Parents:

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Dear Parents,

Considering the loosening of social distancing as directed by our County, we will be permitting two parents to come into the office with their child, particularly for children under one year of age. However, we still encourage having only one parent accompany the child whenever possible. We will continue to practice in a safe and prudent manner however, specifically we will still have you wait in your car until called and we will still require masks for parents and children over three years of age. As always, we also request that you utilize the hand sanitizer provided and that you wash your hands in the rooms. Thank you for helping us to keep all our patients and families safe. Your efforts and cooperation are greatly appreciated and continue to be appreciated.

Sincerely, Dr. Dracker

Flu Vaccination Clinics

Please be advised we have opened our Flu Clinics for the season. We will be performing vaccinations on Saturday mornings and Monday afternoons/early evenings. We are offering both the Flu injection and the Flu Mist (nasal)forms this year so let us know when scheduling which form you prefer. We are utilizing new protocols and procedures to endure patient safety, so we ask for your patience and understanding. Please arrive at the scheduled appointment time and not earlier. You may enter the building if you are her for Flu vaccine administration (no need to call and check-in over the phone). We do remind you that we are still requiring face masks upon entering. A receptionist will take the temperatures of all of those entering the building. If your child has a fever, they will need to reschedule. Additionally, if you or your child have been tested for COVID and are pending test results, or are showing COVID symptoms, we will need to reschedule. Thank you for helping us keep the children safe and healthy.
Dr. Dracker

Dear Parents,

Well school, for most children, is back in session in one form or another.  Education seems to range from traditional in-school with masks, distancing, washing and bag lunches to remote learning at home, increasing the burden to parents and to children themselves.  For the most part, people in Central New York have been very compliant with efforts to minimize infectious risks.  We continue to have very low, test positivity rates and few COVID related hospitalizations.  We also benefit from the excellent care from our local hospitals when in patient management is necessary.  The continued use of preventative measures including masks, frequent handwashing and cleaning of contact surfaces as well as limiting group exposures and self-quarantine when we are sick from any cause will help us to get through this health crisis. 

I greatly appreciate the overwhelming support from parents in having their children receive the influenza vaccine this year.  Not only will it decrease the number of flu cases we have to deal with, but it will assist us in helping to differentiate the cause of illness in your children if they become ill.  At our office we have ample supplies of both injectable and the nasal mist forms of flu vaccine. Many parents have asked me what from of vaccine I prefer or recommend.  The answer to this question is not simple for many reasons.  First of all you need to realize that the true efficacy of a particular flu vaccine cannot be determined until after a particular flu season has passed and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) can analyze the influenza rates by regions and evaluate the comparative protection provided by either the injectable or live-nasal version.  All of the available vaccines contain flu antigens or proteins directed at specific Influenza A and B types.  In our practice we have always used what is called a quadrivalent vaccine, regardless of type or manufacturer, which means that it contains proteins against two different flu A strains and two different B strains.  An issue inherent in all forms of vaccines, whether for the flu or other illnesses that we try to prevent in childhood, is that no vaccine is 100 percent effective, primarily because the immune response we each develop varies from person to person.  The antibody response to any vaccine needs to be robust enough to produce an antibody response which is “neutralizing” in nature and in amount.  You many have heard this term in regard to the COVID vaccines being developed.  Flu vaccine immunity also does not last more than four to six months as well, so if we have a late flu season, into the mid to late springtime, the level of protective antibodies may decrease and no longer be effective.  So, in summary, both the injectable and mist versions are generally effective, but I cannot scientifically recommend one over the other, except for the fact that one involves a needle and one a spray up the nose!

I also wanted to provide you with some follow up regarding efforts to develop COVID vaccines.  First, I want to reiterate information recently released from the CDC, specifically that greater than 90 percent of our population are still susceptible to the SARS-CoV2 virus.  Which means that continued preventative efforts involving masks, cleaning of hands and surfaces and distancing whenever possible are essential and the most effective means of avoiding disease.  I must also remind you that anyone that contracts the virus can have an unpredictable outcome, regardless of age, race or gender.  We have all seen perfectly healthy young individuals succumb to the terrible side effects of this infection.  I am hopeful that our practice will be participating on one of the vaccine trials being considered.  If our office is chosen as a clinical site, I will provide you with immediate information regarding participation information.  All of the vaccine trials only involve adult subjects at this time, in order to evaluate effectiveness and safety before we evaluate them in children.  

I hope this information has been helpful and as always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns regarding the safety and health of your families. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Dracker