The federal COVID-19 public health emergency declaration officially expired on May 11, bringing significant changes to the way the United States handles the viral disease and its spread.
After the declaration, CDC (CDC) has updated guidance to align with the latest data and has changed how COVID-19 updates are collected and shared.
Despite the changes, the CDC assured the public that most tools, including COVID vaccines, treatments and tests, will remain available. But there is a catch in the post-pandemic era.
“Access to the COVID-19 vaccine is generally not affected at this time. The U.S. government is currently distributing the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to all adults and children. To help protect the community from COVID-19, HHS remains committed to maximizing continued access to COVID-19 -19 vaccine,” the CDC explains on its website.
Insurers, on the other hand, will no longer cover home testing kits.However, the CDC urges those who want free testing to check the agency’s Free COVID-19 Testing Locatorwhich lists all community and pharmacy partners that still offer free testing to those without health insurance.
Meanwhile, according to the CDC, treatments or drugs to prevent severe COVID-19, such as Paxlovid, are only available for free while supplies last. Once it runs out, people will have to pay for the drug out of their own pocket. They should also check with their insurance company if they would like coverage.
CDC noted that it will continue to provide sustainable, high-impact, and timely information on COVID-19 cases. However, the frequency, source and availability of updates will vary.
On May 5, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the COVID-19 pandemic over after observing a steady decline in hospitalizations and deaths from the virus. However, the group acknowledged that the virus remains a global threat as it continues to mutate and spread.
“While we are not in crisis mode, we cannot let our guard down,” Dr Maria Van Kerkhove previously said. SARS-CoV-2 “is here to stay,” added the WHO’s COVID-19 technical lead and head of the Emerging Diseases Programme.
Published by Medicaldaily.com