• COVID-19 has affected every area of the world, being deemed as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization
• Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure

Testing is recommended for anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who has been within a 6-foot distance for 15 minutes or longer of someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

The test itself consists of inserting a swab into a patient’s nose or throat.

Standard tests take three to five business days to return. Rapid tests can be returned within minutes or one business day. If you test positive, you must quarantine for at least 10 days. If symptoms still persist after 10 days, do not leave quarantine until you have been without symptoms for 24 hours.

Chickasaw Nation Department of Health offers COVID-19 testing at sites in Ada, Ardmore, Purcell and Tishomingo. CNDH patients can contact a primary care provider or clinic to schedule an appointment.

Also, every home in the U.S. is eligible to receive four free home tests. To place an order visit USPS.com/testkits or call (800) 232-0233 and toll free at (888) 720-7489.

Take precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:

• If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or think you have been exposed, quarantine until you can be tested.
• Wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer after touching something that does not belong to you
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces

Vaccinations and boosters for COVID-19 are available to CNDH patients and other First Americans at the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center and satellite clinics in Ardmore, Purcell and Tishomingo. Patients should call their respective clinics to coordinate appointments. The Chickasaw Nation offers the Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine.

Some symptoms may include:

• Pain, redness, or swelling in the injection site
• Headaches
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain
• Chills
• Nausea

Most symptoms arise within seven days and disappear within 24 hours. Contact a medical professional if symptoms persist.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the CDC’s website.

The vaccine is distributed in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. With safety being a top priority, Chickasaw Nation health officials state there are many reasons to receive the vaccine as it is the best defense against COVID-19.

Additional Boosters

• Data from the CDC continues to show the importance of vaccination and booster doses to protect from infection and serious illness from the virus and its variants. This is especially important for older adults with underlying medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, HIV, heart disease, neurological conditions, diseases affecting the kidney or liver and those with disabilities.
• Chickasaw Nation Department of Health (CNDH) leaders support guidance from the CDC encouraging the COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible age groups and especially urges everyone 6 months and older who have previously received a COVID-19 vaccine before September 12, 2023 to receive a booster shot, regardless of occupation or health condition.
• Boosters are recommended for all vaccines. Individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should receive a booster two months after the primary dose. Those ages 12 and older who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should get a booster five months after completing the primary series. CNDH exclusively offers the Pfizer vaccine at all vaccination sites as the CDC allows using different vaccine for booster doses, regardless of the vaccine used for the primary dose(s).
• Children aged 6 months–4 years who got COVID-19 vaccines before September 12, 2023, should get one or two doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine depending on which vaccine and the number of doses they’ve previously received.
• The CDC confirms that the Pfizer vaccine can be used as an additional booster dose in those who received the first and second doses of the Moderna vaccine and the initial dose of the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
• CDC confirms that your vaccinations are up to date when you receive all recommended doses, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-a9 vaccine