COVID-19 tests, vaccines to remain free after health emergency ends on May 11
COVID-19 tests and vaccines will continue to be offered for free in Georgia despite the ending of the federal public health emergency later this week, Dr. Kathleen Toomey, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said Tuesday.
The Southwest Health District will continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 testing after the federal government allows the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to end on May 11, 2023. There is no out-of-pocket cost for vaccines or tests provided by the Southwest Health District, but for those individuals with insurance, their insurance will be billed.
COVID-19 vaccine and testing appointments can be scheduled by calling your local health department. In many cases, same-day appointments can be made. The Test&Go COVID-19 PCR Testing Kiosk is available 24/7 at the Dougherty County Health Department. Additional information regarding COVID-19 vaccines and testing can be found on our website at: http://www.swhealthdistrict.org.
The public health emergency that took first effect in early 2020 will end on Thursday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is ending the emergency based on declining COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, Dr. Chris Rustin, the state agency’s deputy commissioner, told members of the Georgia Board of Public Health.
“That does not mean COVID-19 is over,” he said. “While cases are down sharply, we still see … 10 to 30 deaths per week in Georgia, mostly in the elderly and immunocompromised.”
Rustin said the end of the emergency will not affect either vaccines or testing, at least in the short run while supplies last. The public health department has enough test kits on hand to continue providing them free over the counter, he said.
There is still a network of testing kiosks around the state as well as several drive-through test sites, Rustin said.
Paxlovid, an antiviral pill used to treat COVID-19, will continue to be offered free in the immediate future, he said.
Rustin said the biggest impact the ending of the public health emergency will have is in data collection. As of Thursday, national reporting of COVID-19 deaths will cease, which will make it impossible to track deaths in Georgia, he said.