Social Services provides latest COVID-19 guidance

Published on August 29, 2024

Graphic image of a Covid-19 virus model and the words Covid-19.

Los Alamos County has seen an increase in COVID-19 transmission, according to recent data from BioBot’s wastewater surveillance program. This update arrives as BioBot has notified the County that it will cease providing this free service after August 31. In response, officials from the Los Alamos County Social Services Division are sharing the latest COVID-19 information from the New Mexico Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) so that individuals can protect themselves.

 

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated mRNA vaccines to be released, which comes as the nation sees an uptick in COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 symptoms can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/index.html

 

The updated vaccines should be available from Pfizer and Moderna in the coming days, although Social Services officials indicate that they do not yet know when they will be available at pharmacies and the Public Health Office in Los Alamos.

 

The CDC has issued the following vaccine recommendations:

  • Everyone 6 months and older should receive one dose of the new COVID-19 vaccine.
  • To maximize protection, people should wait at least two-to-three months since their last COVID-19 vaccination or infection before getting one of the updated shots.
  • High-risk individuals, including people 65 and older and those who are immunocompromised or have serious medical conditions, should consult with their doctor and receive at least one dose of the new COVID-19 vaccine.

Most private insurance plans, as well as the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs, cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations. Children can also receive free shots through a federally-funded program called Vaccines for Children. However, the CDC’s Bridge Access Program, which was designed to provide free COVID-19 shots to underinsured and uninsured Americans, will not reopen this year. 

 

Additionally, starting at the end of September, U.S. households can order up to four free COVID-19 tests through covidtests.gov, which can detect the current COVID-19 variants and are valid through the end of the year.

 

Tagged as:
Back to top