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Why a Vault Health At-Home COVID-19 Test is the Best Present for Every Stocking This Year

With the holiday season in full swing and everything being so merry and bright, this time of year typically brings three things: holiday travel, social parties, and family gatherings. Before the pandemic, many of us didn’t think twice about getting together with large groups of friends, co-workers, and/or family members. We didn’t overthink the idea of sitting or talking too closely with someone, drinking out of someone else’s glass to sample what they were having, or being on public transportation with hundreds of strangers. Furthermore, we didn’t think twice about spending multiple days with dozens of extended family members, including elderly grandparents and newborn babies, after traveling on a five-hour flight or attending a party the day before.

 

 

Of course, no one ever wanted to be around someone who was sick, but if it was just a little cold, it didn’t seem to stop anyone from going to work, attending school, or showing up for a party or family gathering. I mean, it’s the holidays, you can’t postpone them, and there’s a lot of planning and financial commitment involved in these things! If someone sneezed or coughed at a party or gathering of some sort, it wasn’t analyzed. It wasn’t judged. And it wasn’t feared. We just tolerated it and expected it as part of normal day-to-day life.

 

 

 

 

But now, post pandemic (with new variants popping up, still in the middle of the pandemic) things have drastically changed! In many parts of the country, you’re required to show proof of vaccination and/or a negative COVID-19 test no more than one day before you travel by air into the U.S. And if you appear sick in any sort of way, people immediately avoid you like the plague and question if you have “the virus.” People find themselves missing work and school based on illness symptoms and pending test results. And there are family members who are proactively asking their extended family to take a negative COVID test before they come to visit for the holidays.

 

 

With all that being said, chances are you’re going to need a COVID test sometime this holiday season for one reason or another. And when it comes to health, I know I don’t like to compromise. That’s why I’d like to tell you more about why I exclusively love and use Vault Health for all my testing needs.

 

 

 

 

I’d also like to add that an at-home COVID test is a great gift to give someone this holiday season and beyond. Since they don’t expire, the test can be used well into the new year or saved for unexpected times of need.

 

 

Who is Vault Health?

 

At the start of the pandemic, the United States didn’t have a national infrastructure in place for COVID testing solutions—and certainly not one that accounted for capacity and scale. In April 2020, Vault Health made a business decision to pivot and deliver at-home PCR COVID-19 tests (done in partnership with Infinity BiologiX and Spectrum Solutions) to address this issue and keep people safe.

 

 

Since then, Vault Health has played a major role in the fight against COVID-19. Not only have they provided access to over 10 million COVID tests nationwide (ranging from enterprise and business to public health, education, and direct to consumer), they’ve also set up vaccination clinics and facilitated access to hundreds of thousands of COVID vaccines across the country.

 

 

Why Vault Health

 

In a nutshell, here are my Top 5 reasons why I love Vault Health

 

  1. Vault’s COVID test results are through a PCR test, making them highly accurate
  2. Vault’s COVID tests can be done at home with no appointment
  3. Vault’s COVID tests are saliva tests, not nasal swab tests
  4. Vault’s COVID tests are family friendly and non-invasive for children
  5. Vault’s COVID tests are quick, easy, and reliable with results coming back within 18-48 hours

  

 

How the Vault Health COVID Testing Process Works

 

 

Vault Health makes it easy to order a test, take it, send it back, and get your results. You order the test online, either directly through their website, or if your state has a partnership with Vault, through the state’s health department website. The ordering process is quick and straightforward as well: Within 24 hours, a test arrives at your doorstep via UPS, and in some big cities, it can even arrive the same day via DoorDash.

 

 

Once the test arrives, open the package and follow the instructions to log on to a Zoom video call. You’ll confirm that you haven’t eaten, had anything to drink, or chewed gum for the past 30 minutes, and then you’ll be connected to one of Vault Health’s test supervisors. By the way, you can do this any day of the week (no appointment necessary), but please note the hours of operation for completing your test via Zoom are: Sunday through Thursday, 8am-8pm EST, and Friday through Saturday, 8am-6pm EST.

 

 

The test supervisor will be with you the whole time through Zoom video call and guide you towards proper saliva sample collection. You’ll spit into a tube with a funnel at the top until the contents reach the fill line, which can take between 5-10 minutes. It’s not very big, but you may need a little help producing more saliva for a complete sample. When I took the test, the test supervisor gave me a good tip: She said that if I open a jar of pickles and smell them, my mouth will produce more saliva, which will help me fill the tube up faster!

 

 

Once you collect your saliva in the small tube, screw the top back on until you hear a “click”. Doing this releases a preservative into the tube that changes its color and kills any live viruses so the sample can’t infect anyone on its way to the lab. Then you place the tube into a bag that they provide, drop it into a pre-paid UPS envelope, and take it to a UPS store. I recommend calling your local UPS store and asking them what time Next Day Air departs so you know exactly when you need to be there to drop the test at the store to make Next Day Air delivery. Once UPS drives it to the nearest airport, the test will typically arrive in the lab the following day, and from there you’ll have your results emailed directly to you within 18-48 hours.

 

 

Vault makes it all easy and convenient since they know people want fast results—especially those who rely on that negative test result to travel, attend a concert, or get back to school. You’ll get email updates throughout the process, so you know when it arrives at the lab, once it’s being processed, and when you’ll get the result. But the majority of results come within 24 hours of arriving at lab.

 

 

In comparison, a PCR test taken at the doctor’s office typically takes three or more days to process, since the labs they send these tests to do more than COVID testing (e.g., blood sugar or other blood tests), causing much longer wait times for results—sometimes up to a week! But at Vault, their lab partners focus specifically on COVID tests, so you get your results a lot quicker! Plus, when your child is sick, at-home testing can be a more convenient option than taking them to urgent care, especially when most doctor’s offices aren’t seeing sick patients at the moment and prefer doing telehealth services.

 

 

For those worried about having their result in time, this is where Vault’s at-home test really shines. I highly recommend ordering your test a few weeks in advance; this way, when you’re 48 hours out from needing a result, you simply need to take the test and send it back. The tests don’t expire, so you can order it and hold onto it until needed. Just keep in mind shipping schedules for weekends or holidays, and always making sure you take it directly to a UPS drop-off location, rather than a third-party drop off. An example case would be: If you’re flying out at 10am PST on a Saturday, you’ll need to take your test at 10am PST on the Wednesday before.

 

 

What Makes Vault’s COVID Tests so Unique and Preferred?

 

Two of the most unique aspects of Vault’s COVID test is that it provides the user with the same high accuracy you’d expect from PCR tests completed at a doctor’s office, from the comfort of home; and a turnaround time that outpaces an overburdened healthcare system. People also really like Vault because it’s a saliva test, making it a less invasive and more comfortable option than a nasal swab. It’s a lot easier to spit into a tube.

 

 

A test’s effectiveness doesn’t depend on whether it’s a saliva or nasal sample. In fact, both PCR and antigen tests can be either saliva or nasal. The method you choose is simply your personal preference. But what does matter is your choice in doing either a PCR or rapid antigen test—PCR tests are always more accurate.

 

 

Where Can You Order a Vault Health COVID Test?

 

To order a COVID test, visit: VaultHealth.com/covid

 

 

Find out more About Vault Health on The Parentologist Podcast

 

 

To learn even more about Vault Health, please listen to Episode 18 of The Parentologist Podcast where I interview Dr. Myles Spar, the National Medical Director for Vault Health. 

 

 

 

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Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children.

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TODAY.com Parenting Team Parenting Contributor

About Dr. Kim

Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children. Read More…

My Instagram

🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had t 🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had today! 🇺🇸

As soon as we woke up I started educating my children, specifically my daughter, on what the inauguration meant and why today was such a special day in history. We both were glued to the television as we watched @kamalaharris be sworn in as the first Black South Asian woman Vice President and @joebiden be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. We also were powerfully moved hearing @amandascgorman - the youngest inaugural poet in history recite “The Hill We Climb.” 

My daughter was so excited to participate and recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the rest of the county and she was so proud to see and be a part of history in the making. I haven’t been to Washington D.C. in about 8 years but I promised I would take her one day when the pandemic is over. 

In the meantime, I have a fun fact for you! Did you know that President Joe Biden and I both graduated from the same university? Yep! We both went to @syracuseu 🍊 And in fact, @joebiden is the first @syracuseu alumnus to become President of the United States! 

📸: @chrissywphoto #inauguration #inagurationday #inaguration2021 #joebiden #kamalaharris #presidentbiden #syracuseuniversity #syracuse #syracuseu #historyismade #madamvicepresident #mommyandme #46thpresident #sandiego #sandiegoblogger #momblogger #parentingblogger #motherhood
This time of year is notorious for dry air, allerg This time of year is notorious for dry air, allergies, and sinus trouble. #ad 

And since I work from home, it can get quite noisy and distracting with my husband and two children here, so sometimes I get my best work done in the comfort of my own bed. And the best part is that I can have my new @crane_usa “4 in 1” cool mist humidifier on at all times with essential oils to help with overall wellness and since it comes with a sound machine I can block out the other noises in the house! 

And at night, it helps my sinuses as I sleep, especially when the dry air of the heater is on, and it has a nightlight so my kids can see where they are going in the middle of the night when they inevitably need water or a hug! 

This is our 6th #cranehumidifier style and it’s my favorite one yet! Check out my stories for a closer look! 👀 #happyhealthyhumidity 

#humidifier #coldandflu #humidifiers #peaceandquiet #workingfromhome #workingmom #working #coldandfluseason #coldandflurelief #winter #winterstyle #wintertime #wintervibes #winter2021 #wahm #wahmlife #wahmlifestyle #workfromhomemom #workfromhomelife #workfromhome #workathomemom #workathome #workathomelife #newmom #babyshowergift #sinusrelief
{New Blog Post} “How to Teach Children Gratitude {New Blog Post} “How to Teach Children Gratitude” 🌱✨🌸

Throwing it back to one of the first mommy and me photos I ever posted on my feed because I’ve been teaching my daughter about gratitude since she was this little, possibly even younger (she is two here for reference)! 

Gratitude is such an important virtue and must have trait to build a child’s character. It also shows therapeutic benefits when you show gratitude to others, so why wouldn’t you want to make it a priority to teach and instill in your children? 

In this blog, I have suggestions for how to teach children gratitude broken down by ages and stages from infancy to teenage years, while also including some conversation prompts, and links to my favorite gratitude journals for busy families that we use here at home! 

Find the direct link to read in my bio and stories! I also published similar articles on @todayparents and @redtricycle if you follow me there! #drkimblog
DOUBLE TAP if you agree!! 🙋🏼‍♀️ I am DOUBLE TAP if you agree!! 🙋🏼‍♀️

I am that mom who wants to do it all and when I get overwhelmed or start suffering from a major case of burnout, I feel guilty if I take a break instead of giving my body and mind permission to slow down or even stop. 

As moms we often feel guilty if we take a break or believe we are perceived as weak if we ask for help. I have learned that the more I ask for help and the more time I take for myself, the better I am for my children. 

Guilt is an emotional response to something you perceived you did wrong, but when you experience unnecessary guilt, it’s counterproductive to healing and helping you with what you need most. So give it a try and let me know how you are going to take a break and not feel guilty about it this week below in the comments! ⤵️ #drkimparentingtips #theparentologist #drkimparentingadvice
DOUBLE TAP if you used to love Hello Kitty when yo DOUBLE TAP if you used to love Hello Kitty when you were little - and still do! 🙋🏼‍♀️🐱#ad

I am so excited to have all of these new items from the @erincondren Hello Kitty collection that launched today to keep work fun, playful, and reminiscent of childhood - something all adults need a little more of, am I right? 

The collection is all about organization, kindness, and friendship. My favorite piece of the collection is the “Daily Kindness and Joy Journal” that boldly says BE KIND, BE NICE, REPEAT on the front cover but I am also pretty obsessed with the Hello Kitty x Erin Condren Pencil Case and Vegan Leather Padfolio! 

Swipe to see my business attire on top and activewear on the bottom work style! 😉 And head to my stories to see it all up close and for your convenience I have everything linked for you http://liketk.it/35XZC and make sure to follow me at THEPARENTOLOGIST @liketoknow.it  for more of my favorites!!! #liketkit #erincondren
{New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and {New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and Role Play Ideas for Children with Autism” 🧩 🧸 🚂 ⚽️ 
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For the last 3 years I have spent my career therapeutically helping families and children of all ages on the Autism Spectrum. Play has been a fundamental way for many of my clients to communicate if they are non-verbal. And some of my clients have had to be taught how to play with a toy or another person. The play ideas listed on the blog can be used with children with or without special needs. Play is a universal way a child can explore their world in a way that makes sense to them and cultivate imagination, creativity, and fun! As a Registered Play Therapist, I love the work I do and couldn’t be prouder of the progress my clients have made with play over the years! #drkimblog
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#autism #autismmom #autismfamily #autismspectrum #autismcommunity #autismparent #autismlife #autismparents #autismparenting #autistickids #autisticchildren #autistictoddler #autismresources #playtherapy #playtherapist #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #activitiesforkids #activitiesfortoddlers #activitiesforchildren #sensoryplay #sensoryplayideas #sensoryprocessingdisorder #sensoryactivities #momswhoblog #ontheblog #newblogpost #parentingblogger #momblogger
{New Blog Post} ✨🌱🧴“Ways to Take Control {New Blog Post} ✨🌱🧴“Ways to Take Control of Your Eczema” #ad 
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These winter months have been so dry and my eczema has been flaring up. Can anyone relate? For decades I have used a variety of treatment options from over-the-counter ointments and lotions to doctor prescribed steroid medication. In today’s blog, I am partnering with @mediqcme to share more of my story and struggles with atopic dermatitis as well as some new treatment options! If you or a loved one suffer from eczema or atopic dermatitis it’s a must read! 
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Plus there is a survey at the end of the blog you can fill out and opt in to be entered to win 1 of 10 VISA gift cards! 🙌🏻 Link in bio and in stories! #itchyskinhelp #drkimblog
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#eczema #eczemarelief #eczemahealing #eczematreatment #eczemaproblems #eczemawarrior #atopicdermatitis #itchyskin #itchyskinrelief #atopicskin #atopicdermatitistreatment #atopicdermatitismanagement #eczemamanagement #winterskincare #winterskin #winterskincareroutine #winterskincaretips #newblogpost #momswhoblog #ontheblog #wellnessblogger #wellnesstips #wellnessexpert
{New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get {New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get Your Kids to Do What You Want” 
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As a Registered Play Therapist, play is the foundation to the way I help children conceptualize and conquer the world. Play is second nature to children and the way they respond to many of life’s obstacles. Sometimes as parents, it is easy to get into a power match with your children, especially when you want your children to comply with a request and they won’t budge. When this happens, we need to change the way our adult mind thinks and switch it to the way a child thinks. Instead of giving them a punitive consequence, try these play recommendations that can be used with children as young as toddlerhood all the way to adolescents! #drkimblog 
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#playtherapy #playtherapist #therapistsofinstagram #playoutsidethebox #learningthruplay #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #learningisfun #parenting #parentingtips #parenting101 #parentingteens #parentingtweens #parentingtoddlers #parentingadvice #parentingexpert #parentingblogger #parentingblog #newblogpost #ontheblog #momswhoblog #parenthood #toddlerproblems #toddlermom #behaviortherapist #behaviortherapy #positiveparentingsolutions #positiveparentingtips #positiveparenting
{New Blog Post} “Tips on How To Set Goals Effect {New Blog Post} “Tips on How To Set Goals Effectively in 2021” ✨ 
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It’s is usually around this time that I start thinking of the goals I want to accomplish for the year. And whether you believe in making resolutions, affirmations, or goals, it is time to be proactive!! On the blog, I outlined an organizational system I use year after year to help me accomplish my goals. And I hope they work for you!! 
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What are some of your goals you want to accomplish this year? 
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#2021 #2021goals #goals #goalsetting #goalgetter #goalsettingtips #goalsetter #goalsetting2021 #goalcrusher #momhustle #snowday #snowman #newgoals #newgoals2021 #mommyandme #letthembelittle #letthembekids #letthemplay #playoutside #playoutdoors #playoutsidethebox #familyday #familyfun #familysnowday
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