When should I be tested
for COVID-19?
We suggest testing for COVID-19 in a few circumstances:
1. When you are at high risk for severe disease, such as a patient with lung disease. Patients who are at high risk may benefit from medication such as Paxlovid.
2. When you may expose a patient who is at high risk, and knowing your COVID-19 status will affect that exposure. For instance, if your test for COVID is positive, you will forgo a planned visit to a high-risk relative.
For most patients with a viral respiratory illness, there is no benefit to knowing your COVID test results. If you have a fever and cough, you should stay home and avoid exposing others, regardless of the cause.
How can I get free at-home COVID-19 tests?
Each household in the U.S. is eligible to order four (4) free at-home COVID tests. These tests detect current variants of COVID-19. For more information and to order yours, visit COVIDtests.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
Can Gifford give me an at-home COVID-19 test?
Gifford currently does not have any at-home COVID tests. If during a visit to your health care provider it is determined that a test would be helpful, then it may be ordered.
However, each household in the U.S. is eligible to order four (4) free at-home COVID tests. For more information and to order yours, visit COVIDtests.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
Should I get vaccinated again?
It is recommended that you stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Three COVID-19 vaccines were updated for 2024-2025—Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax. Per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention:
- Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine.
- The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you from severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
- It is especially important to get your 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Vaccine protection decreases over time, so it is important to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine.
How do I know if I am up to date with COVID-19 vaccines?
Three COVID-19 vaccines were updated for 2024-2025—Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax.
The CDC provides vaccine recommendations at cdc.gov. For example, per the CDC, people ages 12 years and older are considered up to date when they have received:
- 1 dose of the 2024–2025 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine OR
- 1 dose of the 2024–2025 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine OR
- 1 dose of the 2024–2025 Novavax vaccine unless you are receiving a COVID-19 vaccine for the very first time. If you have never received any COVID-19 vaccine and you choose to get Novavax, you need 2 doses of 2024–2025 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date.
Learn more at CDC.gov.
Where can I get vaccinated?
Both COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available at clinics and pharmacies across Vermont.
Gifford patients can get vaccinated when they are here for an appointment with their health care provider, or they can make a separate appointment with a Gifford nurse to get the vaccine, along with their flu shot if they choose.
What are symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses can include fever, chills, cough, runny nose, headache, and fatigue.
What steps can I take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
- Get vaccinated and stay up to date with vaccines.
- Practice good hygiene: wash hands frequently (rinse, lather and scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry) and clean surfaces you touch frequently (for example, countertops and doorknobs).
- When sick, stay home and away from others.
- People who are sick and at high risk for severe illness—older adults, young children, people with weakened immune systems, people with disabilities, pregnant people—should seek care promptly for testing and/or treatment. Per the CDC, treatment may help lower risk of severe illness, but it needs to be started within a few days of the start of symptoms.
