Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Need a COVID-19 Vaccine or at-Home Test? What You Need to Know in Fresno County
fresnoland-f
By Fresnoland
Published 1 year ago on
September 30, 2023

Share

An updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine is available for Fresno patients through their local pharmacies and healthcare providers.

Oscar Alexander Portrait

Oscar Alexander

Fresnoland

The new vaccine, produced by ModernaTX Inc. and Pfizer Inc., targets the Omicron variant XBB 1.5 and its other sub-lineages: XBB 1.6 and XBB 2.3.

The FDA cited an expected uptick in the XBB variants in the fall of 2023 as more than 95% of the circulating variants in the U.S. as of early June 2023 are of that strain and similar protein sequence.

“Continued mutations make it easier for COVID-19 to infect individuals, even if they have been previously infected with earlier strains of COVID-19,” said Dr. Trinidad Solis and Dr. John Zweifler in a joint email to Fresnoland. “Also, immunity against viral illnesses including COVID-19 tends to wane over time, both for those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as for those who were previously infected.”

The FDA and the Fresno County Department of Public Health recommend the new vaccine for individuals 12 years and older and, in emergencies, for individuals 6 months and older.

The CDC says the side effects are similar to those of the original COVID vaccines: fatigue, headaches, chills, low fever, muscle aches, and possible pain and swelling on the injection site of the arm.

The FDA has also moved to hold annual meetings in June to assess COVID-19 vaccine updates.

Where to Get the New Vaccine?

To get your vaccine, make an appointment with your doctor or local pharmacy to get the booster for COVID-19 in Fresno.

According to CVS, vaccines will be free of charge for all ages, regardless of insurance status, with Rite Aid and Walgreens following suit.

A CVS source told Fresnoland that annual updated COVID vaccines could become routine, much like the flu shot.

COVID-19 in Fresno

Fresno County has seen a 12.2% positivity rate in COVID cases last week, a 2.6% decrease from the week prior and significantly lower than the county’s late August peak of 15% positivity.

California has seen positive cases up 12.8%, a .05% decrease from 7 days prior but still more than 5% above the positive cases reported in mid-July.

The U.S. has seen an 18% increase in cases in the past two weeks, an average of 4,679 daily.

At-Home COVID Tests and How to Get Them

The Biden administration again started taking orders for free at-home COVID tests on Monday, Sept. 25.

The administration guaranteed a $600 million investment that will work to deliver a maximum of four free tests per household.

To place an order for free at-home COVID tests, visit COVID.gov.

To prevent the spread of COVID, the FCDPH recommends staying up to date on vaccines, staying home if you feel sick, and wearing a mask in crowded indoor places.

This article first appeared on Fresnoland and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

About Fresnoland

Fresnoland is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to making policy public.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

How California Homeless Programs Are Helping People Get Fit and off the Streets: ‘It’s the Bike’

DON'T MISS

Protesters in Fresno Rally Against Tesla and Elon Musk

DON'T MISS

Trump Considers Massive Extension of Travel Ban Targeting Up to 43 Countries

DON'T MISS

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

DON'T MISS

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

DON'T MISS

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

DON'T MISS

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

DON'T MISS

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

DON'T MISS

A Loophole in California Law Makes It Hard to Prosecute Threats Against Schools. Will Lawmakers Close It?

DON'T MISS

Rubio Says South Africa’s Ambassador to the US ‘Is No Longer Welcome’ in the Country

UP NEXT

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

UP NEXT

Meet Millie: The Sweetest Dog You’ll Ever Meet

UP NEXT

River Park Farmers Market Nears Milestone: 7 Million Customers

UP NEXT

Meet Tulare County’s New Health Officer: Dr. Asma Tariq

UP NEXT

CA Borrows $3.4B to Cover Medi-Cal Budget Gap. Is Immigrant Coverage at Risk?

UP NEXT

Tulare Police Arrest Eight in Gang Suppression Operation

UP NEXT

Feds Drop Gun Charge Against Capitol Rioter Benjamin Martin

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Jared Emerson Malan

UP NEXT

Multi-Platinum Artist Chris Young to Bring Country Hits to Tachi Palace

UP NEXT

Smoke Shop Ordinance Eludes Divided Fresno City Council

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

1 day ago

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

1 day ago

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

1 day ago

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

1 day ago

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

1 day ago

A Loophole in California Law Makes It Hard to Prosecute Threats Against Schools. Will Lawmakers Close It?

1 day ago

Rubio Says South Africa’s Ambassador to the US ‘Is No Longer Welcome’ in the Country

1 day ago

Dodgers’ Star Mookie Betts Sidelined in Japan With Flu-Like Symptoms

1 day ago

US Imposes Sanctions on Thai Officials After Uyghur Men Are Deported to China

1 day ago

Shohei Ohtani Hits 2-Run HR in Return to Japan Against Yomiuri Giants

1 day ago

How California Homeless Programs Are Helping People Get Fit and off the Streets: ‘It’s the Bike’

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Robert Brown had tried everything for his pain, from acupu...

13 hours ago

13 hours ago

How California Homeless Programs Are Helping People Get Fit and off the Streets: ‘It’s the Bike’

1 day ago

Protesters in Fresno Rally Against Tesla and Elon Musk

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Pool via AP)
1 day ago

Trump Considers Massive Extension of Travel Ban Targeting Up to 43 Countries

1 day ago

George Soros and Elon Musk Clash in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

1 day ago

Romania’s Democracy Tested as Court Blocks Controversial Presidential Bid

1 day ago

Trump Orders Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Issues New Warning to Iran

1 day ago

Merced Kicks Off $3.5 Million Bob Hart Square Renovation

1 day ago

Playing Political Whac-A-Mole As Issue Of Bond Measure Language Pops Up Again

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend