A summer COVID wave fueled by a highly contagious variant, increased travel and hot days that crowded people indoors may be starting to ebb in the Kansas City area.

Health officials said they hope that surge prompts far more people to sign up for the new COVID vaccine, which could reach area pharmacies next week. The new shot was approved last week and is recommended annually for people 6 months and older.

The Kansas City Beacon talked to Dr. Sarah Boyd, an infectious disease physician at Saint Luke's, about when you should get tested for the virus and what to do if you test positive.

Read the full Kansas City Beacon article: New COVID Vaccines Are on Their Way. What You Need to Know