Parents of Peachtree Park Pediatrics,
We continually strive to provide you with the most up to date information on the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on for pandemic-related updates and resources.
New Mask Recommendations
“The CDC announced guideline changes allowing most Americans to unmask indoors, which health experts say may be the first step in shifting the U.S. to an ‘endemic phase’ of the pandemic.”
“Now, in addition to caseloads, the guidance also will consider hospitalizations, current beds occupied by COVID patients and hospital capacity. The new metrics would put more than half of U.S. counties – where more than 70% of Americans live – in areas of low or medium risk, according to the CDC data.”
The CDC website has a color-coded guide to prevention levels based on community factors.
This allows you to monitor levels of risk by county. There is variability within metro Atlanta (Fulton County currently has a low level and Cobb a medium level).
The recommendations for masking in healthcare settings have not changed. The physicians and staff at PPP will remain masked during all patient visits. We continue to request that parents and patients 2 and older wear masks during their time in the office, especially as we care for many children who are not yet eligible for the COVID vaccine.
Longer Interval Between Vaccine Doses May be Appropriate for Some
“The interval between first and second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be as long as eight weeks for certain people, CDC said in vaccine guidance updated recently.”
CDC states that “An 8-week interval may be optimal for some people ages 12 years and older, especially for males ages 12 to 39 years. A shorter interval (3 weeks for Pfizer; 4 weeks for Moderna) between the first and second doses remains the recommended interval for: people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised; adults ages 65 years and older; and others who need rapid protection due to increased concern about community transmission or risk of severe disease.”
Please talk with your doctor to determine if a longer interval between doses makes sense for your child.
Model Estimates Over 70% of Americans are Immune to Omicron
“About half of eligible Americans have received booster shots, there have been nearly 80 million confirmed infections overall and many more infections have never been reported.”
See – AP News: Estimated 73% of US now immune to omicron: Is that enough?
“One influential model uses those factors and others to estimate that 73% of Americans are, for now, immune to omicron, the dominant variant, and that could rise to 80% by mid-March.”
Omicron Reinfections Rare
“Getting infected twice with two different Omicron coronavirus subvariants is possible, but rarely happens, a Danish study has found.”
See – Reuters: Reinfections with Omicron subvariants are rare, Danish study finds
“The reinfections mostly affected young, unvaccinated individuals and only caused mild disease, none of which led to hospitalizations or deaths”
2nd Vaccine Dose Safe in Those who had Allergic Reaction to 1st Dose
“Individuals who had an immediate allergic reaction to a first COVID-19 mRNA vaccine showed a low risk for an immediate or severe allergic reaction following the second dose” according to a recent study.
See – Healio: COVID-19 revaccination shows low risk for repeated immediate, severe allergic reactions
“The results suggested revaccination of those who experienced such reactions to a first dose is safe in a supervised setting.”
Vaccination During Pregnancy Protects Babies After Birth
“Vaccinating pregnant women against the coronavirus may help prevent COVID-19 hospitalizations in infants after they are born, especially if the expecting mothers got the shots later in their pregnancy” recent research showed.
See – Reuters: COVID vaccination during pregnancy helps protect babies after birth -U.S. study
The study “found that COVID-19 vaccines were 61% effective overall at preventing hospitalizations in children whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy. That protection rose to 80% when the mothers were vaccinated 21 weeks through 14 days before delivery.”
We encourage everyone to continue to use good hand hygiene and practice social distancing as much as possible. Please contact our office with any further questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Peachtree Park Pediatrics
For reliable, up-to-date information about COVID-19, visit:
- From the CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019
- From the AAP: 2019 Novel Coronavirus
Peachtree Park Pediatrics strives to deliver up-to-date primary care to our infant, child, and young adult patients in a welcoming and family-friendly environment. The practice has deep roots in the Atlanta community, and it is our continued honor to be entrusted with the health care of our next generation.
