With stay-at-home orders still in place, many routine doctor’s appointments have been postponed or rescheduled for the safety of patients and healthcare staff. But when it comes to children’s health, there is one thing that shouldn’t be delayed – vaccines.
From birth to age two is the time when many life-saving vaccines are administered, including those for measles, polio, and influenza. At this time, children in this age group should still be going to the doctor’s office for these vaccines to ensure they are protected.
The first months of a baby’s life are also a critical time for growth and development, so well-check visits should not be postponed, and your child’s pediatrician will want to see them in the office. They will make sure your little one is on track when it comes to milestones like crawling, walking, and speaking.
You may have read that children under age two should not wear face masks, so how do you ensure your child is protected in the doctor’s office? Rest assured that the health and safety of you and your family is our number one priority. New safeguards have been implemented at all Primary Health Network offices, including:
- All employees are wearing masks at all times
- Employees with direct patient interaction are also wearing a face shield, gown, and gloves
- Only a certain number of patients are allowed in the waiting room at one time
- Our sites continue to be cleaned throughout the day and every night using hospital-grade cleaning products
- For pediatric visits, we are requesting that parents bring only the child scheduled for the appointment, and only one adult will be permitted into the appointment
- We are maintaining designated times for well visits that are separate from any appointments for children with illness symptoms
If you want to take extra precautions after the appointment, there are a few additional steps you can take:
- Wash your hands
- Wipe down all surfaces you touched (car seat, seat belts, steering wheel, etc.) with a disinfectant wipe
Regardless of your child’s age, pediatric care should not be ignored during the pandemic. If your child is sick, we ask that you please call your preferred office and we can schedule either an in-person or virtual visit based on their symptoms. As always, if your child is experiencing a medical emergency, you should not hesitate to call 911 or take them to the emergency room.