalizations, are near their lowest levels\u003c/a> since the beginning of the pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11902349\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11902349 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A hand holds an at-home COVID test, while another person's hand points to the test.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">What should you know about the latest COVID variant? \u003ccite>(Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>How is the Arcturus strain different from previous strains of the coronavirus?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As a strain of COVID, Arcturus is very similar to its predecessors and falls under the BA.2 omicron lineage. But it differs by having an extra protein.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Arcturus is expected to be more transmissible than past variants and that is why it is quickly outcompeting other variants, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of what scientists know now about the latest variant comes from India, where it first rose to concern in January. And so far, there is little evidence that infections with this variant are more severe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The global risk assessment for XBB.1.16 is low as compared to XBB.1.5 and the other currently circulating variants, at this current time and with available evidence,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/21042023xbb.1.16ra-v2.pdf\">a risk assessment report from the WHO (PDF)\u003c/a> reads. “No changes in severity have been reported in countries where XBB.1.16 are reported to be circulating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In India and Indonesia, there has been a slight increase in bed occupancy numbers,” said the statement. “However, the levels are much lower than seen in previous variant waves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"arcturuspinkeye\">\u003c/a>What’s the connection between the Arcturus variant and pink eye?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Reports from India have anecdotally connected some cases of the latest variant with conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye, in children who are infected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While rare, it’s not a totally new response with COVID generally, according to Chin-Hong. About 1% to 3% of all COVID cases have included pink eye symptoms, which include a red coloring of the white part of the eyeball, eye irritation and tears. It can also cause discharge or crust around the eye area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Anecdotally, it seems there is more in this subvariant. But a lot of viruses can cause pink eye, like a regular cold virus, so that’s not unusual,” Chin-Hong explained. “Just like how COVID makes your nose run, it can affect other moist surfaces of the body like the nose or mouth, and the eye is one of the places that can get infected. Other viruses as well can cause that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a statement to KQED, the San Francisco Department of Public Health noted this particular element among the symptoms to watch for this spring, saying that “while more research needs to be done regarding the symptoms of this [Arcturus] subvariant, people who are displaying common symptoms of COVID-19, as well as people who have pink eye, should stay home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who is most at risk of severe illness and hospitalization with Arcturus?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As with nearly all other COVID variants, older populations are most at risk of serious illness, hospitalization or death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you’re vulnerable to infection, it may be easier to get infected with this variant,” said Chin-Hong. “But for most people, getting infected may not be a huge deal because they have a lot of immunity and T cells and B cells from antibodies, other recent infections and vaccines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have the tools to make deaths close to zero, but we still have many more deaths with COVID than the regular flu virus,” he said. “So it’s important to protect the most vulnerable in our community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Public Health says the agency continues to “strongly recommend that those eligible \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11924327/where-can-i-find-a-new-omicron-covid-booster-shot-near-me\">seek the bivalent vaccine\u003c/a>, which provides protection against known variants that have been circulating,” and notes that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11945763/can-i-get-second-bivalent-booster-cdc-who-eligible\">people age 65 and over — as well as those with weak immune systems — may now get their second dose\u003c/a> of the bivalent vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I protect myself and my community from this new variant?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Stay up-to-date on vaccinations. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11941531/when-can-i-get-a-second-bivalent-covid-booster-heres-what-we-know-right-now\">Our guide has everything you need to know about boosters and annual shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Get tested if you start feeling sick. Read more about finding \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">free testing options near you\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Have a plan to get treatments like Paxlovid. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11942172/should-everyone-be-trying-to-get-paxlovid-for-covid-now-yes-basically\">Read and share our guide for finding treatments and seeking coverage or reimbursement.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site, and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
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"order": 9
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"id": "fresh-air",
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"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
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"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"order": 15
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"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 18
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"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
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"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
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"source": "American Public Media"
},
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"masters-of-scale": {
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"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
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},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
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"meta": {
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"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
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"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
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"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
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"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 11
},
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"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
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},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
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},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
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"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
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},
"perspectives": {
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"order": 14
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"planet-money": {
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"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
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},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
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},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
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"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
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"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
"subscribe": {
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"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
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},
"pri-the-world": {
"id": "pri-the-world",
"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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},
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