Parents:
Per social distancing guidelines, we are only permitting one parent per child to come into the office, with one exception. If you have an infant under the age of 2 months, both parents may accompany the child.
Please note, we have updated our Check-in procedures. If you are coming to the office for an appointment, we ask that you call us from the parking lot while you are still in your car. In addition, we require masks for all parents and patients over the age of 2. As always, we also request that you utilize the hand sanitizer provided and that you wash your hands in the exam 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.
Please follow our Facebook @summerwoodpediatrics for more up dated information.
2/22/21: It is now an office policy that if you need to obtain a form or document electronically, you must have an active patient portal for us to send it to you. If you do not currently have access to you child's portal, please call the office for details. Thank you!
4/19/21: COVID VACCINE AND OTHER VACCINATIONS:
Please be advised that we cannot administer any vaccines to a patient 2 weeks before or after a COVID vaccine (4 weeks if it is a “live” vaccine such as MMR or Varicella). You are welcome to keep your scheduled well visit and then schedule an injection only appointment after the recommended wait time. Please call the office if you have any questions or concerns. Additionally, if you have proof of the COVID vaccine administration, please bring it to your appointment to be put in your child’s chart.
For more information about COVID-19, click here
Onondaga County (COVID-19) Information
We now offer telemedicine appointments! For more info....
A Letter from Dr. Dracker dated 05/06/2021
Dear Parents,
I apologize for not writing for a few weeks. Besides being very busy with patient and administrative issues I have not felt motivated to re-discuss issues which we all have been preoccupied with over the past year and a half. Things seem to be improving in many ways however. Vaccine efforts appear to be extremely effective at reducing infections and severity of disease, despite the fact that our children have not yet had the opportunities that adults have. That should be changing over the next few weeks though. The information I have received from those children over the age of 16 who have been vaccinated, seem to indicate that the side effects experienced have been minimal and the vaccine response is excellent and seems to be very durable or long lasting. Overall, studies on all adult-approved vaccines being tested in various pediatric age groups seem to indicate that children have very few and less severe reactions and that their protective immune responses may actually be greater or more robust than in adults. This is very good news and seems to support the active immunization in children once the FDA has had an opportunity to review all of the associated safety and efficacy data and issues product specific approvals. I would also like to inform you that a number of antiviral treatments are also being tested which will hopefully provide us with an oral treatment for COVID infections, similar to antiviral medications for influenza. I am hopeful that some of these treatments will be available by this Fall.
In the meantime, many of our children have returned to in-person classes while also starting outdoor practices. I hate to harp on the issue, but we need to remain diligent with regards to precautions and hygiene whenever possible. Since children have returned to school we have been seeing an increase in illnesses which was expected. The schools are still mandating that any ill child be seen and tested if indicated, so please let us know if we can assist you.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention and make note of Mother’s Day. Not to minimize the importance of fathers, but mothers are our societal and cultural caretakers and nurturers. Whereas we generally relate fathers with strength, security and providing for the family, mothers are typically associated with love, affection and forgiveness for our young and those in need of protection and support. I have been told by many (mostly women), that if women were completely in charge of society and countries there would never be wars or famine or ethnic persecution. There may be validity in that perspective, but it is not reality. In the meantime Mother’s Day affords us the opportunity to recognize ALL Mothers, and not only those who have had children, but actually all women who continue to demonstrate their love and caring for the young in need of their support.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dracker
