Help Spread the Word: Free Telemedicine Program for COVID-19 Treatments Launched: NCDHHS is launching a time-limited program in partnership with StarMed Healthcare to provide free access to telemedicine screenings for COVID-19 treatment for North Carolinians who test positive. This program is available now until funding runs out, which is expected to be around mid-March.
People who test positive for COVID-19 with an at-home test or other method can set up an appointment online at https://starmed.care/nc/ or call 704-941-6000, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is no cost to the patient. Read our press release for more information.
Key facts:
- This service is available regardless of insurance status and IDs are not required. If you do not have insurance, you will not be charged for your appointment.
- If you have insurance, StarMed will bill your health plan and NCDHHS will pay for any additional balance.
- Appointments are available in English, Spanish and more than 200 other languages through an on-demand interpretation service. American Sign Language interpretation is also available.
- If the patient is eligible for antiviral treatment, such as Paxlovid, the provider will send a prescription to the patient’s desired pharmacy. There is also an option to mail order the medication. Oral antiviral pills are available at no cost to the patient.
- The telemedicine program will last until funding runs out, which is estimated to be about mid-March.
After a positive test, early treatment is key to avoiding severe illness and hospitalizations, and treatment may even reduce complications from post-COVID conditions, also called long COVID.
Everyone, especially people at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, should have a plan to contact a health care provider right away if they test positive. This telemedicine program offers another option for quick access to lifesaving treatments. Please help spread the word in your communities:
- Printable flyer
- Visit MySpot.nc.gov/FindTreatment (Spanish) or set up a telemedicine appointment online or by calling 704-941-6000.
Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Now Available for Kids 6 Months to 4 Years: Most children 6 months to 4 years are now eligible for their updated COVID-19 vaccine, which offers the most up-to-date protection against COVID-19 variants. These vaccine doses are becoming available in North Carolina this week following the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation.
The updated vaccine is a bivalent vaccine that targets both the original coronavirus strain and Omicron variants. Like previous COVID-19 shots, children 6 months through 4 years get a smaller dose of this updated vaccine than other age groups. Children under 5 should get the same vaccine brand for all recommended doses. Children are eligible for the updated dose of their COVID-19 vaccine if they are:
- 6 months to 5 years and got their last dose of a Moderna vaccine at least two months ago
- 6 months to 4 years who already had two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and are ready for their third dose
Children 6 months and older may be able to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine and other routine vaccines they are due for at the same visit, including during routine checkups. Parents should talk with a health care provider to make sure their child is up to date on COVID-19 and other vaccines. The updated vaccine, like all COVID-19 vaccines, is safe to get alongside the annual flu shot.
As we spend more time gathering indoors this winter, it’s important that everyone stays up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines to help protect against serious illness, hospitalization, death, and long-term complications from the virus.
We need your help to make sure every North Carolinian has easy access to the information they need to protect themselves and others.Please share the resources below with the communities you serve:
Currently, COVID-19 vaccines are still free to everyone through federal funding, regardless of insurance or immigration status. When federal funding ends, COVID-19 vaccines will be available like flu shots and other routine vaccinations but may no longer be free for everyone. Flu vaccines are often available at little to no cost. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines including nearby providers, visit MySpot.nc.gov or contact the CDC-INFO Contact Center at 800-CDC-INFO.
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