Ohio AAP Committed to Encouraging Families to Keep Child Wellness Visits and Routine Vaccinations During COVID-19 Pandemic

We have heard from members that there are struggles with routine well care and immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio AAP is working hard to address this for our members with a multi-prong approach: 

 

 

 

• • We created videos for multiple social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok to reach providers, parents and teens.
  • We sent the press release to media outlets across the state.
  • We reached out to our partners and members with social media messages to spread the recommendations broadly.
  • Ohio AAP will be hosting a series of 3 webinars over the next few weeks that will address relevant concerns currently affecting pediatricians and hopefully answer some of your most pressing questions on telehealth, the CARES Act, clinical challenges, as well as planning for life after COVID. Webinars will be hosted by a panel of experts and will include opportunities for discussion and questions. Register Today!

Please contact us at 614-846-6258 if we can help you in any way!

Columbus, OH – The Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio AAP) is encouraging families to maintain routine pediatric appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person, routine well child visits are still recommended for all children at this time, especially children under two who need to maintain their vaccination schedules.

“The risk of missing well care for some children is far greater than the risk of COVID-19 infection” said Kate Krueck, MD, FAAP. “Risks of school failure in grade school children, depression, anxiety and suicidality in adolescents, and asthma exacerbation related to spring allergies and changing weather are all concerns pediatricians can help families address, but we need to see our patients to do so.”

While many non-essential procedures, surgeries and visits were postponed in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials made it clear that those decisions were made to preserve personal protective equipment for health care professionals, NOT because hospitals or doctor’s offices are unsafe places to visit. Pediatric practices already had protocols in place to keep well visits and sick visits separate, and have further adjusted their operations, putting new policies in place to keep patients and families safe during office visits. Many practices are rooming patients from the car and even seeing ill patients in their cars, and all providers involved in patient care are wearing personal protective equipment and receiving temperature checks daily. Families should call their pediatrician to inquire about what their practice is doing during this time to accommodate well visits, vaccinations and visits for other concerns.

“I want to remind families that, as always, pediatricians all over the state of Ohio are doing everything they can to keep their offices clean, and make sure that when you come to the office, you feel welcome and safe,” said Sarah Adams, MD, Pediatrician. “We are here for Ohio’s children and families, especially during these challenging times.”

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Special Message from PMP Director, Dr. Sarah Adams: Importance of Maintaining Routine Wellness Checks

 

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In addition to maintaining important wellness checkups and vaccine schedules for children two years old and younger, parents are also encouraged to use telemedicine appointments with their child’s pediatrician to discuss sickness, mental health concerns like anxiety and depression or general questions. Pediatricians can assess during a telemedicine visit if an in-person visit is needed based on each child’s individual situation.

Additionally, Ohio AAP cautions parents about resorting to following unproven and radical advice during this time, such as attending COVID-19 parties to purposefully expose their child to the virus. Instead, parents looking for medically sound advice or tips for talking to Kids about COVID-19, including resources from Ohio AAP, can find them on the Ohio Department of Health website at: https://bit.ly/3eFvtTy

Click to tweet your support and help spread the message!

• Ohio AAP recommends well care visits during the #COVID19 pandemic for children under 2. They help maintain vaccine schedules & are also important in monitoring growth & development. I’m joining @OHPediatricians to help spread the word to keep Ohio’s children safe #inthistogether – Click here to tweet this message
• In person routine well care visits are still recommended, especially for kids under 2 to maintain vaccine schedules. I’m joining @OHPediatricians to help spread the word to stop vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks & promote the health & safety of Ohio’s children#inthistogether – Click here to tweet this message

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