Parents:
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Onondaga County (COVID-19) Information https://covid19.ongov.net/appo...
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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 the holiday time “that wasn’t” is over, and I keep asking myself did Christmas and the New year already come to pass? It is amazing to realize that an entire year has gone by since we started dealing with an illness that has changed our culture, relationships and lifestyles on a worldwide basis! Regardless of our mental fatigue, we are in the midst of continued new cases and hospitalizations, vaccine distribution and fluctuating social precautions. Unfortunately, vaccine utilization has been hampered by difficulties with disbursement and deliveries, as well as limitations in access. Currently available producers of approved vaccines, namely Moderna and Pfizer are making attempts to produce adequate supplies but not at a rate needed. New vaccines from other companies have encountered difficulties with required study data or await the necessary Emergency Use Authorization approvals by the FDA. Realize however, that as more and more individuals become vaccinated while we maintain preventative measure use, the resultant numbers of cases and associated complications will improve. We have seen very little penetrance in children who have been monitored and tested in the schools and fortunately, pediatric COVID cases remain mild for the most part. Today I participated in an FDA webinar during which time they predicted that vaccines could be available for children above the age of twelve in approximately 3 months and for children below the age of twelve in 6 to 9 months. I am confident that the FDA and CDC are doing everything possible to facilitate the rapid approval and distribution of vaccines for everyone.
Until then however, we need to remain diligent with regards to all precautionary measures and to rely on health care providers for both advice and care for those of you who might have had an exposure or become ill. As promised, our Camillus office has reopened and is available to your children Monday through Friday. We will continue to see children for illnesses on Saturday, but we remain closed on Sundays due to the low patient volume. Respiratory illnesses such as flu and others remain to be rare primarily due to the continued use of masks, good hygiene and social distancing. We are hopeful that we will be notified by the Department of Health that we will be receiving vaccine for our patients above the age of sixteen and we will notify you immediately when we have received the vaccine products and can schedule appointments. This information will be provided on our website and Facebook page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and for trusting us with the care of your children. Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions, which we are always appreciative of.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dracker