Think COVID is a thing of the past? Think again.
After a summer surge of the virus, and as the cold season approaches, attention is once again turning to the disease, raising questions about what to do if you test positive and how to protect yourself.
Here’s what you need to know for fall 2024:
New COVID vaccine
Last month, the Approved by the Food and Drug Administration updated COVID 19 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for the fall 2024 season.
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were revised this year to target Variant KP.2 of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as part of a now-annual process undertaken by the FDA and health authorities around the world to update vaccines to protect against new strains of the virus.
Moderna and Pfizer expect the first doses of their vaccines to be available nationwide in the coming days. Another updated vaccine from Novavax is also expected to get FDA authorization this year.
Who should get the updated COVID vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all Americans ages 6 months and older get the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against another surge of the virus expected this fall and winter.
For most people, the CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine in September or October each year, which can be given at the same time as COVID-19 vaccines.
COVID Guidelines 2024
In March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it was no longer requiring Americans to stay home for five days after testing positive, but it provided updated recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID infection and other respiratory viruses.
For people who are sick, the CDC now suggests:
- Stay home until fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without the use of antipyretic medications and symptoms improve
- Wearing a mask for five days after no longer staying at home
- Distance from others
- Improve ventilation around others
“Enhanced precautions are especially important to protect people at highest risk for severe illness, including people over age 65 and people with weakened immune systems,” according to the CDC.
How long will I be contagious with COVID in 2024?
According to the CDC, people with COVID-19 can be contagious one to two days before and up to eight to 10 days after symptoms appear.
People who are asymptomatic, or have no symptoms, can also transmit the virus, according to the CDC.
Free COVID tests
Starting in late September, Americans will be able to obtain Free COVID test kits sent by post to their home.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the agency that oversees the testing, has not announced an exact date for when orders will begin. But according to COVIDtests.gov, U.S. households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests when the federal program reopens.
The tests will detect current virus strains and can be ordered before the holiday season, when family and friends gather for celebrations, an HHS spokesperson previously said.
What medicine to take against COVID
According to the CDC, most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home.
You can treat symptoms with over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
For people who are more likely to get very sick, the FDA has authorized or approved several antiviral drugs, including:
- Nirmatrelvir with ritonavir, also known as Paxlovidean oral medicine for adults and children 12 years and older
- Remdesivir, known as Veklury, is an intravenous infusion given in a healthcare facility for adults and children
- Molnupiravir, or Lagevrio, an oral medication for adults only
Patients should work with their health care providers to determine the best treatment option for them.
