11/4/2021
Covid 19 Vaccine Recommended for all patients age 5 and above!
Effective November 3, 2021, all children ages 5 and over are now eligible to receive the Covid 19 vaccine!
We, the physicians at Meadville Pediatrics, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, are strongly encouraging all patients ages 5 and above to sign up and receive a Covid vaccine as soon as possible, even if the patient has had Covid in the past!
American Academy of Pediatrics Statement on Covid 19 Vaccine: AAP Statement on Covid Vaccine
We currently are NOT administering the vaccine at our office. Do not call our office to schedule a Covid vaccine. Below is a link to Meadville Medical Center’s Vaccine registration. They are currently in the process of setting up the site for scheduling appointments. All appointments MUST be scheduled through their website.
As of today, the tentative dates for Meadville Medical Center’s Covid Vaccine administration for children ages 5-11 is set for November 13 and December 4. The website will be updated soon for scheduling. Please check their website (link below) for up-to-date information!
Meadville Medical Center - administering site will most likely be the "old city building" across from the post office and downtown mall.
or call Meadville Medical Center to schedule at 814-336-1800
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania- Find a provider to get Covid 19 vaccine
Find a Covid vaccine site in PA
07/15/2021
MEADVILLE PEDIATRICS, PC COVID VACCINE STATEMENT:
Please Vaccinate for Covid! This is our plea from Meadville Pediatrics PC. In order to continue to live with the freedoms we now enjoy, it is imperative that we vaccinate ALL eligible residents. It is a fact that the new Delta strain is growing in numbers and thriving in areas with low vaccination rates, resulting in more hospitalizations and more deaths.
— Pennsylvania only 51% fully vaccinated
— Crawford county only 38% fully vaccinated.
— Crawford county 73% of residents > 65 years old fully vaccinated.
— Many eligible younger residents remain unvaccinated
This is exactly why the new variant Delta strain, known to be much more contagious and more aggressive, is hitting the younger adults so hard and we need to prepare before new strains arrive in our county. There are countless, heartbreaking stories of young individuals who feel they are healthy, strong, and invincible only to succumb to the virus. Our bodies host this virus, and we can prevent infection, replication and further viral mutations by increasing the number of those fully vaccinated. Fortunately, in Meadville, there have not been serious cases in children so far, but it may not be the case as this year progresses or new strains develop.
Covid fatalities update:
— total deaths USA — 611,000
— child deaths USA— 331
— deaths in Crawford County—156
The current vaccines offer excellent protection against the original strain and are still very good on the new strains. Although some side effects are possible, the current Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have proven to be very safe and their benefit to the individual and the public cannot be overstated. As pediatricians in your community, we have seen first-hand the near total elimination of deadly diseases in childhood with currently available routine immunization of infants and children. Hopefully, the Covid vaccine will do the same. It is in plentiful supply and is available FREE from Meadville Medical Center and multiple pharmacies in the county, so please get it. It is very sad indeed that so many have suffered and died from Covid. It will be absolutely tragic if ANY more people die from what is now a vaccine preventable illness, when a vaccine is so readily available.
Please, we urge all eligible individuals 12 and over to vaccinate for Covid to protect yourselves and others. By becoming a highly vaccinated community, we can reduce the spread of the virus and protect our innocent children under 12 who at present, are unable to receive vaccine. Please don’t delay, now is the time to vaccinate for Covid. We are literally begging you, Please, Please, Please!!!!
Timothy M Downing MD
Raymond Leung MD
Lisa Conrad DO
Nicholas Mulhearn DO
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NOVEMBER 11, 2020
FROM PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
COVID-19 PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR SELF ISOLATION WHILE AWAITING LABORATORY RESULTS
COVID-19 is a new virus that causes a respiratory illness. Health experts are still learning about the illness caused by this new virus. People infected have had an illness that has ranged from mild (like a common cold) to severe requiring individuals to be hospitalized. Deaths from COVID-19 have also occurred mainly among older individuals and those with underlying medical conditions.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person:
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) by respiratory droplets produced when a person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands.
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
If you develop symptoms, your healthcare providers may order a test. Your results will be provided back to you by your healthcare provider anywhere between one to seven days after testing. This time may take longer depending on the testing volume and the laboratory doing the testing.
What should I do while I wait for my result?
- Self-isolate to your home.
- If you live with others, self-isolate in a private room and use a private bathroom if possible.
- Make a list of close contacts you have had from two days before you became sick until you began isolation. Close contacts are people who have been within 6 feet of you for 15 minutes or more. A close contact could also be someone you had extremely close contact with (face to face) even if less than 15 minutes or if you spent time with an individual while you were sick.
- Interact with others as little as possible.
- Wear a mask if you must be around others.
- If you develop additional symptoms or if your symptoms get worse, contact your healthcare provider for instructions.
What should I do if I test positive?
- Notify your close contacts and let them know they should quarantine at home for 14 days. This includes your family members. Family members who cannot separate from you will need to quarantine for 14 days after your infectious period ends, which may be a minimum of 24 days after the case is identified. You, the case, are infectious for 10 days after symptom onset (or test date if asymptomatic), and the household contacts must quarantine for 14 days after the last known exposure to the infectious case. When you cannot separate fully from your household contacts, their 14-day quarantine begins when your 10-day infectious period ends.
- Keep a phone nearby so that you can answer the call and participate fully in your confidential case investigation for contact tracing.
- If you have symptoms, self-isolate in your home until each of the following conditions are met:
- It has been at least ten days since your symptoms first appeared AND
- It has been at least one day since you have not had a fever (without using fever-reducing medications) and your respiratory symptoms are improving (e.g., cough, shortness of breath).
- If you test positive and do not develop symptoms, self-isolate in your home until it has been at least ten days since the day your test specimen was collected.
- After consultation with infection control experts, some people with severe illness may need to isolate for up to 20 days after symptom onset.
- If your symptoms get worse or if you require hospitalization, notify your healthcare provider immediately.
- If you do not need hospitalization, continue to self-isolate at home.
What do i do if my test is negative?
- If you had a known exposure to a confirmed case, continue to quarantine until 14 days after your exposure.
- If you were tested but had no known exposure to a confirmed case, and you do not have any symptoms, you can stop your self-quarantine.
- If you were tested but had no known exposure to a confirmed case, and you are symptomatic, you may have another respiratory pathogen that is circulating in the community. Avoid work and group settings until three days after the last day of your respiratory symptoms and fever.
Resources for more information
For more information, visit https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
The latest information on the coronavirus in the U.S. and worldwide can be found on the CDC website
Help is available, contact the Crisis Text Line by texting PA to 741-741.
PLEASE PRINT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT FROM THE PA-DOH REGARDING COVID-19 TEST NOTIFICATION:
nov-11-2020-doh-covid-test-notification.pdf
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Meadville Pediatric Patient Guidelines and More
For the safety of our patients and staff, and to lower their likelihood of exposure to any illness including COVID-19, Meadville Pediatrics has implemented the following office policies:
***EFFECTIVE 4/20/2020 - ALL PERSONS ENTERING LIBERTY STREET MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING WILL BE SCREENED BY MMC STAFF FOR ANY SYMPTOMS, HAVE TEMPERATURE TAKEN AND GIVEN A MASK.
WE ASK THAT YOU DO NOT COME TO YOUR APPOINTMENT IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD ARE NOT WELL!
DO NOT ENTER OUR WAITING ROOM UNTIL YOU HAVE SPOKEN WITH A NURSE FROM OUR OFFICE IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS AT ALL.
**We will be seeing ALL SICK patients in our back-exam rooms. At this time, when you arrive, you will be greeted by one of our staff sitting at the front door. She will check you in and take your co-pay. If there happens to not be a person there, please read signs posted on our door directing you where to go. IF YOU HAVE A SICK CHILD, DO NOT COME INTO THE OFFICE WAITING ROOM without being told to do so. You will be called to enter through the back door of our office to be seen by a provider. You may be asked to wait in your car until an exam room is available. We will call when the room is available.
**All well child visits will be directed into our waiting room as normal for check in. We encourage parents to keep their appointments, especially under the age of two, particularly if they require immunizations to continue on the immunization schedule. Over the age of two, parents can use their own discretion to postpone the appointment until the COVID crisis is over, and we will gladly reschedule if you choose to do so.
***we will have NO WALK IN APPOINTMENTS at this time. Please call and schedule ALL appointments if you plan to come to the office for any reason.
** We ask that you not bring additional children to your appointment UNLESS they also have an appointment. If absolutely necessary to bring another child to the appointment, we ask that you limit to ONE child. Please only one adult in the room.
**Our play room will be temporarily closed. All books and magazines will be removed from the waiting area and patient rooms. Please bring your own toys or books to keep your child entertained if necessary
**THE WAITING ROOM WILL BE FOR WELL CHILD APPOINTMENTS ONLY!
What Is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) not previously seen in humans.
An outbreak of COVID-19 began in late 2019 in Wuhan, a city in China’s Hubei province. To date, cases of COVID-19 have spread around the world, making the condition one of the most rapidly emerging infectious diseases.
COVID-19 can cause fever, cough, and shortness of breath. This virus is spread through human contact, much like the cold or flu. There is not yet a vaccine or medication approved to treat it.
The virus has been identified in over 100,000 people across the globe. While most people recover from COVID-19, it can be life-threatening. Fortunately, COVID-19 appears to be a milder disease in pediatric patients.
How to Find Help
Please visit the CDC website for up to date information
CLICK HERE TO VISIT CDC: CDC Website
People most at risk of contracting COVID-19 are those who have traveled to places where person-to-person transmission of the virus is occurring, and/or those who have been exposed to someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
If you believe you have been exposed to the coronavirus, whether you have symptoms or not, you should contact our office or use Medent Patient Portal – where you can send a message to our nurses and physicians and to receive initial guidance.
If you are experiencing a fever, cough, and trouble breathing, you should visit an emergency department in your community for immediate care. If you can, call ahead of time so they may prepare for your arrival and prevent the spread of any illness, but do not delay if you have severe breathing problems.