FDA Has Extended the Expiration Dates of iHealth At-Home COVID-19 Tests 

On January 11, 2023, the FDA extended the expiration dates on iHealth brand COVID-19 at-home tests from 12 months to 15 months (a 3-month extension). The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has been offering free at-home iHealth COVID-19 tests to Local and Tribal Health Departments through the Local and Tribal Health Department Antigen Distribution program since May 2022, and to all Wisconsin households through the program since September 2022. If your tests appear to be past their expiration date, you can use the lot number on the test package to look up the current expiration date on the FDA list.  

If you have other brands of test kits at home, we urge you to check the FDA’s website as the expiration dates on many at-home antigen tests have also been extended. An expiration date extension means the test maker has provided evidence to the government that the tests give accurate results longer than was known when they were manufactured. 

If you have questions about your test kit received through the Say Yes! COVID test program, please email customer support at syct-orders@careevolution.com. 

Reminder: Free At-Home Tests are Still Available 

All Wisconsin households can order one free package of five rapid antigen tests each month through Say Yes COVID Test! Please share this information to help reduce COVID-19 spread. 

Vaccine Updates 

DHS Urges Vaccinators to Keep Vaccines.gov Profiles Updated and Viewable        

DHS continues to strongly recommend that vaccinators ensure their profiles are up-to-date and publicly viewable on Vaccines.gov. This is very important so that people can use this resource to find the COVID-19 vaccines they are seeking as well as a convenient time to get vaccinated.  

With many changes to the vaccines that are available to the various age groups over these past months, it is critical that vaccinators regularly maintain the accuracy of the vaccines they have on available on Vaccines.gov. In addition, if vaccinators reduce and/or change the schedule of when they administer vaccines, these modifications should also be reflected in their profile. 

Short-term Supply Constraints for Pediatric Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines 

DHS is experiencing some short-term supply constraints for the bivalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months through 4 years of age and the bivalent Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months through 5 years of age.   

DHS appreciates your patience as we work with our federal partners to resolve this situation. DHS also strongly encourages vaccinators to leverage the Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccine Exchange to ensure your excess COVID-19 vaccine is available to vaccination sites with a need. 

Pfizer 12Y+ Booster Single-Dose Vials Now Available for Repeat Ordering     

DHS previously limited vaccinators to ordering only one, 50-dose order of Pfizer bivalent gray cap vaccine for people 12 years of age or older per organization in single-dose vials (SDVs). With more of this vaccine available in SDVs, vaccinators can now place additional orders of 50 doses of the Pfizer 12Y+ Bivalent Booster SDV.  

Vaccinators can place orders for Pfizer SDVs by completing the COVID-19 Vaccine Ordering Survey. This is the same process that is used to order all COVID-19 vaccines. 

Testing Program Updates 

DHS Expands Antigen Availability for Municipal Lockup Facilities    

The COVID-19 Testing Support for Jails and Municipal Lockup Facility program is now offering self-administered COVID-19 antigen tests (self-tests) for municipal lockup facilities.  These tests may be distributed to facility staff only and can be used by symptomatic individuals, those who have had a close contact with an individual with a confirmed case of COVID-19, and/or for routine screening. Proctored antigen and PCR tests are available for Persons in our Care and can be ordered through DHS Collection Supply.  

Self-tests do not require results reporting nor a Clinical Laboratory Improvement (CLIA) waiver.  Municipal lockup facilities can order self-tests directly through the DHS Collection Supply website pending the availability of supplies and funding. As with all antigen tests, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends serial testing to ensure accuracy.  

On January 11, 2023, the FDA extended the expiration dates on iHealth brand COVID-19 self-tests from 12 months to 15 months (3-month extension). If your tests appear to be past their expiration date, you can look up your package on the FDA list using the lot number on the box to find the new expiration date. If you have other brands of antigen test kits, we urge you to check the FDA website because the expiration dates on many tests have also been extended.  An expiration date extension means the test maker has provided evidence to the government that the tests give accurate results longer than was known when they were manufactured. 

DHS Reminds K-12 Schools that LTHDs are Valuable Partners in Disease Control 

DHS has sent reminders to schools to partner with local and tribal health departments by proactively reporting significant illness among students/staff, as outlined in the state’s communicable disease reporting requirements. Reporting helps inform health departments so they can take action to protect students and the larger community.  

Here is the provided list of local health officers contacts by county. Here is a link to the COVID-19 Testing Support for K-12 Schools newsletter.