Where can I find more COVID-19 vaccine locations?

Text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find vaccine locations near you in the United States.

What are some ways to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider?

Find COVID-19 Vaccine Near You Find a COVID-19 Vaccine: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you. There are several ways you can look for vaccination providers near you in the United States.

Are COVID-19 vaccines free?

FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are distributed for free by states and local communities. You cannot buy COVID-19 vaccines online. You do not need to pay any out-of-pocket costs to get an authorized COVID-19 vaccine — not before, during, or after your appointment.

Where can I get a COVID-19 test?

If you think you have COVID-19 and need a test, contact your health care provider or local health department immediately. You can also find a community testing site in your state, or buy an FDA-authorized at-home test. Some FDA-authorized at-home tests give you results within minutes. Others require you to mail the sample to a lab for analysis.

What organizations are being used to deliver COVID-19 vaccines?

With one exception, distribution and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines and other routine vaccines are accomplished through a Federal delivery system; Pfizer distributes and delivers doses of its COVID-19 vaccine through its own delivery system.

What is the COVID-19 vaccine hotline?

Visit the CDC COVID-19 website or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).

How are people tested for COVID-19?

Most tests to diagnose COVID-19 require a swab of your nose, or the part of the throat behind the nose, by a health care provider. A few tests use saliva (spit) or other types of collection methods. For most tests, the swab or sample must be sent to a lab for analysis.

How long does it take to get results for a COVID-19 diagnostic test?

Antigen test results may come back in as little as 15 to 45 minutes; you may wait several days or longer for PCR test results.

When can COVID-19 symptoms begin to appear?

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after someone is exposed to the virus and can include fever, chills, and cough.

Are there different types of COVID-19 diagnostic tests?

There are 2 different types of COVID-19 diagnostic tests — molecular tests and antigen tests. Molecular tests detect the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2. Antigen tests detect specific proteins made by the virus.

What kind of sample is used to test for COVID-19?

See full answer

Swab samples use a swab (similar to a long Q-Tip) to collect a sample from the nose or throat. The types of samples include:

•Anterior Nares (Nasal) – takes a sample from just inside the nostrils
•Mid-turbinate – takes a sample from further up inside the nose
•Nasopharyngeal – takes a sample from deep inside the nose, reaching the back of the throat
•Oropharyngeal – takes a sample from the middle part of the throat (pharynx) just beyond the mouth

Saliva samples are collected by spitting into a tube rather than using a nose or throat swab.

Blood samples are only used to test for antibodies and not to diagnose COVID-19. Venous blood samples are typically collected at a doctor’s office or clinic. Some antibody tests use blood from a finger stick.

Are there any at-home tests for COVID-19?

Yes. There are now COVID-19 tests available for purchase online or in a store that can be used completely at home. At-home tests allow you to collect your own sample and test it with a system that gives you results in minutes at home.

What is the difference between COVID-19 antigen and PCR tests?

PCR tests detect viral RNA. Antigen tests, also called rapid diagnostic tests, detect specific proteins on the surface of the coronavirus. Antigen test results may come back in as little as 15 to 45 minutes; you may wait several days or longer for PCR test results.

Is the PCR test for COVID-19 accurate?

PCR tests remain the gold standard for detecting an active COVID-19 infection. The tests have accurately detected COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. Highly trained clinical professionals are skilled at correctly interpreting PCR test results and notices like this one from the WHO.

What is a NAAT COVID-19 test?

A Nucleic Acid Amplification Test, or NAAT, is a type of viral diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. NAATs detect genetic material (nucleic acids).

Are COVID-19 molecular tests more accurate than antigen tests?

Molecular tests are generally more accurate and mostly processed in a laboratory, which takes longer; antigen tests—which are sometimes referred to as ‘rapid tests’—are processed pretty much anywhere, including in doctor’s office, pharmacies, or even at home.

What does a positive COVID-19 antigen test mean?

Positive antigen test results are highly specific, meaning that if you test positive you are very likely to be infected. However, there is a higher chance of false negatives with antigen tests, which means that a negative result cannot definitively rule out an active infection.

What is a PCR test in the context of COVID-19 testing?

A PCR test stands for polymerase chain reaction test. This is a diagnostic test that determines if you are infected by analyzing a sample to see if it contains genetic material from the virus.

Is the Innova COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public to stop using the Innova Medical Group SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test for diagnostic use. The FDA has significant concerns that the performance of the test has not been adequately established, presenting a risk to health.

How reliable is the test for COVID-19?

See full answerThe accuracy of any diagnostic test depends on many factors, including whether the sample was collected properly. For PCR tests, which are typically analyzed in a laboratory, test results may be affected by the conditions in which the test was shipped to the laboratory.Results may also be affected by the timing of the test. For example, if you are tested on the day you were infected, your test result is almost guaranteed to come back negative, because there are not yet enough viral particles in your nose or saliva to detect. The chance of getting a false negative test result decreases if you are tested a few days after you were infected, or a few days after you develop symptoms.Generally speaking, if a test result comes back positive, it is almost certain that the person is infected.

What does a negative COVID-19 antigen test result mean in asymptomatic persons?

Negative test results using a viral test (NAAT or antigen) in asymptomatic persons with recent known or suspected exposure suggest no current evidence of infection. These results represent a snapshot of the time around specimen collection and could change if tested again in one or more days.

Can I still use the Innova Medical Group COVID-19 antigen test?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public to stop using the Innova Medical Group SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test for diagnostic use. The FDA has significant concerns that the performance of the test has not been adequately established, presenting a risk to health.