COVID-19 TESTING

You SHOULD get tested if:

• You have any of the following new symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, fever, chills, sore throat, runny nose/congestion, muscle pain, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.
• You should also be tested if you are asymptomatic but have had close contact (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Testing should be done 5 days after last contact.

COVID-19 VACCINES

COVID Vaccines – Updated 5/6/2024

• The CDC recommends that everyone 5 years and older should get 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness.
• Children ages 6 months-4 years need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
• People aged 65 years and older who received 1 dose of any updated COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or Novavax) should receive 1 additional dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the previous updated dose
• The vaccines are safe and have extremely high rates of success in preventing COVID-19.

Currently, Esperanza is only offering Moderna for the COVID-19 2023-2024 season. Esperanza patients currently have the option to receive the COVID-19 vaccines during their normal office visits or by scheduling a vaccine appointment.

COVID-19 TREATMENT

If you have been diagnosed with Covid and think you might qualify for oral antiviral treatment (Paxlovid or Molnupiravir), please call to speak with our triage team as soon as possible (ideally within 5 days of symptom onset).

People who may qualify for treatment must be 12 years old or older, with one of the following conditions:

• age >65 years
• BMI >25
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Chronic lung disease
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Down’s syndrome
• Heart disease- heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension
• Mental health disorders
• Pregnancy and up to 42 days postpartum
• Sickle cell
• Thalassemia
• Tobacco use
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Immunocompromised states- HIV, autoimmune disease, use of immunosuppressants

MORE INFORMATION

For information about Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide answers to many frequently asked questions at the following sites:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Page
• Philadelphia Department of Public Health – Information and Updates about COVID-19 in Philadelphia