COVID-19 May 2022 Update: Cases are Down, but the Pandemic is Not Over

It has been a few months since my last update, and as always the medical and science world around us changes with unfettered haste! 

With the COVID pandemic, as many of you know, we seem to have reached a downturn. Some are even claiming the pandemic is over. It is not. Variants continue to arise, and although not as dangerous or life-threatening as previous ones (i.e. Delta), still cause infections, hospitalizations, death, disruptions and concern.  

As far as children go, the disease continues to be mild and not as severe as adults, with fewer hospitalizations and death. However in my mind, the hospitalization or death of even one child is one too many, and as we have been preaching for months, vaccination is still the best way to prevent these bad outcomes. If you have not immunized your child (ages 5 and up), please do so as soon as possible.  We have these vaccines available in our office, and you simply need to call and make an appointment for a nurse visit. We have had no call-backs in terms of side effects other than a sore arm and mild fever.

As far as vaccines for younger children (<5 years of age), both Moderna and Pfizer have submitted data to the FDA for emergency use authorization (EUA). This is expected to happen no earlier than the last week in June. So far, the vaccines have shown to be effective in preventing hospitalization and death with no serious safety issues (ie no heart inflammation or myocarditis). So in the minds of a pediatrician this is a no-brainer. The shot offers protection against a potentially life-threatening virus, and other than a poke in the arm there is no downside. We will have the vaccines for the younger children available as soon as the FDA gives the go-ahead.  Please consider having your young child immunized. As always, I am happy to discuss this at the next well child visit, or you can also contact us with any questions.