A Commitment to Leave No COVID-19 Patient Behind

Picture of Cue Health Covid Test and COVID-19 medication

At Cue Health, it is our mission to empower individuals to live their healthiest lives. While diagnostics are at the center of care, we also know that education about diseases and treatment options play a critical role in helping people make more-informed healthcare decisions that lead to better health outcomes.

That’s why we recently collaborated with Pfizer Inc. to raise awareness among individuals with certain underlying conditions about the risks of progressing to severe COVID-19 and the importance of seeking treatment if they test positive. Through Cue Care, Cue’s same-day, at-home, test-to-treatment platform, individuals are using the Cue Health App to access educational resources like those available on Pfizer’s www.knowplango.com website, including information on risk factors for progression to severe illness from COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.

By integrating these educational resources into our platform, we are improving the test-to-treatment experience for immunocompromised people so they can receive the care they need when they need it. 

Recently, JoyL Silva, the Business Lead for Pfizer’s Global Antiviral Franchise, was a guest on WTF Health, an interview series hosted by Jessica DaMassa that gives the audience a glimpse of the future of health by introducing the people who are changing it. 

JoyL gave viewers an inside look at how her team built a model to create awareness for COVID-19 treatment among high-risk populations so they could access care quickly and easily. 

As part of the discussion, JoyL highlighted Cue as one of Pfizer’s first COVID-19 connected health partnerships, noting that the Cue platform enables a fast and seamless test-to-treatment journey, including same-day prescription delivery, underscoring the convenience and connectivity of being able to do this all on one’s smartphone. 

Perhaps most importantly, JoyL recognized that Pfizer and Cue are aligned in a shared commitment to leave no COVID-19 patient behind.  

And while this collaboration with Pfizer is specific to COVID-19, our revolutionary Cue platform is designed to support a wide range of diagnostic test-to-treatment areas, and we plan to make educational resources about treatment and recovery for other respiratory viruses and sexual health conditions available in the future. 

We are grateful to JoyL and the entire Pfizer team for this collaboration and would like to thank Jessica DaMassa at WTF Health for helping raise awareness about this important topic. 

Watch their entire conversation here.

This information is presented in summary form, general in nature, and for informational purposes only. Content is not intended nor recommended to substitute for professional medical advice. For personal medical advice, always consult your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. The tests offered are subject to change and subject to availability. Due to state restrictions, this Cue Product is not available for individuals located in the state of New York. Other state restrictions may apply for specific tests. Please refer to our support page for detailed product terms and conditions.

Addressing the Twindemic with At-Home Testing

Winter is just around the corner — a season that has long been associated with cases of the flu across the country. But this winter is anything but typical. In fact, health care leaders are increasingly worried that flu cases, coupled with the continued spread of COVID-19, will create a combination that has been coined as the “twindemic” – a combination of colliding viruses with very similar symptoms that can be difficult to distinguish. On top of all this, we’re starting to see an unseasonably early surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illness – making the winter ahead a somewhat treacherous one to navigate from a ‘staying healthy’ perspective.

What’s the difference between the flu and COVID-19?

Although the flu and COVID-19 have similar symptoms, such as fever, cough, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue, they are caused by different viruses: for flu, influenza viruses, and for COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2. Most often, symptoms of the flu can last from 1-4 days after infection, while symptoms of COVID-19 can last from 2-14 days after infection, meaning individuals with COVID-19 may be contagious for a longer period of time. 

This infographic helps demonstrate the impact of flu and COVID-19 on the U.S population: 

What can you do to prepare or prevent getting flu or COVID this winter?

The best way to prepare is to protect yourself and your family. Schedule your flu shot. Make sure you and everyone in your home is up-to-date on your COVID-19 shots and boosters. Be conscious of large gatherings and avoid close contact, particularly close contact with those who are sick. Staying aware, and making smart choices about nutrition and hygiene will all help protect you and your family this season.

How does an early and accurate diagnosis help? 

Although flu and COVID-19 may feel the same, timely differential diagnosis of influenza versus COVID-19 is important because the two viruses can be treated with distinct FDA-authorized antiviral medications, which must be administered soon after infection to be the most effective. Early treatment for both flu and COVID-19 can reduce an individual’s risk of getting seriously ill.  

Why does testing matter? 

Testing is needed to understand which virus someone is infected with, and at-home testing solutions can help those in need get access to a timely diagnosis. Today, we have separate tests for flu and COVID-19, however, in the not-so-distant future, we’re working toward these tests being combined in order to provide a convenient and accurate diagnoses. For this reason and more, we submitted an application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Emergency Use Authorization for Cue® Flu + COVID-19 Molecular Test for at-home and point-of-care use. 

The Impact of Flu and COVID-19

Experts are warning that this year’s respiratory infection season could be especially severe, placing a significant burden on the healthcare system due to the combined threat of a resurgent flu and new COVID-19 variants. For business leaders, school administrators and heads of already burdened healthcare systems, it’s clear that keeping communities healthy must be and is a priority. Fortunately, at-home testing solutions can help inform individuals about their diagnosis, help infected individuals treat their illness, and mitigate the impact of a potential “twindemic.”

This information is presented in summary form, general in nature, and for informational purposes only. Content is not intended nor recommended to substitute for professional medical advice. For personal medical advice, always consult your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. The tests offered are subject to change and subject to availability. Due to state restrictions, this Cue Product is not available for individuals located in the state of New York. Other state restrictions may apply for specific tests. Please refer to our support page for detailed product terms and conditions.

References: 

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm
  2. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/09/23/1124311571/flu-season-2022-covid-twindemic
  3. https://www.science.org/content/article/big-covid-19-waves-may-be-coming-new-omicron-strains-suggest