Author: Anderson Hills Pediatrics

Hulafrog’s Most Loved Pediatrician on the Eastside

Is your infant currently being fed in part or fully with powdered infant formula? If so, you may be impacted by a recent formula recall from the FDA in partnership with the CDC. The recall was issued after reports of infants becoming ill with bacterial infections. The affected powdered formulas are of the Similac, Alimentum and EleCare brands from Abbott Nutrition that were produced at the Sturgis, Michigan, facility.

“The FDA is advising consumers not to use Similac, Alimentum or EleCare powdered infant formulas if:

• the first two digits of the code are 22 through 37 and
• the code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2, and
• the expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later

The code is printed on the product packaging near the expiration date (see product image below). Additional information on products made by Abbott Nutrition is available on their website: https://abbottnutrition.com/infant-and-new-motherExternal Link Disclaimer.” -FDA

Our team wants to reiterate an important quote from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) News article that, “Cronobacter bacteria can cause sepsis or meningitis. Symptoms include poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice, grunting breaths and abnormal movements. Salmonella can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever. Severe infections also may include aches, headaches, lethargy, rash and blood in the urine or stool.”

Please do not hesitate to contact our office at (513) 232-8100 if you are concerned that your infant may have symptoms of a bacterial infection.

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s care!

Resources:

• AAP News: FDA issues warning for potentially contaminated infant formula
• FDA:  FDA Investigation of Cronobacter and Salmonella Complaints: Powdered Infant Formula (February 2022)

Shortly after our previous email, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced there will be a delay in the evaluation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for age 6 months through 4 years of age. This decision was made to allow more time to evaluate data on a third dose and if three doses will be included in the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

“Since the early days of the pandemic, we’ve always followed the science in this ever-changing situation,” Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said during a press conference. “Data has come in so rapidly and we need to be able to look through the data. It makes sense for us to wait until we have the data from the evaluation of a third dose before taking action.” – American Academy of Pediatrics News

As previously mentioned, we do have COVID vaccines still available for patients 5 years of age and older!  Please contact our office to schedule your child’s doses for their vaccines or book on the patient portal today!

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s care!

Additional Resources and Information:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:  Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Postpones Advisory Committee Meeting to Discuss Request for Authorization of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 6 Months Through 4 Years of Age
• American Academy of Pediatrics: COVID Vaccine Fact Sheet
• American Academy of Pediatrics:  Why Should my Child get the COVID Vaccine Video

If you have been following the news lately, you have likely seen that Pfizer has recently requested emergency use authorization (EUA) for vaccinating children ages 6 months up through 4 years of age. With this recent request, we are starting to see an increase in questions related to vaccine availability. At this time we do not have COVID vaccines for this age group available nor are we approved to provided them to patients.

On February 15th, the FDA’s vaccine advisory committee will be meeting to discuss this request for the EUA to be approved. If the FDA determines that the vaccine is safe and appropriate for this age group, the CDC’s vaccine advisory will then need to provide the final approval for us to begin vaccinating patients.

The anticipated dosage is expected to be 3 micrograms per vaccine, and we anticipate it may be a 3 dose series. Pfizer is currently only seeking EUA for a two-dose vaccine, but they are continue to test a three-dose regimen.

In anticipation of being able to provide COVID vaccines to patients 6 months through 4 years of age as soon as it is approved, we have already placed our request to order these vaccines. If and when the vaccines are approved by the CDC and FDA, we will send a communication with more information on vaccination scheduling.

We do have COVID vaccines still available for patients 5 years of age and older! Vaccines are the most powerful weapon we have against deadly infectious disease and can lessen the level of illness should your child still contract COVID or flu. Please contact our office to schedule your child’s doses for their vaccines or book on the patient portal today!

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s care!

Additional Resources and Information:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:  FDA Advisory Committee Meeting to Discuss Request for Authorization of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 6 Months Through 4 Years of Age
• American Academy of Pediatrics: COVID Vaccine Fact Sheet
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Why Should my Child get the COVID Vaccine Video

While we are thankfully seeing a decline in COVID-19 cases, it is something that we are still consistently treating at Anderson Hills Pediatrics. In addition, we continue to treat other common illnesses for this time of year such as flu and strep. There is often an overlap in these symptoms, so proper testing is important to determine the best course of treatment for your child.

Since early on in the pandemic, Anderson Hills Pediatrics has had the ability to offer advanced DNA testing technology for flu, COVID, and strep testing in a single visit. These advanced technology tests are designed to detect these common conditions, regardless of the strain. We are also able to provide you with the results of your child’s tests before you leave our office! If you believe your child may be in need of testing, please contact our triage team to discuss and determine if an appointment is needed at 513-232-8100.

Common Strep Throat Symptoms:

• Pain in throat that is often made worse during swallowing
• Fever
• Headache
• Stomach Pain, nausea, or  vomiting
• Fine, red rash
• Red and swollen tonsils

Common Flu Symptoms:

• Fever and chills
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Headache
• Muscle pain

Common COVID Symptoms:

• Fever and chills
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Headache
• Fatigue’
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Loss of taste or smell

We still have COVID and flu vaccines available! Vaccines are the most powerful weapon we have against deadly infectious disease and can lessen the level of illness should your child still contract COVID or flu. Please contact our office to schedule your child’s doses for their vaccines or book on the patient portal today! 

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s care!

The cost of visits and testing is dependent upon your insurance plan and coverage. Check with your insurance company for more information on anticipated expenses.

Credit Card Decline Errors in Online Patient Payment Experience (Formerly QuickPay Portal)

Description:

• Many patients can’t make a payments on QuickPay Portal due to error “There was an error processing your credit card. Please try again or use another card.” Patients able to make phone payments using same cards.
• Credit card declined in online patient payment workflow’
• Sporadic, not happening to all patients

Applies To:

• Online Patient Payment Experience
• Formerly QuickPay Portal

Replication Steps:

1. User enters the code found on the statement and successfully logs into the online patient payment experience (formerly QuickPay Portal)
2. User is able to review balance and charges and designate how much to pay
3. User enters credit card information, but upon submitting payment, user gets an error something like the transaction could not be processed, and to either try again or use a different card. Or there was an error processing your credit card.

Workaround:

If the user is unable to submit a payment using one or more valid credit cards, the user could potentially pay via the patient portal, through the mail, or by calling the provider’s office to pay over the phone.

Solution:

This is being investigated by our internal teams and this article will be updated as information becomes available. Thank you for your patience.

CCHMC+COVID+Guide+for+Families

Did you test positive for COVID-19?

Anyone that tests positive for COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days. If there are no symptoms or your symptoms are improving, and you are fever free without the use of medication, after the 5th day of isolation, you can leave home. However, during the next 5 additional days, a mask should be strictly worn around others. It is recommended to not travel during this time and to stay away from immunocompromised people.

It is recommended that you continue to isolate beyond day 5 if your symptoms are not improving. We suggest that your child does not leave the home until they are fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.

Have you been exposed to others? 

If you have a COVID exposure, your quarantine will be determined based upon vaccination status. Regardless of vaccination status, the CDC recommends testing on day 5 following exposure if possible, and testing supplies allow.

If fully vaccinated (you have been boosted OR have completed the Pfizer of Moderna series of vaccines within the past 6-months OR have completed the J&J vaccine within the past 2-months), quarantining is not required, but you should wear a mask when around others for the 10 days following the exposure.

If you are not fully vaccinated, you should quarantine for 5 days. It is suggested that you test on day 5 if possible and testing supplies allow and wear a mask around others for an additional 5 days. If you develop symptoms or test positive, stay home.

When should you test your child for COVID-19?

We are receiving many appointment requests to test for COVID-19 due to direct exposure. Even with the new guidance from the CDC it is recommended that testing occurs upon the onset of symptoms of COVID-19 or on day 5 after exposure to someone known to have COVID-19.

We are offering as many COVID test appointments as our schedule will allow at this time. We are prioritizing testing for patients that are experiencing symptoms. If you have been exposed, have mild symptoms and testing supplies or appointments are not readily available, we will suggest you test on day 5 instead of both on the onset of symptoms and day 5. If the test is negative on day 5, this will allow your child clearance to return to normal activities. Please stay home if you child is not feeling well.

Does your PCR COVID test detect the Omicron variant?

Yes, we use the Abbott ID Now molecular tests to detect COVID-19 in patients. These tests were designed to detect certain genetic targets that are present with any variant of COVID-19. While our tests can determine if your child has COVID, they do not provide results stating which variant your child is ill with.

Should you trust the COVID-19 Home Test Results? 

Antigen tests are generally less likely to detect early infections of COVID compared to molecular tests. However, if your test shows a positive result, it is likely to be correct and you should isolate yourself per the new CDC guidelines. If you receive a negative test result, but still are experiencing symptoms or have a high likelihood of infection due to recent exposure, a PCR test may be useful in determining if you have COVID-19.

Based upon recently reported research, the Abbott BinaxNOW and Quidel QuickVue antigen tests have shown they are able to detect the omicron variant with similar performance as with other variants. The FDA is currently working with test developers to evaluate the impact of the Omicron variant on diagnostic tests.

Should you still vaccinate your child against COVID-19? 

Yes, vaccines remain the best public health measure to help protect your child and others from COVID-19. The CDC reports that in data shared from the United Kingdom and South Africa that if an individual is fully vaccinated or boosted, that the vaccine effectiveness against an infection is 75%. Even if a breakthrough infection occurs, individuals generally have milder illness and are less likely to need to be cared for in the hospital.

Vaccines are now available to ages 5 and up! And Booster doses are available to ages 12 and older. The Pfizer booster vaccine can be given 5 months after your child’s second dose. The Moderna booster is still suggested to be given at 6 months after the second dose Johnson and Johnson 2 months after the first dose. Some immunocompromised patients qualify for a 3rd dose 28 days after the completion of their initial series of Pfizer and Moderna. Data does not support this extra dose for Johnson and Johnson at this time.

“The following is attributable to CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky:

‘The Omicron variant is spreading quickly and has the potential to impact all facets of our society. CDC’s updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses. These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives. Prevention is our best option: get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial and high community transmission, and take a test before you gather.’”

Resources:

• CDC Updates and Shortens Recommended Isolation and Quarantine Period for General Population: Media Statement
• CDC Your Guide to Masks
• Healthy Children Does the COVID-19 vaccine protect kids from the omicron and delta variants of the virus?

As of today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include individuals 12 through 15 years of age. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not yet passed their approval. The CDC is expected to meet later this week to make their determination. 

At this time, we are preparing for future COVID vaccination clinics to meet your needs for booster doses. However, we currently are not scheduling these booster vaccinations for patients 12 to 15 years of age. Please join our COVID-19 12-15 Year Old Booster Waitlist and we will contact you as soon as clinics and doses become available.

Click Here To Reserve Your Dose

Additionally, our phone lines are very busy during this time due to increased levels of flu, COVID, and other respiratory illnesses in children. Our team is answering and returning phone calls as quickly as we can, but you may experience delays. The patient portal is a great place to schedule and send messages for non-urgent needs. Otherwise, we will be with you as quickly as well can. Thank you for your patience and grace.

FDA News Release: Release Notes

Prenatal Class Schedule Released for 2022!

Are you expecting? We encourage new parents to attend one of our FREE prenatal classes. This visit allows expecting parents the opportunity to learn more about our practice and will give you the chance to meet us! Each class is hosted by one of our pediatricians and a lactation consultant. Our team will review our office policies, hours, and more! They will also go over what to expect at the hospital and what to expect during your baby’s first year of life. This is an open forum, so please bring any questions you may have for our team to answer!

For everyone’s safety, our 2022 prenatal classes are at 7:00PM on Zoom at the dates listed below.

• Tuesday, January 11th
• Thursday, February 21st
• Tuesday, April 6th
• Wednesday, May 18th
• Monday, June 20th
• Tuesday, August 2nd
• Thursday, September 8th
• Wednesday, October 19th
• Tuesday, December 13th

Give us a call at 513-232-8100 option 5 or click this link to reserve your spot today!