Being up-to-date with immunizations is important for Merced County children right now

Here are answers to key questions about taking your child to the pediatrician during COVID-19 and why it’s still important to go.

Is being up-to-date with immunizations important for my child right now?

Immunizations remain a vital component of pediatric health care, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Immune systems are still developing in children and infants, and vaccinations produce antibodies that allow the immune system to build up the ability to fight a particular disease. Despite the current need to maintain social distancing, vaccine-preventable diseases such as chickenpox and measles continue to circulate, so vaccines provide the protection children need if exposed.

Also, don’t forget that flu season is right around the corner. A yearly flu shot is recommended for anyone 6 months of age or older. Flu vaccines are updated each year to protect against ever-changing flu viruses.

Are immunization rates really a problem?

Most parents know that infants need frequent immunizations and make the effort to get babies in to the doctor’s office. But after the flurry of early childhood, pediatricians see a significant drop in immunization rates, especially after kindergarten when required shots must be documented to start public school. [The CDC offers parent-friendly vaccine schedules for infants to teens, or you can download the CDC’s free app for smartphones.]

The truth is that kids need boosters of many of the shots they had as infants to remain protected. In addition, newer immunizations have been added that many parents didn’t benefit from when they were kids, so they may not know about them.

To make the situation worse, across the state, childhood immunization rates plummeted 40% following the stay-at-home order. This drop in vaccinations has put children at risk for preventable diseases. This issue is even more serious for children in vulnerable populations. For example, as of June in Merced County, less than 20% of 2-year-olds on Medi-Cal are up-to-date with shots, which is far below the Medicaid national average of 35%. That means 4 out of 5 toddlers in Merced are not protected. While rates for 13-year-olds are higher than toddlers, at 39%, these numbers show that most of our community’s children are at risk for preventable diseases.

My child is due for shots. Can we wait until there’s a vaccine for COVID?

Don’t wait! While it appears likely that a COVID vaccine may be available for wide spread use in early 2021, that’s far too long to wait for many booster shots and leaves kids unprotected during an already vulnerable time.

Bottom line: Don’t take chances — check in with your child’s doctor and don’t neglect routine well check-ups.

Can one get COVID from the doctor’s office?

Most doctors have specific hours and locations where they can examine healthy kids for regular check-ups and vaccines. Of course, it’s still important for people over 2 years of age to wear a mask and for everyone to sanitize their hands often and socially distance from anyone not in their family. And if you or your child are sick, please stay home.

The most important thing to do is check in with your doctor’s office over the phone — they can give you specific details about whether it’s necessary to bring your child into the office for a check-up.

My child is up-to-date. Do we still need a well-check appointment?

Yes, because your child or teen’s well-check visit is about so much more than immunizations. At well-check visits, your child’s overall health, growth and development, mental and emotional status, how they are progressing in school — all will be assessed by the doctor.

For school-age children, the doctor can assess if they are progressing in developmental milestones. For teenagers, the doctor will often ask if the teen wants some time alone to ask questions about their body or about sexuality, drugs, vaping or their fears about COVID-19.

Also, with so many normal school and extracurricular activities currently shut down, your child’s pediatrician might be one of the few adults they encounter outside the home who are looking out for their well-being. Right now is a very important time in your child’s life to understand the importance of having a trusted doctor looking out for their welfare.

Check in, check up. Call your pediatrician. Find out when your child is due for immunizations or a well-child check and schedule that appointment.

Dr. Maya Heinert is medical director of the Central California Alliance for Health, a Medi-Cal managed care health plan focused on improving access to health care for over 347,000 residents of Merced, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Dr. Heinert has more than 20 years of pediatric care experience in Central California.