As the world is gripped by the current COVID-19 pandemic, all eyes are on the development of a vaccine that may be able to free us from the prison this virus has created. As we watch and wait, however, it’s important not to ignore the routine care and vaccinations that every child needs as they grow and develop.
At Dr. Soos Pediatrics, Dr. Gyula Soos and our team are invested in the health of your family, primarily the younger members. From the moment they exit the womb, children develop amazingly quickly, and we’re here to help set them up for a lifetime of good health.
To that end, here’s a look at why, even during the current crisis, you should ensure that your child has the tools they need to safeguard their health.
As we collectively anticipate a vaccine for COVID-19, let’s not forget that we’ve been successfully vaccinating our population against a number of serious diseases, which we’ve all but eradicated thanks to vaccines.
Unfortunately, as a result of the novel coronavirus, many children have missed these critical vaccinations, and diseases like measles, which is far more contagious than COVID-19, can re-emerge and wreak havoc among children. In fact, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said 117 million children in 37 countries may not get immunized in time to prevent a widespread measles outbreak.
To protect your child from such an outbreak, we urge you to provide your children with the immunizations they need, which also include other potentially dangerous and highly communicable diseases, such as:
We start these vaccines within months after your child’s birth, and we’re happy to provide you with the appropriate schedule.
While COVID-19 may share some similarities with the flu in that it’s a respiratory illness, the two viruses are different. Just because COVID-19 is currently in circulation doesn’t mean that the flu won’t still make its most unwelcome rounds this fall and winter.
Each year, researchers from around the world gather data on influenza strains to figure out which one is likely to emerge as the seasonal flu. From there, manufacturers create an annual flu vaccine, which we recommend to all family members from the age of six months and older.
So, as we head into the fall, it’s a good idea to give your child added protection against the flu with a vaccine.
Getting hands-on health care has been difficult during the past few months as we’ve sheltered at home and kept our distance. We want to assure you that we’re taking the necessary precautions at our practice so we can safely provide your child with the ongoing health care they need.
During the first two years of your child’s life, routine wellness visits are paramount, as we administer vaccinations and ensure that critical milestones are met. After the age of two, we still recommend that you bring your child in once a year for a physical examination so that we can continue to track their developmental progress and health.
To ensure that your child’s ongoing wellness needs are met, please contact our office in Dublin, Georgia, to set up an appointment.
