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A new study released Monday said Merck’s widely used antiviral Covid pill can cause mutations in the virus that occasionally spread to other people, raising questions about whether the drug has the potential to accelerate Covid’s evolution. The findings may increase scrutiny about the usefulness of the treatment, molnupiravir, which was one of the first Covid drugs available to doctors worldwide during the pandemic. (Constantino, 9/25)

A new study published Monday links COVID-19 antiviral created by Merck with new mutations of the virus that have been sequenced around the world. Molnupiravir, known commercially as Lagevrio, is one of two COVID-19 antivirals authorized for treating coronavirus infections along with Paxlovid from Pfizer. The drug works by inducing mutations in the virus’s cells as it replicates, resulting in random mutations that are harmful to the virus and cuts down on its viral load. Researchers from the U.K. and South African delved into the question of where some mutated variants may have occurred, given that some have been found with seemingly random mutations, and whether molnupiravir may have contributed to the rise of some strains. (Choi, 9/25)

Rebound is a tricky concept to pin down, partly because you can define it in two ways: by looking at whether someone tests positive again a few days after testing negative, or by looking at whether symptoms have returned after someone has seemingly recovered. It’s also hard to differentiate between rebound symptoms and those that simply linger — or those of long Covid. (Blum, 9/26)

According to CDC Director Dr. Mandy K. Cohen, it’s the first time the federal government is leaving purchasing to the private market since the pandemic began, which is similar to how the flu vaccine is distributed. ... “It’s important to know that there is vaccine available,” Cohen said in a video posted on social media last week. “You will be able to get one. And it should be free for you — whether or not you have insurance.” “It’s great that people are excited to get the vaccine,” added Cohen. “If you’ve had a problem finding the vaccine, stick with it. More vaccine is on the way.” (Gagosz, 9/25)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone 6 months or older should get the newest COVID-19 vaccines. And thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the shots remain free to consumers. However, some people have gotten surprise bills from insurance companies after getting vaccinated. (Bowman, 9/25)

The shift in responsibility for Covid-19 shot distribution from federal agencies to the commercial market is off to a rocky start. (Abbott and Wilde Mathews, 9/25)

If your medicine cabinet is bereft of COVID tests, now is the time to stock up: The U.S. government is again mailing out free kits, ahead of an anticipated fall and winter surge. Each U.S. household is eligible to receive four free tests as of Sept. 25, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Orders can be placed at COVID.gov/tests. (Prater, 9/25)

Millions of Americans say they've had long COVID, and some say they're still battling it, according to new federal data. Two new reports, published early Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, looked at data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey. (Kekatos, 9/26)