Public Health

Public Health

How To Get An At-Home COVID Test?

There are currently 9 at-home diagnostic tests that have been authorized by the FDA. These tests typically cost between $109 and $155 but may be covered by your insurance if you had exposure or are experiencing symptoms. How to get an at-home COVID test: You can get an at-home COVID test through a Mira membership, EverlyWell, hims & hers, LetsGetChecked and more. You self-administer the test through either a nasal swab or a saliva sample and then send it to the lab for processing. There is one FDA authorized at-home rapid test, but it is not currently available for purchase. There are no authorized at-home antibody tests.

Mira Research Team21 Nov 2020
Public Health

Tamiflu vs. Xofluza- Which Is Better?

Tamiflu and Xofluza are both effective medications to treat the flu, but they work in different ways. While both medications require a prescription, Xofluza is significantly more expensive than Tamiflu. In terms of which medication is better, Dr. Nouhavandi suggests that you should choose the medication that you can afford and can tolerate. The difference between Xofluza and Tamiflu is the way it fights the flu virus.

Mira Research Team24 Nov 2020
Public Health

NYC Coronavirus Update: Schools Are Now Closed

Updated November 18th, 2020: NYC has seen a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, with a positivity rate of 3% last week. Staten Island is a current coronavirus hot zone, as most of its zip code has positivity rates of over 3%. NYC could be facing a second wave and of coronavirus and lockdown, if people don't wear masks, stay home when sick and social distance. As a result, there are some new restrictions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and avoid a lockdown. NYC public schools are shut down as of Thursday due to the coronavirus. These restrictions include a maximum gathering size of 10 people, as well as restaurants, bars, and gyms being mandated to close at 10 pm. During this time you can travel in and out of New York if you abide by the current travel restrictions. It is highly important to continue to practice social distancing and wear a face covering to avoid overwhelming the hospitals.

Mira Research Team20 Nov 2020
Public Health

How Much Will A COVID-19 Vaccine Cost?

The COVID-19 vaccine will likely be available by mid-2021 and will the vaccine will cost between $3 and $30 per dose and estimated that the vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech will cost $39 for two doses, or $19.50 per dose. It's possible that millions of Americans will have access to a COVID-19 vaccine for free as per the CARES Act, however, some may have to pay out of pocket- such as uninsured individuals.

Mira Research Team19 Nov 2020
Public Health

When will life go back to normal?

According to health experts, two things affect when life will go back to normal after the coronavirus pandemic: the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine and the strength of immunity that people develop after a COVID-19 exposure. If we are able to begin distributing an effective vaccine by early 2021, Dr. Anthony Fauci predicts that we will begin to see going back to normal by the end of 2021. Until then, it is highly important to continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing. In addition, it is highly recommended that everyone over the age of 6 months receives a flu shot this season.

Mira Research Team12 Nov 2020
Public Health

How long am I contagious with coronavirus COVID-19?

Coronavirus COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that spreads through respiratory droplets. Some researchers believe that coronavirus is much more contagious than the flu. In general, if you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 you can be contagious for 14 days after developing symptoms. If you test positive for COVID-19, you need to self isolate for 10 days and make sure that you do not have a fever or worsening symptoms before seeing others. If you believe you have COVID-19, you may want to get a PCR or antigen (rapid) test. These tests detect active COVID-19 infections; however, these tests may yield false-negative results. Therefore, getting a negative test does not rule out the chance of having COVID-19.

Mira Research Team18 Nov 2020
Public Health

When's the best time to get a flu shot? Data for 2020-2021

The best time to get a flu shot is before the flu is spreading in your community. Since the flu peaks in February, and begins to spread throughout October and into March or April, it's recommended to get your flu shot by the end of October. The flu vaccine lasts the entirety of the season but since the virus changes the next season, it's important to get the shot each year.

Mira Research Team03 Nov 2020
Public Health

Where to get a free flu shot in NYC for 2020-2021?

It's essential to get a flu vaccine this year. In New York City, you can receive a free flu shot at local clinics. If you have insurance, you can also get a free flu shot at local pharmacies such as health care resources; Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid. Urgent Care Clinics also offer free and low-cost flu shots. Some of these pharmacies have mobile apps to check availability. Check your cities local health department for more information regarding free flu vaccines. If you are a city employee, you can access free shots through WorkWell NYC Clinics. Children can also access a free flu vaccine by participating in the Vaccines for Children Program. If you are uninsured, there are ways to get a free flu shot in NYC such as local clinics.

Mira Research Team18 Nov 2020
Public Health

When Should I Get A COVID Test?

There are three different types of COVID-19 tests: the PCR test, the antigen test, and the antibody test. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get a PCR or antigen test about 3-4 days after symptom onset. If you had any exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 you should get a PCR or antigen test about 4-5 days after the exposure. Note - these tests are not 100% accurate and may yield false-negative results. Thus, if you had exposure, it is best to isolate yourself from other people for 14 days. You should get a COVID tests if you have symptoms or have been exposed to coronavirus.

Mira Research Team18 Nov 2020
Public Health

Will The United States Face A Second Wave of Coronavirus COVID-19?

Health experts are predicting that there will likely be a second or third wave of coronavirus as we enter the fall and winter. The second wave may be worsened by a lack of compliance with mask-wearing/social distancing, the cold weather, and the presence of other illnesses. Based on data from the spread of H1N1 and the 1918 flu, there is reason to believe that the second wave may be worse than the first. However, if projections show that if there is high compliance with mask-wearing and social distancing, we can save close to 100,000 lives this year, decrease our chance of contracting COVID-19, and lower the risk of overwhelming our health care systems.

Mira Research Team30 Oct 2020
Public Health

Healthfirst Catastrophic Plan vs. Fidelis Care Catastrophic Plan

This article provides a detailed look at two catastrophic plans: Healthfirst and Fidelis Care. Catastrophic plans are meant for young and healthy individuals who do not regularly seek medical attention. With both plans, you are responsible for paying a monthly premium and 100% of your medical expenses until the deductible of $8,150 is met. These plans have different in-network hospitals and both offer a partial gym reimbursement. Overall, Fidelis Care seems to be a more cost-effective plan, as it has a lower monthly premium.

Mira Research Team01 Nov 2020
Public Health

EmblemHealth Silver Bold vs. Oscar Health Saver Silver

In this article, we compare two silver health insurance plans: EmblemHealth Silver Bold and Oscar Health Saver Silver. EmblemHealth is an HMO plan with a significantly higher deductible than Oscar Health, which is an EMO plan. The monthly premiums of these plans are very similar; however, each has different benefits. EmblemHealth offers $200 every 6 months to put towards a gym membership while Oscar does not. However, EmblemHealth requires a referral to see a specialist and Oscar does not require a referral. EmblemHealth and Oscar cover different hospitals in New York City, so you may want to consider your proximity to each hospital when picking a plan. Overall, we recommend Oscar Health's Saver Silver plan as it enables more flexibility and has positive reviews regarding customer service and user satisfaction.

Mira Research Team01 Nov 2020
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