Why Accurate COVID-19 Testing Remains a Top Priority During the Vaccination Process

There is renewed hope that the U.S. will see an expansion of COVID-19 vaccines in every state. However, the importance of continued valid testing for the virus cannot be understated. Vaccines are given in two doses, and, depending upon which vaccine you receive, there is a waiting period for the second vaccine that can cover from 21 days to a month. During this interim, the body does not develop COVID-19 antibodies and patients are susceptible to getting and transmission of the virus. Diligent testing is a priority for your own safety and of those around you.

Waiting for mass distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has caused frustration and anger. While some have seemed to recuperate with little or no aftereffects of the virus, others have died. The scientific community is still studying reports of potential long term physical effects on those of all age groups and situations that have survived the virus.

Not Like Vaccines We are Used To

For most people, they are accustomed to getting vaccines in a single dose. The exception to this are a few such as the Shingles vaccine, which is given in the same 2-dose style as COVID-19. One of the most important aspects of the vaccines is to remind everyone that the antibodies to COVID-19 do not develop until 3 weeks to a month after the second dose is given. This means that no one is safe from getting COVID-19 while they wait for their second vaccination and they must continue to take high level precautions of wearing a mask and social distancing.

COVID-19 Testing Remains Critical

A big problem for many is that we live in a kind of “immediate gratification society.” We are used to fast and easy responses and results, and the pandemic has thrown people into a condition that waiting for virus vaccines can be deadly. We now know that both symptomatic and asymptomatic people can transmit the virus.

Due to the fact that COVID-19 vaccinations are slow to appear and less in quantity than needed, efficient and accurate COVID-19 testing will be an important step to attempt to reduce transmissions and infections. This is especially true in between the vaccination doses where anyone must travel and have a potentially higher exposure level.

Point of care testing has expanded beyond initial medical facilities and is now available at some pharmacies. Additional locations are being added, but the demand often exceeds the quantity of testing kits. Some locations have added the highly accurate as CareStart™ Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Test that can produce results in 10 minutes and FaStep® Covid-19 Point-of-care Antibody Test that offer results in 15 minutes. These types of tests address the previous hurdles of getting the virus while waiting for the test results from laboratories and the strain on the labs.

COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations are Still a Challenge

Each state is responsible for establishing a strategy for authorized COVID-19 testing and facilities that can safely accommodate COVID-19 vaccinations. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has created a website for lookup by state and a link to a separate website for local health departments that you can click by state for testing locations.

Having gone through almost a year of the pandemic we find ourselves in the position of being able to ask our point of care providers whether they are using COVID-19 tests that must be sent away to a lab or if they are using tests such as CareStart™ Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Test that can produce results in 10 minutes and FaStep® Covid-19 Point-of-care Antibody Test that offer results in 15 minutes. While testing still requires that a patient set up an appointment, finding out the results of a test more quickly can be yet another step to reducing transmission of this virus to others.

We will continue to add any new information and data that we receive on COVID-19. More Covid-19 Information