Staying Up to Date On Your Child's Vaccines During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dr. Sethi discusses the Importance of Staying Up to Date on Childhood Vaccines during COVID-19.
Featured Speaker:
Learn more about Neela Sethi, MD
Neela Sethi, MD
Dr. Neela Sethi was born and raised in Palos Verdes, California. She attended the University of California at Los Angeles for her undergraduate training, and graduated both Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a major in Psychobiology.Learn more about Neela Sethi, MD
Transcription:
Staying Up to Date On Your Child's Vaccines During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Introduction: It's Your Health Radio, a special podcast series presented by Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.
Melanie Cole: It's been reported across the country that some parents are falling behind on their vaccinations for their children due to the fear of Coronavirus. Welcome to it's Your Health Radio with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. I'm Melanie Cole. And today we're discussing the importance of staying up to date on your child's vaccines, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining me as Dr. Neela Sethi. She's a Pediatrician on the medical staff at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. Dr. Sethi. It's a pleasure to have you join us today. What have you seen happening as far as vaccines and well visits during this pandemic?
Dr. Sethi: Hi Melanie. That's a great question. You're right. Everybody is just scared right now. It's a scary time. It's an unknown time. People don't know how to proceed and what they're doing is saying home and avoiding the doctor's office, but they're also avoiding their vaccines by doing that as well.
Host: So then tell us, because I know we're learning more about televisits and they've been really evolving and very useful. And I feel like healthcare providers have had to really be creative and think outside the box to give great care to their patients. What would you like parents to know about what pediatricians are recommending now to make sure that our kids are up to date on their vaccines and their well visits?
Dr. Sethi: I think that you have to have trust and you have to have trust in your provider and you have to have trust in the medical community that not only are we coming up with better ways to keep you safe at the office, but we also are making sure that you are on a regular schedule with your vaccines, because just because we're in the midst of a pandemic, doesn't mean that we're not going to see measles and mumps and all the other things that are still alive and well. So I think making sure that your office is giving you the confidence that you need, which most offices are right now. We don't have a waiting room. We are doing a car waiting room or a virtual waiting room. We are calling patients in one at a time. We have a fairly large office. And generally speaking, we see many, many people, but for right now, we're only seeing one at a time to get their vaccines done. And then they leave and we're making it so that people are distant. And we're ensuring that patients feel comfortable. Doctors wear N95 masks, we're gowned, wear gloves. Our nurses are the same. We're doing temp checks. We're also doing COVID screening at the door. So each and every patient, their safety is considered number one.
Host: So while televisits are great pink eye or rashes or sore throats, any of these things, are you using them for well visits for parents that want to know if they can do their well-visit via telehealth? Is that possible or not?
Dr. Sethi: It is possible. And there are certainly people that are doing that. The issue is that you cannot vaccinate when you're doing a telemedicine visit. And when you can't vaccinate with a telemedicine visit, you're getting the benefit of receiving the care that you need in terms of anticipatory guidance and being able to answer your questions and your fears, but you can't vaccinate. And our office, I know personally went back and forth on that and wanted to offer it to patients, but we were so worried that patients would then skip their vaccines, that we only do our telehealth visits for sick and for all the healthy kids, we're having them come in the office, so that we can make sure they're getting vaccinated.
Host: My pediatrician as well, sick visits can be with telehealth, but the well visits because of vaccines have to be in person. So what do you want parents to know about? So can they go with their child and what do you want them to know about what they should be doing as precautions? If you're all in PPE and you're all protected. What about the patients? What are you doing for them?
Dr. Sethi: Great question. So I guess what I would want to scream from the rooftops is go to your pediatrician and definitely wear a mask. We are only allowing one parent per patient so that there is some distance that's happening within the room itself, and coming home and washing your hands, making sure that you're not messing with your mask, touching your mask, keeping the mask on for the visit, even if it gets a little bit uncomfortable, those are the things that I'd want to say. Have faith in your medical community, have faith in your pediatrician that we're going to keep you safe and healthy. And just remember that COVID is here, but none of the other illnesses, bacteria and viruses have gone. And the last thing that we need is another outbreak of something else in the midst of COVID to make everything just more complicated.
Host: What if they've been exposed? Should they, if they have an appointment, cancel it, or do they call you and tell you, what would a parent do if they're worried that they or their child might have been exposed or maybe showing symptoms or not, what do they do then?
Dr. Sethi: Now that raises a good point. If there is a risk of exposure or if the patient or the parent is considered symptomatic, we don't have them come in the office because, well, frankly we don't know a whole lot about asymptomatic spread. We don't want to make it so that there's a chance that they could get the staff sick or other patients sick. So if you're feeling symptoms and, or have had any exposure, we do recommend that you quarantine for two weeks and then come in after those 14 days. So what we're telling parents is it's not weeks that matter. So a couple of weeks of quarantine doesn't change things. It's when you're skipping a series of vaccines, or you're not coming to the office for four or five months at a time, that makes a difference. So make sure that you're keeping yourself safe and decreasing spread in the short term, but in the long-term, making sure that you're getting your vaccines.
Host: And I'm sure that you have heard this question and I know what you're going to answer, but we're speaking about vaccines. So it would seem to be the elephant in the room. Dr. Sethi, do we know anything about a COVID vaccine?
Dr. Sethi: You know, yes and no. We know that the vaccine is in the works. We know that we have multiple big companies investing, large amounts of money, trying to develop a vaccine and several amazing scientists and researchers that are trying to come up with something that's safe. There are reports of human trials starting in small numbers and not in large numbers, but in terms of a timeline, no. They're saying 2021 to pediatricians, but we just don't know that for sure. So unfortunately we know it's coming, but we don't know when.
Host: Well, thank you for that honest answer. And Dr. Sethi, before we wrap up, please reiterate the importance of vaccines and speaking with our pediatricians to make sure our kids are up to date that we haven't missed any and getting in for their well visits so that they can get those vaccines and really bringing up any fears or concerns with our Ped Doc, about the safety of visiting our pediatrician's office.
Dr. Sethi: Yes, exactly. You stated it perfectly call your pediatrician, talk to them about it, find out what safety practices they have in measure in the office to keep you comfortable, make sure that you're putting your child on their regular vaccine schedule and visiting the office and making sure that the vaccines are done at the normal schedule that we recommend, especially as we head into cold and flu season, the last thing we need is that your child's getting flu and having high fevers. And then there's a concern for COVID and it just creates more stress on family. So the more that we can decrease the other diseases, the better for the child. And then we can really just hone in right now and figure out how to fight this COVID battle because I'm telling you, pediatricians are super fearful about what's going to happen in the Fall when flu and RSV and all these other terrible bugs come into play. It's going to make it a very confusing picture for every kid that's, starting in the Fall. So you are helping us and you're helping your community and you're helping your own child by keeping them vaccinated and keeping them healthy.
Host: Thank you so much, Dr. Sethi for coming on and encouraging parents telling us about the importance of vaccinations and well visits and voicing our concerns with our pediatricians. Many parents are scared, but you've given us really good information about the safety measures and what Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital is doing to keep the community safe. So thank you so very much. And that wraps up this episode of It's Your Health Radio with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. If you have concerns and to stay up to date on the COVID-19 pandemic, we encourage you to check the Henry Newhall website at henrymayo.com, and click on the virus link at the top of the page. Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and all the other Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital podcasts. I'm Melanie Cole.
Staying Up to Date On Your Child's Vaccines During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Introduction: It's Your Health Radio, a special podcast series presented by Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.
Melanie Cole: It's been reported across the country that some parents are falling behind on their vaccinations for their children due to the fear of Coronavirus. Welcome to it's Your Health Radio with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. I'm Melanie Cole. And today we're discussing the importance of staying up to date on your child's vaccines, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining me as Dr. Neela Sethi. She's a Pediatrician on the medical staff at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. Dr. Sethi. It's a pleasure to have you join us today. What have you seen happening as far as vaccines and well visits during this pandemic?
Dr. Sethi: Hi Melanie. That's a great question. You're right. Everybody is just scared right now. It's a scary time. It's an unknown time. People don't know how to proceed and what they're doing is saying home and avoiding the doctor's office, but they're also avoiding their vaccines by doing that as well.
Host: So then tell us, because I know we're learning more about televisits and they've been really evolving and very useful. And I feel like healthcare providers have had to really be creative and think outside the box to give great care to their patients. What would you like parents to know about what pediatricians are recommending now to make sure that our kids are up to date on their vaccines and their well visits?
Dr. Sethi: I think that you have to have trust and you have to have trust in your provider and you have to have trust in the medical community that not only are we coming up with better ways to keep you safe at the office, but we also are making sure that you are on a regular schedule with your vaccines, because just because we're in the midst of a pandemic, doesn't mean that we're not going to see measles and mumps and all the other things that are still alive and well. So I think making sure that your office is giving you the confidence that you need, which most offices are right now. We don't have a waiting room. We are doing a car waiting room or a virtual waiting room. We are calling patients in one at a time. We have a fairly large office. And generally speaking, we see many, many people, but for right now, we're only seeing one at a time to get their vaccines done. And then they leave and we're making it so that people are distant. And we're ensuring that patients feel comfortable. Doctors wear N95 masks, we're gowned, wear gloves. Our nurses are the same. We're doing temp checks. We're also doing COVID screening at the door. So each and every patient, their safety is considered number one.
Host: So while televisits are great pink eye or rashes or sore throats, any of these things, are you using them for well visits for parents that want to know if they can do their well-visit via telehealth? Is that possible or not?
Dr. Sethi: It is possible. And there are certainly people that are doing that. The issue is that you cannot vaccinate when you're doing a telemedicine visit. And when you can't vaccinate with a telemedicine visit, you're getting the benefit of receiving the care that you need in terms of anticipatory guidance and being able to answer your questions and your fears, but you can't vaccinate. And our office, I know personally went back and forth on that and wanted to offer it to patients, but we were so worried that patients would then skip their vaccines, that we only do our telehealth visits for sick and for all the healthy kids, we're having them come in the office, so that we can make sure they're getting vaccinated.
Host: My pediatrician as well, sick visits can be with telehealth, but the well visits because of vaccines have to be in person. So what do you want parents to know about? So can they go with their child and what do you want them to know about what they should be doing as precautions? If you're all in PPE and you're all protected. What about the patients? What are you doing for them?
Dr. Sethi: Great question. So I guess what I would want to scream from the rooftops is go to your pediatrician and definitely wear a mask. We are only allowing one parent per patient so that there is some distance that's happening within the room itself, and coming home and washing your hands, making sure that you're not messing with your mask, touching your mask, keeping the mask on for the visit, even if it gets a little bit uncomfortable, those are the things that I'd want to say. Have faith in your medical community, have faith in your pediatrician that we're going to keep you safe and healthy. And just remember that COVID is here, but none of the other illnesses, bacteria and viruses have gone. And the last thing that we need is another outbreak of something else in the midst of COVID to make everything just more complicated.
Host: What if they've been exposed? Should they, if they have an appointment, cancel it, or do they call you and tell you, what would a parent do if they're worried that they or their child might have been exposed or maybe showing symptoms or not, what do they do then?
Dr. Sethi: Now that raises a good point. If there is a risk of exposure or if the patient or the parent is considered symptomatic, we don't have them come in the office because, well, frankly we don't know a whole lot about asymptomatic spread. We don't want to make it so that there's a chance that they could get the staff sick or other patients sick. So if you're feeling symptoms and, or have had any exposure, we do recommend that you quarantine for two weeks and then come in after those 14 days. So what we're telling parents is it's not weeks that matter. So a couple of weeks of quarantine doesn't change things. It's when you're skipping a series of vaccines, or you're not coming to the office for four or five months at a time, that makes a difference. So make sure that you're keeping yourself safe and decreasing spread in the short term, but in the long-term, making sure that you're getting your vaccines.
Host: And I'm sure that you have heard this question and I know what you're going to answer, but we're speaking about vaccines. So it would seem to be the elephant in the room. Dr. Sethi, do we know anything about a COVID vaccine?
Dr. Sethi: You know, yes and no. We know that the vaccine is in the works. We know that we have multiple big companies investing, large amounts of money, trying to develop a vaccine and several amazing scientists and researchers that are trying to come up with something that's safe. There are reports of human trials starting in small numbers and not in large numbers, but in terms of a timeline, no. They're saying 2021 to pediatricians, but we just don't know that for sure. So unfortunately we know it's coming, but we don't know when.
Host: Well, thank you for that honest answer. And Dr. Sethi, before we wrap up, please reiterate the importance of vaccines and speaking with our pediatricians to make sure our kids are up to date that we haven't missed any and getting in for their well visits so that they can get those vaccines and really bringing up any fears or concerns with our Ped Doc, about the safety of visiting our pediatrician's office.
Dr. Sethi: Yes, exactly. You stated it perfectly call your pediatrician, talk to them about it, find out what safety practices they have in measure in the office to keep you comfortable, make sure that you're putting your child on their regular vaccine schedule and visiting the office and making sure that the vaccines are done at the normal schedule that we recommend, especially as we head into cold and flu season, the last thing we need is that your child's getting flu and having high fevers. And then there's a concern for COVID and it just creates more stress on family. So the more that we can decrease the other diseases, the better for the child. And then we can really just hone in right now and figure out how to fight this COVID battle because I'm telling you, pediatricians are super fearful about what's going to happen in the Fall when flu and RSV and all these other terrible bugs come into play. It's going to make it a very confusing picture for every kid that's, starting in the Fall. So you are helping us and you're helping your community and you're helping your own child by keeping them vaccinated and keeping them healthy.
Host: Thank you so much, Dr. Sethi for coming on and encouraging parents telling us about the importance of vaccinations and well visits and voicing our concerns with our pediatricians. Many parents are scared, but you've given us really good information about the safety measures and what Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital is doing to keep the community safe. So thank you so very much. And that wraps up this episode of It's Your Health Radio with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. If you have concerns and to stay up to date on the COVID-19 pandemic, we encourage you to check the Henry Newhall website at henrymayo.com, and click on the virus link at the top of the page. Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and all the other Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital podcasts. I'm Melanie Cole.