September 25, 2023
tests and miscellanea
Fall is here. Grateful for the first real rain after a dry summer.
Also grateful for the announcement from the Biden administration they are providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests. Free Covid tests are available again. Starting today, you can order 4 per household again. Check out https://www.covid.gov/tests.
Don’t throw out your old COVID tests until you check the expiration dates. Many have had their expiration dates extended. Check here: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list
The tests are able to detect the variants circulating now. It can seem the tests aren’t working, but there are several reasons that could happen. The simplest reason is that the testing may be done too soon, the amount of virus may not have built up enough. Another reason could be operator error of not getting a good enough sample. If a test is positive, that means someone probably has it. But if it’s negative and the symptoms fit, it could still be Covid. Repeat the testing in 48 hours and make sure you get a good sample. Or consider a PCR test at your doctor’s office. The PCR test is much more sensitive then a home test.
I also want to remind us that if you are at risk and get Covid, medications are helpful for recovery and to prevent serious illness. Most of us know about Paxlovid which is effective but it is contraindicated for certain patients. New data shows that the alternative med Lagevro is effective and safe for preventing serious illness and hospitalizations for people on meds that interact with Paxlovid or can’t take it for other reasons..
I understand that it’s a bit of a puzzle to know when to time the fall vaccines. As always, Katelyn Jetelina who writes as “Your Local Epidemiologist” has excellent advice. I recommend reading her post on considerations for fall vaccines. Interesting thoughts about the timing which can depend on travel plans or upticks in local infections. In fact, all of her posts are very informative.
She is recommending this to her family:
Over 65 or at risk for severe disease: Get vaccine 4 months after infection/previous vaccine. Don’t wait more than 6 months. (Go here to understand why older adults need more urgent protection.)
Under 65 and not high risk: Wait at least 6 months. Ideally, get vaccinated once a winter wave starts taking off. (Getting it by Halloween is a good bet.) This is what I will be doing with my family. But remember, we have very little/no protection against infection until we do. So, other layers of protection are especially needed.
And finally, my caveat is that this is my experience and my opinions, which are subject to change as more information is available. Thanks for reading.
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https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-back-heres-how-to-order/
https://www.covid.gov/tests
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/at-home-covid-19-tests-expiration-dates-new-variants/
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/throwing-home-covid-tests/story
https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/106406 waiting for vax post infection
https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/106438 paxlovid/lagevrio