This Month's Newsletter
Memorial Day is here and so is the unofficial start of summer! We wish you all a safe and fun long holiday weekend. We would also like to take a moment to recognize our nurses for the incredibly impact they have on our practice and patients.
In this month's newsletter, we give a Covid vaccine update and provide an article from the American Academy of Pediatrics and their position on the Covid-19 vaccine in children. We also offer insight into mental health and signs to look for in recognition of Mental Health Awareness month. In addition, we discuss the importance of Vitamin D, especially in babies. We continue to include information on our office procedures, services we offer and complimentary new mom and baby classes.
The Pediatric Center is here for all of your urgent medical needs, even when the office is closed. There is always someone available from our practice. All you have to do is call: 908-508-0400.
Our goal is to further develop our relationship with our patients and create an open forum. We welcome your comments and ideas. If you would like to see something included in this newsletter, please email us at pedcenter.com@gmail.com with ideas only, please no medical requests.
As always, we welcome you to share your experience with our practitioners with an online review.
Sincerely,
The Pediatric Center Staff
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Covid-19 Vaccine for Children
In a new policy statement published on May 12, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
recommends vaccinating all children ages 12 and older who are eligible for the federally authorized COVID-19 vaccine.
The AAP policy statement comes amid a discussion by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for adolescents 12 years and older, including a review of the data provided by clinical trials. Earlier this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted an Emergency Use Authorization for use of the vaccine in the 12- to 15-year age group. Both steps were part of a long-standing, rigorous and transparent process that leads to the development of all vaccines.
“This is truly an exciting development that allows us to protect a large population of children and help them regain their lives after a really rough year,” said AAP President Lee Savio Beers, MD, FAAP. “As a pediatrician and a parent, I have looked forward to getting my own children and patients vaccinated, and I am thrilled that those ages 12 and older can now be protected. The data continue to show that this vaccine is safe and effective. I urge all parents to call their pediatrician to learn more about how to get their children and teens vaccinated.”
The AAP recommends that all eligible children, teens, family and household members be vaccinated as soon as possible. Pediatricians are especially concerned about communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are working to ensure equity in the vaccine’s distribution.
More than 3.8 million children have been infected with this virus since the beginning of the pandemic, and children have suffered in many other ways. While most children do not get severely ill from COVID-19, thousands have been hospitalized and hundreds have died.
“We’ve seen the harm done to children’s mental and emotional health as they’ve missed out on so many experiences during the pandemic,” Dr. Beers said. “Vaccinating children will protect them and allow them to fully engage in all of the activities—school, sports, socializing with friends and family— that are so important to their health and development.”
The AAP supports giving other childhood and adolescent immunizations at the same time as COVID-19 vaccines, particularly for children and teens who are behind on their immunizations. Between the substantial data collected on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, and the extensive experience with non-COVID-19 vaccines which shows the immune response and side effects are generally similar when vaccines are given together as when they are administered alone, the benefits of co-administration and timely catch up on vaccinations outweigh any theoretical risk. AAP recommends that children and adolescents catch up on all vaccinations that may have been delayed during the pandemic.
Some pediatricians are administering COVID-19 vaccines within their practice, while others are coordinating with public health departments and other places to make sure their patients have access to the vaccine.
“Be sure to let your pediatrician know if your child is vaccinated somewhere other than the doctor’s office so the medical record can be updated,” Dr. Beers said. “Pediatricians are one of the most trusted sources of medical information for children, and we counsel families in our practices every single day. If you have any questions about the vaccine, please call us. We are here to help families navigate this new normal as safely as possible.”
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
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A good informative video regarding how CoVID mRNA vaccines work, how they differ from traditional vaccines and how scientists were able to get Covid vaccines quickly during a pandemic. |
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How's Their Mental Health?
Mental health issues are prevalent in youth lately and much of it can stem from environmental factors. Mental health is just as important to nurture as physical health and with appropriate steps can be prevented and treated. Those that have a genetic or biological component to mental illness may benefit from early intervention, however may involve a different treatment plan that include medication and behavioral modification.
A child’s health depends on their physically health including nutrition, exercise, immunizations as well as their mental stability – their psychological and emotional well-being.
Helping children feel secure, encouraging their talents and skills and celebrating their accomplishments, while also accepting their limitations can help foster a great balance.
A strong self esteem that stems from confidence and competence will impact how they approach their daily life. Providing a child with a safe and secure home includes an abundance of love, respect, caring and trust in relationships. Offering them an opportunity to talk about feelings and experiences and giving them time to play, learn and succeed while being consistent and fair with expectations and clear consequences for behavior will teach them tools to succeed.
It’s also important to recognize environmental factors like social media, peers and social interactions to ensure they are not influencing behaviors. If you suspect any of these to be effecting their behavior try to address it immediately.
Some signs to look for:
- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness or irritability
- Overly anxious or worried
- Scared and fearful with frequent nightmares
- Excessive anger
- Use of alcohol or drugs
- Avoiding people and wanting to be alone most of the time
- Hearing voices or seeing images that aren’t there
- Inability to concentrate, sit still or focus attention
- The need to wash, clean things, or perform certain rituals many times a day
- Talking about suicide or death
- Hurting others or animals or damaging property
- Major changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Loss of interest in things they previously enjoyed
- Falling behind in school or dropping grades
If you suspect your child may be experiencing a mental health problem, it is important to seek help from your pediatrician and/or mental health professional as soon as possible. Let your children know that everyone experiences pain, fear, sadness, worry, and anger and that these emotions are a normal part of life; encourage them to talk about their concerns and to express their emotions.
May is Mental Health Awareness month. It's a good time to check in with your children and make sure they are ok.
Source: Mental Health America
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Are They Getting Enough Vitamin D?
There’s a common misconception among new parents that breast milk provides all the nutrients growing infants need. But when it comes to vitamin D for babies, breast milk isn’t always enough.
Supplementing vitamin D is critical for growing newborns. Without a sufficient daily dose of this vital nutrient, babies can experience negative health effects in the short and long term.
How do you ensure your baby is getting the vitamin D he or she needs?
A Guide to Supplementing Vitamin D for Babies
The American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) recommends that infants up to 12 months old get at least 400 IU of vitamin D per day. Babies between the ages of one and two years need 600 IU or more of vitamin D per day.
Do Formula-Fed Babies Need Vitamin D?
We’ve already mentioned that exclusively and partially breastfed infants need to supplement with vitamin D. Still, you may be wondering: what about babies who exclusively drink formula?
Babies fed at least one liter of fortified formula per day will get their daily dose of vitamin D. Just make sure that the label says the formula contains at least 400 IU or 0.01 milligrams of vitamin D per liter.
Most infants don’t drink an entire liter of formula until they’re at least a few months of age. This is why the APA suggests new mothers and parents further supplement their infants’ diets with vitamin D drops.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Babies Symptoms
Vitamin D deficiency is sadly common in babies. It usually manifests first as extreme tiredness or irritability. These symptoms may not seem serious, but they can be a sign that more severe side effects are coming including some of the following conditions:
Hypocalcemia
Hypocalcemia is a condition that occurs due to calcium deficiency. It can lead to symptoms like cramping, numbness, muscle spasms, and even seizures. A lack of vitamin D is one of the most common causes of hypocalcemia.
Why? One of vitamin D’s roles in the body is to increase the rate of calcium absorption. As vitamin D levels decline, the body’s ability to absorb calcium drops, too, leading to hypocalcemia.
Stunted Growth
Vitamin D is critical for healthy bones as we age. But it’s also important for healthy growing bones. This is why vitamin D deficiency commonly causes stunted growth in children.
For example, a 2017 study looked at the connection between vitamin D deficiency and weight. Researchers found that underweight children were 2X more likely to have lower vitamin D levels than children of average weights.
Respiratory Infections
Respiratory infections are a leading cause of illness around the globe. They occur when we’re exposed to bacteria and viruses. Colds, ear infections, and pneumonia are all considered respiratory infections.
People with vitamin D deficiency have an increased risk of developing respiratory infections. That’s because vitamin D helps defends our bodies against germs like those that cause respiratory infections.
Rickets
Rickets is the most severe symptom of lacking vitamin D. It’s a condition characterized by weakened or brittle bones. Rickets usually only occurs in children experiencing prolonged vitamin D or calcium deficiency.
Getting plenty of vitamin D, especially during periods of growth, can help protect your baby’s bones and prevent rickets from developing.
How to Ensure Your Baby Gets Enough Vitamin D
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It's that time again!
Every doctor in our practice requires votes to be recognized as a "New Jersey Favorite Kids' Doc". Voting ends on May 31st.
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In-House Covid-19 Testing & Guidelines
The Pediatric Center continues to offer Covid-19 testing for all patients and their families. Please visit our Covid-19 Testing page to learn more about the types of tests, what to do if you are exposed to Covid-19 and isolation and quarantine guidelines.
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Covid-19 Office Procedures |
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Our strict CDC guidelines continue, Our office is completely sanitized and treated before each appointment. We continue the following protocols:
- Phone screening prior to a visit
- No patients in the waiting rooms
- Suspension of walk-in visits - all appointments must be scheduled
- Patient clearance prior to entering the office
- Car visits, when needed
- Virtual telemedicine, if requested
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Please continue to limit your visit to one adult per family, wear a face covering/mask while in the office and maintain social distancing (at least 6 ft apart). Please do not make an appointment or come to the office if you have, or show any symptoms of COVID-19.
We look forward to seeing you!
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Virtual New Mom Support Group
The Pediatric Center offers a weekly Virtual New Mom Support Group every Friday at 10 am. The classes are facilitated by our own Dr. Mckegney via Zoom. Simply register here. The support group is open and free to the public.
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On-Site Lactation Support Center
The Pediatric Center's Lactation Support Center and lactation suite are available to you to support breastfeeding your child.
We offer complimentary lactation consultations and are now offering virtual visits.
To schedule your lactation consultation, attend our free prenatal class or make an appointment please call us at 908-508-0400.
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Find More Topics On Our Blog |
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The Pediatric Center's blog is an invaluable resource for pediatric and parenting topics. The blog is right on our website. It includes topics such as "12 Super Foods for Lactation Aid", "Best Winter Skincare Tips" and so much more.
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Patient Portal
The Pediatric Center's patient portal provides personal access to your family's medical records.
You can access information such as immunization records, visit summaries, request appointments, view dates for upcoming appointments and pay your bill.
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Do You Need A Pediatric Specialist?
The Pediatric Center works with a wide network of doctors we can refer to a pediatric specialist if you need one.
As part of our practice, we specialize in developmental & behavioral health and focus on positive parenting practices. We can offer guidance on depression, eating disorders, developmental concerns and many other issues. You are not alone.
Please call to make an appointment to meet with one of our physicians: 908-508-0400.
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The Pediatric Center Online Bill Pay
Online Bill Payment
Payments Over The Phone
If you prefer, you can still make a payment over the phone by calling The Pediatric Center's billing department,
Office: 908-508-0400
Billing Department: 786-249-1234
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ImPACT Concussion Testing
The Pediatric Center offers on-site ImPact concussion testing.
ImPACT, an FDA cleared tool for baseline and post-injury testing, measures visual and verbal memory, reaction time, and processing speed to help determine if a patient (ages 12-59) can safely return to activity.
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Vaccine Education Center
Reminder - we offer all students going to college the Meningococcal B vaccine. This vaccine is covered by insurance. It is recommended it be administered to all students starting college as part of their pre-college physical. We also offer the Gardasil vaccine.
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We Love Your Feedback!
Your feedback is very important to us! We would love to hear about your positive experience with our doctors and nurse practitioners. You can write and post a review right on our website or on our Facebook page. Thank you for your kind words!
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Free Virtual Prenatal Class
Join our free, virtual prenatal class on the 3rd Thursday of every month with our own
Dr. McKegney!
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For Parents
Resources for breastfeeding, immunization schedules, what to do if your child is sick, online references & much more!
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New Mom Support Group
Are you a new mom and want to connect with other moms while learning about your newborn? Join our weekly support group.
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Follow Us On Facebook!
Keep up to date with pertinent news information and important announcements on Facebook including time sensitive topics and office closings, etc.
Simply like us
by clicking on the button to the right!
Announcements will also be posted on the home page of our website under "What's New".
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The Pediatric Center
556 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974
908-508-0400
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