Category: News

The FDA and CDC have approved an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Moderna and Pfizer’s updated COVID booster vaccine for children 6 months and older. This updated dose will now include the Omicron BA.4/5 spike protein to help reduce the spread of the more recent COVID variants.

Other Important Updates:

• Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for this age group are NOT interchangeable. The same vaccine manufacturer should be used to complete the entire primary series.
• We offer the Pfizer vaccine, which will include three (3) doses in your child’s primary series.
• Patients must be vaccinated with two monovalent doses before receiving the bivalent dose.
• If a child receives three monovalent doses, they will NOT be authorized to receive a booster of the bivalent dose at this time.
• Moderna will still be two doses in the primary series and can get the bivalent dose as a “booster.”

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

Illnesses such as RSV, flu, and other respiratory illnesses causing cold-like symptoms are currently circulating in children in our community. While infection is spreading in children at unprecedented levels, there are ways to prevent illness so that you and your children can enjoy Thanksgiving!

• Get your flu vaccine! We still have vaccines available for your child. Contact our office at (513) 232-8100 or visit your patient portal to schedule.
• Continue to wash hands regularly when they are soiled, before and after prepping food, and before and after eating.
• If possible, avoid touching your face to prevent viral spread.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands.
• Wearing a mask if you experience respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, or congestion can reduce the spread of illness with close contacts.

The Anderson Office is open on Thanksgiving day for ill appointments between 9:00 AM -12:00 PM. We will resume regular business hours at our Anderson location on Friday, November 25, 2022. Our Amelia Office will be closed on November 24-25, 2022.  We will continue to have a nurse or physician available by phone 24/7 at 513-232-8100.

Below are resources to help you and your family this Thanksgiving.

• Healthy Children– How to Plan a Balanced Thanksgiving Meal for Picky Eaters 
• Healthy Children– How to Practice Gratitude & Improve Your Family’s Mental Health
• Foodsafety.gov– Let’s Talk Turkey 

We wish you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Viral respiratory illnesses such as RSV, Flu, COVID, and other viruses are spreading rapidly among children in our community. While these types of illnesses tend to spread more frequently in the winter months, we are experiencing a higher-than-usual amount for this time of year.

Anderson Hills Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and our peer outpatient practices are all doing their best to balance this increased demand for care. We are answering approximately 250 calls daily, and our team is working additional hours to provide the best appointment availability for you and your child/ children. You may experience longer than usual wait times for appointments or delays in returning your phone call due to limited appointment availability.

Know that we are still here for you! We will return your call even if you do not reach a live person and have to leave a message. Please leave your child’s name, date of birth, and a good contact number for us to reach you. We have recently noticed that our phone number is labeled as “Public Service” when we call, and at times we may return calls from phone numbers other than (513) 232-8100. We cannot leave a detailed voicemail unless the patient or guardian’s name is mentioned on your voicemail.

If we do not have available appointments for your child, our clinical triage team will guide how best to care for your child’s illness during this time which may include at-home remedies.

Additionally, Amoxicillin is in shortage in many parts of the country and the Tri-State area. Most of the infections we presently treat are caused by viruses. If your child has a virus, antibiotics will not help your child feel better or keep others from getting sick. However, if your child has a condition or secondary infection such as a sinus infection, strep throat, ear infection, or pneumonia, your pediatrician may prescribe a different antibiotic to treat their bacterial illness until the shortage subsides.

We humbly ask for your patience as we work hard every day to ensure your family has the care you deserve.

Over 80,000 children living in the tri-state area deal with food insecurity. Food scarcity in children can lead to adverse health outcomes that include iron sufficiency, anemia, increased likelihood of illness and hospitalizations, developmental delays, and more. Our team at Anderson Hills Pediatrics believes it is essential to stop hunger in our community. Due to this, we are once again hosting our annual food drive in partnership with Inter Parish Ministry (IPM) Food Pantry to help fight food insecurity.

IPM is a local organization based in Amelia and Newport that helps provide residents (and likely some of our patients) with food panty needs and personal care items. The demand for food has increased by 60% since the pandemic’s start. Non-perishable food and personal item donations may be more critical now than ever for our community.

Would you like to help us in giving back? If you want to drop off donations, we have black bins at each office to collect non-perishable food items and personal care items through November 29, 2022. IPM is in most need of items such as:

• Peanut Butter
• Jelly (in plastic jars if possible)
• Canned fruit
• Soups
• Single Serve Mac and Cheese
• Cereal

You can also join our efforts by signing up to volunteer with IPM Food Pantry or donating online at IPM Food Pantry.

Are you worried about where your next meal is coming from? We want to ensure we do our best to ensure our patients do not go hungry too! Please take a few items when visiting either of our locations during our food donation drive.

Thank you in advance for helping us give back to our community and patients in need!

Anderson Hills Pediatrics recommends that all children six months and older get this year’s flu vaccine.

Cases of influenza illness have remained low since the start of the pandemic. However, it is anticipated that we will have a high and earlier flu season based on experience in the Southern Hemisphere. We are already treating flu cases in our offices. Influenza trackers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have seen flu activity increasing in parts of the country.

Upcoming opportunities for flu vaccinations include:

• Saturday, October 22nd, and October 29th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at our Anderson location
• Wednesdays from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM at our Anderson location
• Fridays from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM at our Amelia location
• Your child can also receive a flu vaccine during their check-up appointments

Ready to schedule for one of our flu clinics? Visit the Patient Portal to get started, or call our office at 513-232-8100.

If your child has already received their influenza vaccine, please send a copy of their record to us via the patient portal. Doing so ensures their vaccination records are up to date. 

Flu 101

Why does my child need to get a flu shot?

Flu shots reduce the risk of getting the flu. Some children vaccinated against the flu may still get sick but are significantly less ill. This is important because the flu can have severe complications, such as pneumonia or hospitalization.

If your child is younger than five years or has certain chronic conditions, they are at an even higher risk of severe complications from the flu.

My child got a flu shot last year. Do they really need one this year?

Flu viruses change, so the vaccine gets updated to keep up with the viruses that may be most common during the upcoming flu season. Even if your child got a flu vaccine last year, their immune protection from it decreases over time. Getting a flu shot every year is their best protection.

Isn’t the flu the same thing as a cold?

Colds are usually milder than flu. People with colds are more likely to have runny or stuffy noses. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems.

The flu, however, can cause serious health problems like pneumonia or hospitalizations. The flu can cause serious health problems like difficulty breathing or dehydration, sometimes requiring a stay in the hospital or even the intensive care unit. In rare cases, the flu can lead to death.

Can’t you get the flu from the flu shot?

No, the flu vaccine can’t give your child the flu. A flu vaccine may cause side effects that feel like the flu, but they are mild and short-lasting. These are signs that their immune system is working and building protection against the flu.

Does my child need a flu vaccine if they already got a COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes, they do! A COVID-19 vaccine does NOT protect your child from the viruses that cause the flu. Many children at higher risk from COVID-19 are also at higher risk of flu. It is safe for your child to receive the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.

Flu vaccination decreases your child’s risk of getting the flu and its potentially serious complications, which can result in hospitalization and even death.

We welcome you to join in a little of our Halloween fun! Each year the employees of Anderson Hills Pediatrics paint and craft pumpkins for our patients to enjoy during their visit. We all enjoy a little friendly competition and need your help deciding which pumpkin should win this year! Please take a moment to visit our Facebook or Instagram pages to vote on your favorite pumpkin! Voting ends on Sunday, 10/30/22.

Halloween Safety Resources: 

We have included a few of our favorite resources to help you and your child/children celebrate Halloween safely. We wish you and your family a Happy Halloween!

• Halloween Health & Safety Tips – Healthy Children
• Teal Pumpkin Project – Food Allergy Research & Education
• Avoid a Food Allergy Scare on Halloween –  Healthy Children
•  Easing Babies & Toddlers into Halloween Fun: 8 Tips for Parents – Healthy Children

Is your infant currently being fed in part or fully with a Similac ready-to-feed liquid formula product? If so, you may be impacted by a recent formula recall from the manufacturer, Abbott Nutrition.

The recall was issued after a small percentage of bottles had caps that were not sealed completely, which could result in spoilage. A spoiled product could lead to gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting in your child.

Depending upon the lot number, the following products may be included in the voluntary recall:

• Similac 360 Total Care
• Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive
• Similac Special Care 24
• Similac Pro-Total Comfort
• Similac NeoSure
• Pedialyte Electrolyte Solution

The code is printed on the product packaging near the expiration date (see product image below). Additional information, such as affected lot numbers in the recall by Abbott Nutrition, is available on their website: Similac Recall.

Please do not hesitate to contact our office at  if you are concerned that your infant may have symptoms related to a spoiled product or need a suggested formula replacement.

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

Our goal at Anderson Hills Pediatrics is to provide the best care to your child, so they can achieve the best possible health and quality of life. Behavioral health concerns (such as anxiety, depression, behavior problems, and adjustment concerns) often arise in childhood and can impact a child/teen’s functioning. To continue our support with these common concerns, we are hiring an additional behavioral health specialist, Vanessa Sinclair, LPCC-S, to join our team at the Amelia location!

Caitlin Geiser, LPCC-S our current behavioral health specialist will move to the Anderson location full-time starting in November.

Both Caitlin and Vanessa are highly qualified, fantastic counselors. For the best treatment, your child will be treated by the same counselor for the entirety of their treatment plan.

Our behavioral health specialists will submit a separate bill to your insurance company for the service. Depending on your specific coverage, you will either be charged a second copay or be billed for any balance not paid by your insurance (deductible and/or co-insurance).  If you have Ohio Medicaid, the services will be covered.

Because specific benefits differ among insurance plans, please call your insurance company and ask for coverage information for the billing codes (CPT codes) listed below.

CPT code            Mental Health Services   

90791                  Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation

90832                 Psychotherapy 30 minutes, with patient and/or family member

90834                 Psychotherapy 45 minutes, with patient and/or family member

90846                 Family Psychotherapy (without patient present)

90847                  Family Psychotherapy (with patient present)

The coverage level that applies to the therapy services may differ from the coverage level that applies to the medical doctor’s charge.

If you have any questions about our therapy services after talking to your insurance company or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 513-232-8100. Please note that your child’s primary pediatrician may need to see your child for a visit before scheduling an appointment with our behavioral health therapists.

The FDA approved an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Moderna and Pfizer’s updated COVID booster vaccine for children twelve years and older. This updated booster dose will now include the Omicron BA.4/5 spike protein to help reduce the spread of the more recent COVID variants.   We are waiting for the CDC vaccine advisory committee to confirm its approval and cannot provide the vaccine until both the FDA and CDC have approved its use.

Once fully approved, booster doses will be available for any patient who is 12 years of age and older and has completed their initial series of the COVID-19 vaccine or received a booster dose at least 2 (two) months prior to the current (updated) booster.

We plan for the updated booster to arrive shortly after full approval.  We can provide COVID vaccines, including the updated booster, when your child receives their flu vaccine at upcoming flu clinics.  Please contact our office to schedule an appointment for flu and/or the updated COVID booster vaccine.

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

Why does my child need to get a flu shot?

Flu shots reduce the risk of getting the flu. Some children vaccinated against the flu may still get sick but are significantly less ill. This is important because the flu can have severe complications, such as pneumonia or hospitalization.

If your child is younger than 5 years or has certain chronic conditions, they are at an even higher risk of severe complications from the flu.

My child got a flu shot last year. Do they really need one this year?

Flu viruses change, so the vaccine gets updated to keep up with the viruses that may be most common during the upcoming flu season. Even if your child got a flu vaccine last year, their immune protection from it decreases over time. Getting a flu shot every year is their best protection.

Isn’t the flu the same thing as a cold?

Colds are usually milder than flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems.

The flu, however, can cause serious health problems like pneumonia or hospitalizations. The flu can cause serious health problems like difficulty breathing or dehydration, sometimes requiring a stay in the hospital or even the intensive care unit. In rare cases, the flu can lead to death.

Can’t you get the flu from the flu shot?

No, the flu vaccine can’t give your child the flu. A flu vaccine may cause side effects that feel like the flu, but they are mild and short-lasting. These are signs that their immune system is working and building protection against the flu.

Does my child need a flu vaccine if they already got a COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes, they do! A COVID-19 vaccine does NOT protect your child from the viruses that cause the flu. Many children at higher risk from COVID-19 are also at higher risk of flu. It is safe for your child to receive the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.

Flu vaccination decreases your child’s risk of getting flu and its potentially serious complications, which can result in hospitalization and even death.