Thrive-Health Guide Southern West Virginia August 2020 - Page 27

By WVU Health Sciences
Even during the COVID-19 global pandemic, West
Virginia University pediatricians Dr. Lisa Costello
and Dr. Kathryn S. Moffett recommend parents and
caregivers continue their children’s routine well child
visits to screen for health and development and immunizations
to prevent outbreaks of more common
diseases.
“We must emphasize that ‘routine’ well child care is
not to be put off,” said Moffett, Professor of Pediatrics
for the West Virginia University School of Medicine.
“The importance of well child care is to keep children
well. In the face of COVID-19, this is more important
than ever.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, immunization
rates among children have fallen between 60 and 80
percent.
According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report, the reduction in vaccination rates has largely
been the result of fewer parents taking their children
to see their doctor. The decrease in immunizations
are particularly concerning because a secondary
outbreak of an infectious disease, such as measles
or whooping cough, could arise alongside the
COVID-19 pandemic.
While missed vaccinations alone is worrisome,
avoiding visits to pediatric offices also results in
missed anticipatory guidance, lost opportunities to
identify mental health concerns and delayed diagnosis
of diseases or conditions that can respond to early
intervention.
Going to the pediatrician, even during the
COVID-19 pandemic, is both important and safe.
Pediatric practices are open, committed and prepared
to continue seeing patients during this public health
emergency.
In recent months, pediatricians have introduced
additional innovations in the way they deliver primary
care to offer a safe environment for patients
and families. Pediatricians are offering telehealth
care, organizing office visits into well-care and sickcare
blocks, and instituting infection control measures
ranging from removing seats and toys in the
waiting room to conducting drive-through testing
and vaccinations.
In the coming months, pediatricians will be called
upon to respond to an influx of children returning
to catch up on their routine vaccines. This fall, they
will need to vaccinate children against influenza
in what will be an especially critical flu season and
will need to prepare for the widespread delivery of a
COVID-19 vaccine.
Once a COVID-19 vaccine is available, ensuring
that children and adolescents are quickly immunized
against the disease will be a crucial component of
a national strategy to keep Americans healthy, end
social distancing, and strengthen America’s economy.
However, several obstacles threaten to impede the
nation’s ability to carry out this effort.
Largely driven by online misinformation, an
increasing number of parents in recent years have
become more hesitant to vaccinate their children
according to expert recommendations. Restoring
confidence in the safety and effectiveness of childhood
vaccines will be crucial to ensuring uptake of a
COVID-19 vaccine.
Vaccines are safe and effective, and they are held to
very high safety standards. Before a vaccine is ever
recommended for use, it’s tested in labs and vetted
through clinical trials. Even once a vaccine is approved,
it continues to be tested for quality and safety.
“It is essential we continue to protect children from
the diseases that can be prevented through immunization,
during a pandemic and always,” said Costello,
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the West Virginia
University School of Medicine and President of the
WV Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“Vaccines keep communities healthy, and protect
us all, including some of the most vulnerable in our
society, including the elderly, and children who are
too young to be vaccinated or have compromised
immune systems.
“Routine childhood immunization is one of the
crown achievements in public health over the past
century,” she continued. “Robust medical evidence
continues to show that vaccines are safe. Vaccines are
effective. Vaccines save lives.”
AUGUST 2020 • THRIVE • 27