In the United States, a unique program assists in finding future strains. And it works at seven international airports.
It is known as The Traveler Genomic Surveillance Program or TGS for short. It is managed by the CDC and other partners.
The program begin in September 2021 in direct response to the Omicron variant. It was at three airports. But since, it operates in seven airports. And the program targets several hundred flights per week.
But samples are collected only from international travelers that volunteer to participate. Then the samples are then processed in a lab. And if positive, the lab determines the strain.
Regularly, we discuss that with time, Covid mutates. And this creates new strains and treatment obstacles. New strains are different. In some cases, they appear to spread easier. And with others, vaccines and other control measures may be less effective.
By collecting many samples, the CDC is able to track emerging strains that may spread in the future. Thus, TGS is important in finding future strains.
Covid-19 is a vaccine-preventable disease. Protect yourself. And protect others. In fact, vaccines and follow-up booster shots are a powerful tool to achieve this. So start the New Year by getting your booster or vaccine.
How to get Vaccinated
There are many options. And many drug stores, Walmart and others provide it. And at no cost. Here are some methods: