How to get the new COVID-19 vaccines, plus free tests heading into fall

With the arrival of fall and an uptick in COVID-19 cases, health officials advise the public to take precautions by getting the new vaccine and free over-the-counter tests.

Here's how you can get this year's vintage of the COVID vaccine, along with free tests for you and your family:

What's the new COVID-19 vaccine?

The new COVID-19 vaccines – developed by Moderna and Pfizer – are designed with a monovalent component that deals with the XBB.1.5 variant, an offshoot of the original Omicron variant that has been prevalent for much of the year.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the new vaccines should provide solid protection against some of the newest variants, such as the aforementioned XBB.1.5, EG.5 (also known as Eris) and BA.2.86. EG.5 is currently the most prominent variant of the virus, with about a quarter of all COVID cases nationwide belonging to the new version, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Who's eligible to get it?

Just about everyone is eligible. The FDA says that those over age five can receive a single, booster dose of the vaccine regardless of whether they were previously vaccinated or not.

Children from six months old to four years old who have already been vaccinated can receive either one or two doses of the vaccine, while those who are unvaccinated can receive three doses of the new Pfizer vaccine or two doses of Moderna.

Where in Sangamon County can I get the new vaccines?

The new vaccines are available at area Walgreens or CVS locations. Log on to walgreens.com to schedule an appointment or by calling one of the 10 locations the chain has in Sangamon County.

Similarly, for CVS, log on to cvs.com, or call one of the eight Springfield locations.

Hy-Vee also has the new version of the vaccine available at their Springfield store on MacArthur Boulevard. People can schedule an appointment in advance at hy-vee.com or they can walk in during regular pharmacy hours.

The vaccines have not been supplied to local doctors or county health officials. According to Sangamon County Health Director Gail O'Neill, the county has yet to receive its updated set of vaccines.

"I don't think we're going to see a mad rush for the (new) vaccine," O'Neill said. "We ordered 110 doses to start out with and that seems kind of small compared to the thousands that we've done in the past, but we can keep replenishing the supply."

O'Neill said that at least to start out, all COVID-19 vaccines will be provided by appointment.

The HSHS Medical Group said that they have yet to receive their doses of the updated vaccines, but Amanda Mack, a company spokesperson, said that they expected to have it available to patients by mid-October.

Once available, they can set up an appointment at their walk-in lab on Old Jacksonville Road or get it through their primary care doctor.

How can I get free COVID tests?

Starting Sept. 25, people can log on to covidtests.gov and place an order for four free COVID-19 tests per household.

The Department of Health and Human Services is providing 200 million over-the-counter tests which is part of a $600 million investment to help replenish the supply of at-home tests nationwide.

If I have one of the new variants, will these tests detect them?

Yes. Although most tests do not show which variant you have; rather, they show if you are positive or negative.

The FDA says that your doctor may want to do additional testing if you have a negative test but still suspect COVID.

How long can I use the new tests?

HHS says that the tests can be used until the end of the year. However, the FDA extended expiration dates for many COVID tests distributed earlier this year.

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Outside of testing and vaccines, how can I keep safe from COVID-19?

O'Neill said that people should continue to take COVID seriously by staying home and avoiding contact with the elderly or immunocompromised if you show symptoms of illness.

"COVID is going to be part of our lives and we'll just learn to live with it," O'Neill said.

Reporter Steven Spearie contributed.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: With fall approaching, how to get COVID-19 vaccines and free tests