COVID-19 Resources

Published 9/17/2023

CDC Announcement [1]:

• CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter. 
• Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. Vaccination also reduces your chance of suffering the effects of Long COVID.
• The virus that causes COVID-19 is always changing, and protection from COVID-19 vaccines declines over time. Receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine can restore protection and provide enhanced protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States.

Staying Up to Date with Vaccines [2]:

• Everyone aged 6 years and older should get 1 updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date.
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
• Children aged 6 months–5 years may need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, depending on the number of doses they’ve previously received and their age. 
• COVID-19 vaccine recommendations will be updated as needed.

Updated (Bivalent) COVID-19 Vaccines
The updated vaccines are called “updated” because they protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5. Two COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, have developed updated COVID-19 vaccines.

When Are You Up to Date? 
Everyone aged 6 years and older
You are up to date when you get 1 updated Pfzer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Children aged 6 months—5 years who got the Pfzer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
You are up to date if you are:

• Aged 6 Months—4 years and you get 3 COVID-19 vaccine doses, including at least 1 updated COVID-19 dose.
• Aged 5 years and you get at least 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Children aged 6 months—5 years who got the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
You are up to date when you get 2 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses, including at least 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Sources:
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0912-COVID-19-Vaccine.html
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html

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Published 11/30/2020

We are taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, caused by the novel Coronavirus.

• We are implementing more frequent cleaning using disinfectant on doorknobs and other high-touch surfaces.
• We are encouraging our patients to get their flu shot (it's never too late!) to avoid unnecessary visits for similar symptoms.
• As a reminder, we have separate sick and well waiting rooms, and separate exam rooms for sick patients. If you suspect that you or your child has been exposed to COVID-19, please call in advance so we can take appropriate precautions to prevent additional spread of the illness.
• In-office testing is not yet available but we will share an update as soon as possible. To ensure care of the most vulnerable populations, the CDC has recommended testing only for those presenting with symptoms of the illness who have also had exposure to someone who has tested positive for or been exposed to COVID-19. Patients should be screened for strep and flu first. Until testing is available at commercial laboratories, specimens will be processed by the Health Department.

Information about the novel Coronavirus and COVID-19:

• COVID-19 spreads by droplets, meaning it transmits person to person as well as through surface contact. We are advising patients to avoid touching their faces, noses, eyes, and mouths and to engage in frequent hand washing.
• There are many other Coronaviruses that merely cause the common cold, but COVID-19 spreads more quickly and causes more severe respiratory symptoms.
• Presenting symptoms of COVID-19 are fever and a dry cough. If you have interacted with someone who has COVID-19 and you have these symptoms, please call the office for advice.
• The virus is most dangerous for people over 60 years old, and who have other pre-existing conditions. If you or a family member is in a high-risk group, consider taking extra precautions.
• Social distancing is recommended if possible. This means staying home from large group activities and trying to maintain at least six feet of distance from other people if you need to go out.

During this stressful time, many resources have been shared. Please make use of verified CDC resources and DC government daily updates available online:

Main CDC COVID-19 Page:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html
CDC Prevention Recommendations:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
American Academy of Pediatrics Website:
​https://www.healthychildren.org/
DC Government Coronavirus Updates:
https://coronavirus.dc.gov/
Virginia Department of Health:
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/surveillance-and-investigation/novel-coronavirus/
Maryland Department of Health:
https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/
Children's Hospital:
​https://childrensnational.org/visit/resources-for-families/wellness-resources/coronavirus/coronavirus-faqs