In an effort to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Biden administration has announced plans to relaunch a program that will allow every American to order free COVID-19 tests through the mail. According to administration officials, starting late September, households will have the opportunity to order up to four free tests through the Covidtests.gov website. These tests will then be conveniently mailed directly to people's homes.

Dawn O'Connell, the assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), emphasized the importance of these tests in ensuring the safety of families and loved ones during the upcoming fall and winter season. Notably, this is the seventh time in the past three years that the administration has made free tests available to all Americans.

This announcement comes on the heels of the approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna by the Biden administration. The United States has been grappling with a summer surge of infections attributed to various COVID-19 variants. To address this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends that everyone aged six months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine, alongside the updated flu vaccine.

Alongside the availability of free COVID-19 tests, O'Connell also revealed that the antiviral medication Paxlovid will be provided free of charge to individuals covered by Medicare and Medicaid, as well as those without insurance, until the end of 2024. From 2025 to 2028, Pfizer, the manufacturer of Paxlovid, will continue to run a patient assistance program for uninsured or underinsured individuals under the purview of HHS. Additionally, Pfizer will operate a copay assistance program for individuals with commercial insurance through 2028. Merck will also offer a patient assistance program for its anti-viral drug Lagevrio for uninsured individuals. Both drugs are specifically designed to treat COVID-19 infections in individuals at high risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

While the winter season is known for higher levels of viral spread, this summer has witnessed a significant surge in infections, surpassing levels seen in recent years. However, CDC Director Mandy Cohen provided reassurance, stating that despite increased viral activity, it has not translated into a similar rise in emergency visits, hospitalizations, or deaths. Cohen attributed this to people's immunity from prior vaccinations, infections, or a combination of both. Nonetheless, she stressed that as immunity wanes over time and certain groups remain at higher risk, it is crucial to continue protecting ourselves and our loved ones.

Cohen further highlighted that although the severity of COVID-19 may resemble that of the flu, COVID-19 remains a more dangerous virus. As a result, officials are recommending annual COVID-19 shots alongside flu shots to ensure that individuals are adequately vaccinated. Peter Marks, director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated, even proposing the idea of combining COVID-19 and flu vaccinations to maximize protection.

As the Biden administration prepares to relaunch the free COVID-19 test program, provide access to antiviral medications, and promote annual vaccinations, it seeks to reinforce its commitment to safeguarding public health and curbing the spread of the virus.