Parents of Peachtree Park Pediatrics,
Dear 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 including the latest vaccine statistics, booster guidelines, mask recommendations, and more.
Low Vaccination Rates in Young Children
“Distrust, misinformation and delays because of the holidays and bad weather have combined to produce what authorities say are alarmingly low COVID-19 vaccination rates in U.S. children ages 5 to 11.”
See – AP News: Kids’ low COVID-19 vaccination rates called a ‘gut punch’
“Overall, 63% of Americans are fully vaccinated. Among children 12 to 17, the rate is 54% (63% have had at least one dose).” For children 5-11, “just over 17% were fully vaccinated (25% received at least one dose), more than two months after shots became available to the age group.”
Wearing N95 or KN95 Masks
“The CDC is looking at recommending that Americans wear higher quality masks amid the omicron surge.”
See – The Hill: CDC eyes recommending higher quality masks: report
While these masks provide better filtration, they can be uncomfortable to wear properly, especially for long periods of time. When choosing a mask for you child be sure to consider both protection and comfort as the best mask is ineffective if the child is not wearing it properly.
Throat Swabs Should Not be Used for Home Tests
The FDA is cautioning against using self-collected throat swabs for Covid-19 tests and says people should use the tests as instructed.
“’FACT: When it comes to at-home rapid antigen #COVID19 tests, those swabs are for your nose and not your throat,’ it said Friday on Twitter.”
“Why the warning? After anecdotal reports of sore throats with coronavirus infection and early studies suggesting that saliva may be a better way to detect the Omicron variant, some people began taking antigen test swabs intended for nasal samples and using them to swab their throats.
‘There’s probably no stopping people from experimenting at home, said the President of the American College of Pathologists, but if they’re using these tests to make decisions about treatment, quarantine and isolation, ‘you’ve got to follow the instructions in the test. Otherwise, it’s not valid.’”
Moderna Booster now at 5 Months
The FDA recently announced that a booster dose of Moderna’s vaccine can be given 5 months after completing the primary series.
The interval is now 5 months for recipients of both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The Moderna vaccine remains approved for those 18 and older, though studies are ongoing on its use in children.
Increased Risk of Diabetes in Children After COVID Illness
The CDC reports that “children who have recovered from Covid-19 appear to be at significantly increased risk of developing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.”
See – The New York Times: Covid may raise the risk of diabetes in children, C.D.C. researchers reported.
“A heightened risk of diabetes has already been seen among adults who recovered from Covid, according to some studies. Researchers in Europe have reported an increase in the number of children being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes since the pandemic started.
But the C.D.C. study is among the first to examine large insurance claim databases in the United States to estimate the prevalence of new diabetes diagnoses in children under age 18 who had Covid or were known to be infected with the coronavirus.”
The lead author “said it was not yet clear whether post-COVID Type 2 diabetes would be a chronic condition in these children, or a transient condition that resolves. (Type 1 diabetes is not reversible.) Most of the children were only followed about four and a half months.
The finding underscores the importance of vaccinating all eligible children against Covid, she added.”
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.
