Coronavirus Updates

Updated 1 May 2023

Yay!  We have the updated Bivalent COVID vaccine for ALL patients 6 months old and older ! This shot protects even better against the new variants- NCDHHS Video.  The Bivalent booster is for patients 6 months and older 2 months after their last dose of COVID vaccine. Updated vaccine is important for everyone, especially our elders- remind the grandparents!

Paxlovid (an oral anti COVID medicine) is available for high risk patients who test positive for COVID, are 12 yo+ and >88 pounds. NC DHHS has a new telemedicine program for those who don’t have a doctor.

Flu vaccine is available at all three offices- please call or portal message for a nurse only appointment.

COVID vaccine for children 6 months and older is available at all 3 offices- Video PSA- Kids Have a Spot to Take their Shot.  We have both Moderna and Pfizer available for 6mo-5 yo.  Pfizer only for >= 5yo! Please call for an appointment or send us a portal message.

Infant formula shortage questions- see AAP Healthy Kids site  for updated information- Information from NC Dept of Health and Human Services. Can’t find formula for your baby younger than 6mo? Please call or portal message us!    Escasez de fórmula infantil

COVID vaccine is recommended for ALL children 6 months old and older.  AAP, AMA, AAFP & ANA leaders ALL strongly recommend COVID vaccine for children 6 months and older- National video – NC DHHS video

Check to see if you are up to date on COVID vaccine using this handy CDC Site

From CDC- Updated COVID-19 boosters became available on:

  • September 2, 2022, for people aged 12 years and older
  • October 12, 2022, for people aged 5–11 years
  • December 9, 2022, for children aged 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine primary series
  • March 17, 2023, for children aged 6 months–4 years who completed their 3-dose primary series with the original Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

If you have questions about the vaccine, please call for an appointment so we can answer your questions!

You can fill out forms for COVID vaccine appointments at Sandhills Peds to save time:

CDC Booster Vaccine Chart

NC DHHS Info on boosters

Immunocompromised patients (eg kidney transplant, leukemia) should get a third primary dose 28 days after their second dose.

Sandhills Pediatrics is vaccinating patients 6 mo + and any family members.  Please call for an appointment or ask us about it next time you are in the office.

Breastfeeding– is a reason to get the COVID vaccination (protects mom and maybe even baby) and we encourage all of our nursing mothers to receive it.

Pregnancy–  CDC issued an urgent appeal for ALL pregnant people to get vaccinated 29 Sep 2021. The American College of OBGYN now strongly recommends vaccination for pregnant individuals – see here.  For more answers about breastfeeding and other COVID vaccine questions, click here to access the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia vaccine education center.

COVID Vaccine Incentives- Some insurers are paying patients to get vaccinated- preventing a single hospitalization from COVID pays for lots of patients to get gift cards!

  • Wellcare– apply for $50 Walmart card
    • Si tienes el seguro medico de Wellcare y su hijo/hija tiene 5 años omas de edad, y a recibido la vacuna de COVID y recibió la vacuna de COVID desde Septiembre 01, 2021, haga click aquí para solicitar una tarjeta de regalo de WalMart de 50 dolares!
  • Carolina Complete Health– $75 incentive paid to MyHealthPays card automatically when doctor or pharmacy files claim- details here
    • Los pacientes con el seguro medico de Carolina Complete Health que sean mayores de 5 años y reciban una primera, segunda o tercera vacuna de COVID desde el 15 de Noviembre de 2021 recibiran 75 dolares en su tarjeta de recompensa (MyHealthPays). Esto sucede automaticamente cuando la clínica factura el reclamo de la vacuna. Un Pago de 75 dolares porpaciente. Los detalles estan aquí
  • Other Medicaid Plans

Sandhills Pediatrics was honored to participate in a NC Dept of Health and Human Services Public Service Announcement promoting COVID vaccine.   PSA1- 30 seconds    PSA2- 60 seconds

—

Looking for information on Coronavirus COVID-19? New information is available daily, so we’d like to point you to the continuously updated CDC website for the most reliable information.  We recommend you follow the sensible precautions from the American Academy of Pediatrics provided here. To help us keep your child and other patients healthy, if you suspect your child has a Coronavirus COVID-19 infection, please do not come to walk-in clinic!  Call us and let us know about possible exposures so we can discuss the best plan to provide safe and high quality care.

COVID-19 resources specifically for kids

We have three COVID-19 resources specifically for kids to share.  Susie Boals, who some of you know as an Episcopal Day School librarian, sent us this resource Coronavirus: A Book for Children.  It’s about COVID-19 and the changes and responsibilities it brings to our families.  It’s recommended by school librarians and we like it too.  It’s available as a free download from Amazon.  Dr. Lindsay Johannes-Monroe, our psychologist, recommends this COVID-19 Time Capsule coloring and work book and Trinka and Sam Fighting the Big Virus from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.  Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and let us know what you think!

Please don’t let COVID-19 make you miss recommended vaccines!

One of our biggest worries about COVID-19 has been indirect effects of the pandemic on child and teen health, as families limit doctor's visits along with other outings.  The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics have stressed the importance of pediatric primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and particularly the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to prevent life-threatening disease.  We were disappointed to see recent information about vaccine delivery to children and teens reported in the New York Times.  In Massachusetts, the state health department said its vaccine doses were down 68 percent in the first two weeks of April, compared with the previous year.  And Minnesota reported that its doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine dropped by 71 percent toward the end of March!  We worry outbreaks of measles, pertussis, and other vaccine preventable, life-threatening diseases will follow COVID-19.

Please help us prevent vaccine preventable disease in our community.

At Sandhills Pediatrics, all patients and their families are screened for fever and respiratory symptoms when appointments are made.  Every family is greeted when they arrive, often before they even enter the office, and re-screened.  Each office is essentially separated into two halves.  Well checks and similar appointments have their own side of the office, with dedicated well-only check-in staff, nurses, and providers.  We haven't used the waiting room in weeks! If an exam room is not immediately available, families wait in their cars until they can go straight to a room.  We maintain appropriate social distances, wash our hands,  and wear masks at all times.

We are confident coming to Sandhills Pediatrics and we want you to be too!