OCTOBER 15th, 2022
Dear Mt. Airy Pediatrics Families,
We are pleased to announce that we have received our first shipment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Bivalent Booster for children ages 5 to 11 years and we can now schedule appointments to administer the Bivalent boosters to ALL eligible children and adults ages 5 years or older.
PLEASE NOTE: The Bivalent Booster is authorized for people 5 years and up, whose most recent Covid vaccine was at least 8 weeks ago.
Covid Vaccinations are still BY APPOINTMENT ONLY in order for us to allow for appropriate social distancing and safety.
HOW TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT:
- Contact the office during regular office hours at 215-247-2996
- Click here to schedule online and select "COVID-19 Vaccine" to have your choice of dates and times.
- You can also log into your child’s Patient Portal and schedule in the "Find Appointments" tab.
*Flu and Covid vaccines can be administered at the same time! Please let us know whether you want to be protected against both viruses when you schedule you/your child's appointment.
Grateful for your trust.
The Providers and Staff at Mt. Airy Pediatrics, PC
SEPTEMBER 9th, 2022
Dear Mt. Airy Pediatrics Families,
We are pleased to announce that we have received our first shipment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Bivalent Booster formulation and we can now schedule appointments to immunize ALL eligible children and adults aged 6 months or older.
PLEASE NOTE: The Bivalent Booster is only authorized for people 12 years and up, whose most recent Covid vaccine was at least 8 weeks ago.
Covid Vaccinations are still BY APPOINTMENT ONLY in order for us to allow for appropriate social distancing and safety.
HOW TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT:
- Contact the office during regular office hours at 215-247-2996
- Click here to schedule online and select "COVID-19 Vaccine" to have your choice of dates and times.
- You can also log into your child’s Patient Portal and schedule in the "Find Appointments" tab.
*Flu and Covid vaccines can be administered at the same time! Please let us know whether you want to be protected against both viruses when you schedule you/your child's appointment.
Yours in health,
The Providers and Staff at Mt. Airy Pediatrics, PC
JUNE 22nd, 2022
Dear Mt. Airy Pediatrics Families,
We are pleased to announce that we have received a shipping notice for our supply of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months-4 years old and we can now begin to schedule appointments to immunize your children in our office.
We will have weekday and Saturday appointments available beginning tomorrow June 23rd, 2022.
We will be adding more dates daily to get as many of our patients immunized as quickly as possible.
These appointments will be BY APPOINTMENT ONLY in order for us to allow for appropriate social distancing and safety. We ask that you arrive at the scheduled time for your appointment and follow staff directions closely. This is for everyone’s safety and will allow us to maintain an orderly process.
HOW TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT:
- Contact the office during regular office hours at 215-247-2996
- Click here to schedule online and select "COVID-19 Vaccine" to have your choice of dates and times.
- You can also log into your child’s Patient Portal and schedule in the "Appointments" tab.
PLEASE NOTE: If your eligible child is already scheduled for an appointment for another reason (a well visit or a same day sick visit or for another immunization), we may be able to protect them against Covid during their appointment. Because of the logistics of administering the Covid vaccine we do need some notice, so please let us know ahead of time by calling or sending a portal message or as soon as you arrive for your appointment that you would like your child immunized against Covid.
BEFORE YOUR CHILD'S APPOINTMENT:
Visit the CDC's information page about COVID vaccine for children and teens
Review the most current information sheet about the Pfizer Covid Vaccine for your child's age range:
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months-4 years Emergency Use Authorization Document
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-11 years Emergency Use Authorization Document
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 12 and up Emergency Use Authorization Document
Review and complete the COVID-19 Vaccination Screening form
Review and complete our Consent Form for Covid-19 Vaccination for children AND for adults
As always we are honored to care for you, your children and families.
Best,
The Providers and Staff at Mt. Airy Pediatrics, PC
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June 20th, 2022
THE LATEST ABOUT MT. AIRY PEDIATRICS AND COVID VACCINES FOR KIDS
We know that you have all heard the fantastic news that the Covid vaccines for children 6 months to 4 years have been recommended and approved by the FDA and CDC as of this past Saturday June 18th. We have heard from many of you in the last week asking about our plans to immunize our patients once approval and authorization came through.
Here’s some information about what we know at this point and what our plans are:
Most importantly: YES! WE PLAN TO OFFER THE COVID VACCINE TO ANY ELIGIBLE CHILDREN 6 months to 4 years old. We have been immunizing all eligible patients 5 years old and up from this community since June of 2021 and plan to continue to do so.
ALSO important…
Everything that WE need to do has long been done to be prepared to protect this group of our patients as soon as the vaccine is approved for this new population. However, in this case also, we're at the mercy of federal and state distribution logistics, and we have no idea how long it will take us to get the new pediatric doses.
We plan to offer the 3-dose Pfizer vaccine, Comirnaty, for all eligible children 6 months to 4 years old. Doses for kids 6 month-4 years are different than all the other formulations so far. So, while we have doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the office, they are specifically for the populations that were previously approved.
THE GOOD NEWS…
The federal government has promised to ship the new doses immediately after the EUA is granted and approval is given, and officials have said all the right things about giving priority to primary care offices like ours. HOWEVER, since the approval happened on a Saturday and today Monday June 20th is a federal holiday that may affect shipment and delivery.
THE EVEN BETTER NEWS…
We are already approved as a COVID-19 vaccination site for kids 6 months-4 years, and we've already ordered and been promised a first shipment of doses for our office.
But we have no idea how long it will take from them to get to us. (Or, for that matter, to anyone or anywhere else.)
So, stay tuned everybody! We will be posting updates as soon and as often as we have the information. You can watch for updates here on our Facebook page and on our web site. And as soon as we know for certain when we’ll be getting the shipments, we'll open up multiple COVID Vaccine clinics for appointments. You will be able to schedule by calling the office at 215-247-2996, by logging into your child's portal account or by following this link.
We are truly grateful for your patience as we work to continue to serve you and your children well.
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April 22nd, 2022
Dear Mt. Airy Pediatrics Families,
It has been a while since we updated this page so there’s some ground to cover. We continue to be grateful for the trust you've placed in our practice as we have navigated this pandemic together.
Please see below for the most updated information about testing, vaccines and masking at Mt. Airy Pediatrics, PC.
Testing- We offer rapid PCR testing in our office for our patients who are symptomatic, have had an exposure or who need testing for school or traveling with results available in less than an hour (subject to your insurance plan’s coverage). Contact the office to speak to our front desk staff or your provider about scheduling Covid testing in our office.
Vaccines- We are continuing to have Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, Cominarty, available in our office. We can immunize ANYONE ages 5 years and up, who needs 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th doses. Appointments are available during the week and some Saturday mornings. Please call the office or use this link to schedule your Covid vaccine appointment at our office.
COVID VACCINE FOR KIDS 6 months to 4 years
*We continue to watch closely for developments about the approval of Covid vaccines for children under 5. Come back here for news or look out for a Facebook post and an email blast from us with updated information or with an announcement about scheduling appointments for your children as soon as we hear about approval.
Masking- With the federal mask mandate now removed for modes of transportation, we know that some of you have questions again about masks in the office. This is just a reminder that, as directed by CDC guidelines, health care facilities should still require masks for everyone ages 2.
This is especially important for us as a pediatric office, since so many of the patients we see in our offices every day are under 5, and so they are not yet eligible for COVID vaccines. So please continue to wear a mask that covers your nose, mouth, and chin to enter our building.
The Providers and Staff at Mt. Airy Pediatrics, PC
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Dear Mt. Airy Pediatrics Families,
We are pleased to announce that we have received a shipping notice for our supply of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5 to 11 year-olds for this MONDAY NOVEMBER 8th, 2021 . With this exciting news we can now begin to schedule appointments to immunize your children in our office.
We will have weekday and Saturday appointments available beginning this Monday November 8th, 2021. We will be adding more dates daily to get as many of our patients immunized as quickly as possible.
These appointments too will be BY APPOINTMENT ONLY in order for us to allow for appropriate social distancing and safety. We ask that you arrive at the scheduled time for your appointment and follow staff directions closely. This is for everyone’s safety and will allow us to maintain an orderly process.
HOW TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT:
- Contact the office during regular office hours at 215-247-2996
- Click here to schedule online and select "COVID-19 Vaccine" to have your choice of dates and times.
- You can also log into your child’s Patient Portal and schedule in the "Appointments" tab.
PLEASE NOTE: If your eligible child is already scheduled for an appointment for another reason (a well visit or a same day sick visit or for another immunization), we may be able to protect them against Covid during their appointment. Because of the logistics of administering the Covid vaccine we do need some notice, so please let us know ahead of time or as soon as you arrive that you would like your child immunized against Covid.
BEFORE YOUR CHILD'S APPOINTMENT:
Visit the CDC's information page about COVID vaccine for children and teens
Review the most current information sheet about the Pfizer Covid Vaccine for your child's age range:
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months-4 years Emergency Use Authorization Document
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-11 years Emergency Use Authorization Document
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 12 and up Emergency Use Authorization Document
Review and complete the COVID-19 Vaccination Screening form
Review and complete our Consent Form for Covid-19 Vaccination for children AND for adults
As always we are honored to care for you, your children and families.
Best,
The Providers and Staff at Mt. Airy Pediatrics, PC
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NOVEMBER 1st, 2021
THE LATEST ABOUT MT. ARY PEDIATRICS AND COVID VACCINES FOR KIDS AGES 5-11
We know that you heard the news that the Vaccine Advisory Committee for the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention will meet on November 2nd and 3rd, to decide whether the CDC will recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. We have heard from many of you asking about our plans to immunize our patients once this happens. Here’s some information about what we know at this point and what our plans are:
Most importantly: YES! WE PLAN TO OFFER THE COVID VACCINE TO ANY ELIGIBLE CHILDREN 5-11 YEARS OLD. We have been immunizing eligible patients 12 years and up and people in the community since June and plan to continue to do so.
ALSO important…
Everything that WE need to do has long been done to be prepared to protect our patients as soon as the vaccine is approved for this new population. However, we're at the mercy of federal and state distribution logistics, and we have no idea how long it will take us to get the new pediatric doses.
Doses for kids 5-11 are one-third the “regular” adult dose given to ages 12 and up, and those smaller doses can’t be drawn from existing vials. So even though we have plenty of doses of the Pfizer vaccine— for kids 12 and over, you can call and schedule an appointment any time! — we can’t start giving them to kids under 12 until we get the new shipments.
THE GOOD NEWS…
The federal government has promised to ship the new doses immediately after the EUA is granted and approval is given, and officials have said all the right things about giving priority to primary care offices like ours.
THE EVEN BETTER NEWS…
We are already approved as a COVID-19 vaccination site for kids 5-11, and we've already been promised a first shipment of doses for our office.
But we have no idea how long it will take from them to get to us. (Or, for that matter, to anyone or anywhere else.)
So, stay tuned everybody! We will be posting updates as soon and as often as we have the information. You can watch for updates here on our Facebook page and on our web site.
When we know our shipments are on their way, we'll post. When we have reliable tracking info and expected arrival dates, we'll post. And as soon as we know for certain when we’ll be getting the shipments, we'll open up multiple COVID Vaccine clinics for appointments. You will be able to schedule by calling the office or online on our website.
We are grateful for your patience and the trust you have placed in us.
The Providers and Staff at Mt. Airy Pediatrics, PC
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June 10th, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Dear Mt. Airy Pediatrics Families,
We are excited to announce that we have been approved to be COVID-19 vaccine providers and now have a supply of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in our office. We are ready and able to immunize any patients ages 12 and up, as well as their family members. Yes! you read right-we are able to immunize parents, grandparents, friends, everyone in the community that does not have a medical reason why they should not receive the vaccine.
We have weekday and some Saturday appointments available for now. Please note that due to logistical restrictions on the administration of the vaccine and to avoid wastage, we are not able to accept walk-ins and must contain appointments to designated days and times.
For current patients: Please contact us to schedule an appointment at 215-247-2996 or log into our patient portal and send us an appointment request.
If you are NOT a current patient of our practice: Please be prepared to provide us with demographic and insurance information when you call in order to schedule an appointment.
Prior to your vaccine visit please print, fill out and sign the Covid-19 vaccine questionnaire and consent form, accessed via link below. Make sure to bring the forms and your insurance coverage information with you to the appointment. See you soon!
Covid Vaccine Registration Form
Covid Vaccine Consent Form (for ADULTS) and (for CHILDREN)
Covid Vaccination Screening form
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Emergency Use Authorization Document
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-11 years Emergency Use Authorization Document
As always we are honored to care for you, your children and families.
Best,
The Providers and Staff at Mt. Airy Pediatrics, PC
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December 5th, 2020
Mt. Airy Pediatrics on COVID-19 and pandemic-life topics, Do you have questions about…
COVID-19 Testing?
-We are NOT routinely testing in the office at this time.
-For most patients 18 and under our best option is using the CHOP system here: www.chop.edu/covid-testing - A brief interactive questionnaire helps determine if - and when* - your child needs testing, and if recommended, helps you schedule a testing appointment at one of their drive-through sites, with results generally available within 24 hrs.
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is also offering walk-up and drive-thru testing at their Erie Avenue location. Follow this link for information about their community Covid-19 testing: https://stchriscovidtest.myownmed.com/EndUser/Schedules
-Here’s a video about what to expect: https://www.chop.edu/video/prepare-your-child-covid-19-testing
-Suggestions for other available testing sites can be found at the following links. Note each site will have its own hours and requirements - testing itself is free, but some sites may require a virtual visit before scheduling, which may involve a charge:
City of Philadelphia COVID-19 testing sites https://www.phila.gov/covid-testing-sites/
Drexel Community Wellness Hub https://drexel.edu/cnhp/practices/community-wellness-HUB/
Black Doctors Consortium https://blackdoctorsconsortium.com/free-covid-19-testing/
Montgomery County COVID-19 testing sites https://www.montcopa.org/3493/Testing
-*NOTE: if you are asymptomatic and considering seeking a test due to direct exposure or after having been in a higher-risk situation (travel or crowd), don’t worry about getting tested right away - QUARANTINING at home should be your first move. WAITING to test until 7 days after exposure will give you the highest likelihood of an accurate result. TESTING TOO EARLY may lead to a false negative result.
ABOVE ALL: Keep calm and call us for direction with any testing questions.
How to see or talk to us about a concern?
-We are still here! We are at our NEW address, 6673 Germantown Ave (entrance on Springer), and on call at all times.
-For patient and staff safety, we are limiting in person sick visits and MAY recommend beginning with a phone conversation or video (telehealth) visit. We are ready to see your child in office when that is the best option. Your insurance may or may not require co-pays for any of these options.
-Please expect to answer a few screening questions prior to scheduling or confirming an in-office appointment and to follow a few procedures designed to keep everyone safe.
-As much as possible, limit the number of people coming into the office for a visit to one or two healthy adult caregivers.
-All office visitors over age 2 should be prepared to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth.
-When you arrive at the office, please call us from the parking lot (we have one now!) so we can bring you in when we have a room ready for you and space for everyone in the waiting room.
Prevention and risk-reduction with cases on the rise in the community?
-As much as possible, you are “Safer At Home” and should avoid the “3Cs”:
Crowded places
Close contact situations with people outside your household
Closed spaces with poor ventilation
-When you are planning on being out, think about Swiss Cheese! Many things we can do to reduce risk are imperfect (have “holes”) but the more of them we use, the better they work together!
See this graphic for a visual https://i.imgur.com/0cnjcZr.jpg
What to do if you’re sick?
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/index.html
If someone in the home is sick, that person should self-isolate in the home as much as possible and others in the home should consider themselves in quarantine and must stay at home.
Coping and mental health?
https://27c2s3mdcxk2qzutg1z8oa91-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/WTI-tipsheet.pdf
https://childmind.org/coping-during-covid-19-resources-for-parents/
https://childmind.org/article/how-to-find-a-telehealth-provider-for-your-child/
https://www.chop.edu/news/health-tip/managing-emotions-during-covid-19
Meeting needs and getting resources when your life has been disrupted?
Cap4kids resource lists - wide-ranging info!
https://cap4kids.org/philadelphia/parent-handouts/physical-health-resources/covid-19-info/
https://cap4kids.org/philadelphia/parent-handouts/covid-19-resources/
Germantown Mutual Aid: https://germantownsupplyhub.org/
Heating assistance: https://clsphila.org/utilities/liheap-2020-21/
Utilities: https://www.puc.pa.gov/about-the-puc/consumer-education/utility-assistance-programs/
Renters assistance: http://www.phillytenant.org/
Homeless Assistance Program: on.pa.gov/3f47cXU
Housing and shelter help: pa211.org/get-help/housing-shelter
Food assistance resource guide: agriculture.pa.gov/food_security
Pet food pantries: https://on.pa.gov/33xATwc
Unemployment benefits guide: pa.gov/unemployment
More Q&A, guides on all kinds of COVID-19 and pandemic-life topics can be found here:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/default.aspx
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/coronavirus-landing-page.html
FOR A PRINTABLE PDF VERSION OF THIS UPDATE click here
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March 13th, 2020
We would like to give an update about how Mt. Airy Pediatrics, PC is handling the Coronavirus – COVID 19 infection. Our main concern, as always, is the health and safety of our patients and their families. Your providers at Mt. Airy Pediatrics, PC are here for you, not only for medical care but as a source of reliable and sane information.
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID19) AND CHILDREN
First, please be reassured by the fact that COVID19 has NOT been most dangerous for children - across outbreaks they have been sick less frequently and less seriously than adults, and NO young children have died of COVID19. Most often, if symptomatic, it is experienced like a cold. For this reason, all the things you already know about preventing the spread of colds, treating their symptoms for comfort, and monitoring for complications are exactly what you need to know now!:
-wash your hands often
-regularly clean surfaces that are frequently used
-stay home when sick
-cough and sneeze into a tissue (which you dispose of right away), or into your elbow
-treat children’s nasal congestion and post-nasal drip cough with plenty of fluids and moist air
-keep a thermometer and acetaminophen or ibuprofen (for children over 6 months) on hand to monitor fever and treat the discomfort it can cause
-call us when you have concerns!
If you are worried your child may have COVID19 and are wondering if they need to be seen, please watch this helpful video first:
Call us if you have further concerns. We are on-call to discuss urgent concerns even when the office is open. Do not walk into the office; do not go directly to an emergency room or urgent care.
More info about children and coronavirus:
https://kidshealth.org/en/pare...
https://www.phila.gov/services...
https://www.chop.edu/coronavir...
PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY, PREPARING OUR FAMILY
On the other hand, the spread of a novel virus through our community will affect many, many people, including many older adults and people with other conditions that increase their risk for very serious illness. This is the reason for all the closures, cancellations, and calls for “social distancing”. The more we can slow down the spread of the virus from person to person, the better the health care system can be ready to take care of those who need it without becoming overloaded. Here is some important information about preparing your home and family:
https://kidshealth.org/en/pare...
https://www.cdc.gov/coronaviru...
2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
AT OUR OFFICE:
We will:
-enhance our practice of cleaning and sanitizing all “high-touch” surfaces in the office throughout the day
-screen requests for sick visits to ensure best direction for care - if you are calling about a child with fever or cough, expect a clinician to call you back first instead of scheduling directly with a receptionist
-advise employees to stay home when sick
You can help us by:
-avoiding bringing anyone other than a patient with fever or cough to the office (no sick caregivers or siblings - only sick, scheduled patients)
-washing your hands on arrival at the office (soap and water are available in the bathrooms and hand sanitizer throughout the office)
-being patient with us as we are careful to triage phone calls and make other adjustments to meet everyone’s needs as safely as possible
Lastly, we will continue to update the information we share about this rapidly evolving situation with the best guidance we receive from public health resources. You can find good information here:
https://www.phila.gov/services...
https://www.health.pa.gov/topi...
https://www.cdc.gov/coronaviru...
Locally text COVIDPHL to 888-777 for notifications from the Phila Department of Health.
The health department also has a Greater Philadelphia Coronavirus Hotline: 1-800-722-7112
In unprecedented times like these, as in every time, it’s an honor to have your trust in our care for your children’s health.
