Free COVID tests available again before fall and winter surge

FENTANYL-RELATED. IT’S THE HIGHEST DEATH COUNT SINCE REPORTED STARTED IN 2000. 16% OF THE DEATHS ARE SAID TO HAPPEN IN PUBLIC PLACES. >>> COVID CASES ARE ON THE RISE, BUT HEALTH EXPERTS ARE THEY’RE OFFERING TOOLS TO HELP, INCLUDING FREE COVID TESTS. HERE IS CBS 2’S NICK CALOWAY. >> Reporter: STARTING TODAY, YOU CAN HEAD TO COVIDTESTS.GOV AND ORDER UP TO FOUR FREE AT-HOME COVID TESTS PER HOUSEHOLD. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS BRINGING BACK THE FREE TEST PROGRAM AHEAD OF SURGE IN CASES. THERE’S ALSO A SURGE IN DEMAND FOR THOSE TESTS. >> YEAH. I’M TELLING A LOT. PARAMUS PHARMACY

IN PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY. THERE’S INTEREST IN MORE THAN JUST TESTS. >> NOWADAYS I GET LIKE TEN, 15 CALLS A DAY ABOUT THE VACCINES. >> Reporter: THE UPDATED COVID VACCINE RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE FDA IS STARTING TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO PHARMACIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HE’S STILL WAITING FOR HIS DELIVERY. >> I ORDERED IT, BUT SHOULD BE COMING LIKE THURSDAY OR FRIDAY. >> Reporter: LOTS OF PHARMACIES AND EVEN HOSPITALS ARE STILL WAITING ON BATCHES OF THE NEW SHOT, THIS AS NEW VARIANTS ARE INFECTING MORE PEOPLE. >> IT’S CREATING A FAIR AMOUNT OF DISEASE, BUT NOT A

LOT OF SEVERITY. SO HOSPITALIZATION STATEWIDE IN NEW JERSEY OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN KIND OF IN THE MID-300s. THEY GOT AS HIGH AS AROUND 500, WHICH IS WAY, WAY, WAY BELOW WHERE WE WERE AT PEAKS BACK IN

THE DAY. >> Reporter: EXPERTS SAY THE NEW VACCINE IS NOT CONSIDERED A BOOSTER, BUT MORE OF AN ANNUAL SHOT UPDATED TO TARGET NEW VARIANTS. DR. KUMAR IS A CBS NEW YORK MEDICAL CONTRIBUTOR. >> THIS SHOT SHOULD PROVIDE IMMUNITY TO GET US THROUGH THE PEAK THAT WE ARE EXPECTING THIS FALL AND WINTER SEASON. >> Reporter: ONE DOCTOR

TOLD ME HIS ADVICE TO PATIENTS IS SIMPLE. IF YOU GET SICK, STAY HOME. YOU THINK IT’S COVID, TAKE A TEST AND STAY HOME. IN NEWS.