The newest update to the COVID-19 vaccine reached pharmacies as infections in Indiana began to rise. Members of our audience had questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, tests and variants.

As the federal government’s public health emergency declaration for COVID-19 expired May 11, the Marion County Public Health Department announced that it will continue to offer free vaccinations at nine locations.

Congress rejected pleas from the White House to pump more money into programs that ensure COVID tests, treatments and vaccines are free for everyone. Public health experts warn the funding cuts will worsen health disparities and hurt those who are already most vulnerable.

Indianapolis Public Schools is one of five districts in the state selected to receive free rapid tests through a federal program, which provided an initial 7,200 tests for 40 IPS schools.

As the omicron surge continues, health officials in some states have given up trying to trace close contacts in all cases. That shift, combined with recent changes in isolation guidelines, is leaving many confused and unsure what to do.

As the omicron variant pushes COVID-19 case counts to new highs, we've received audience questions about monoclonal antibodies, which are used to prevent and treat infection from the coronavirus. To get answers, Side Effects Public Media spoke with Dr. Myron Cohen, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The first U.S. omicron case was identified Wednesday about a week after its discovery in South Africa. While there are concerns about the variants transmissibility, the number of mutations it possesses make it easier to detect than other strains.

Indiana saw an explosive number of COVID-19 cases reported in schools as many kicked off the new academic year without requiring masks. But since a peak around Labor Day, Hoosier schools have reported fewer new cases each week.

The state's contract with Kentucky-based Gravity Diagnostics will run through June of next year, with an option to extend it further if needed.

The state is in the midst of another COVID-19 surge. The delta variant of the virus has contributed to a more than 400 percent increase in the average number of new cases per day over the last month. In that same time, however, average new tests have only gone by up less than 200 percent.