Masks are required at TVP for all entrants over 2 years old.
We are no longer able to supply masks to everyone who is showing up without them. Due to high demand and increasing Covid-19 infections, our ability to order masks has been restricted.
Please bring your own mask for each person over 2 years old who enters our building.
If we don't have enough masks, we will have to restrict entry. Thank you for your help in preventing the need for this change.
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FAQs:
What is the current status of Covd-19 in TVP patients? We are seeing an increase in Covid-19 infections in children as schools have opened. All age groups are affected.
- Infants and toddlers have been positive largely due to contact with symptomatic adults (both vaccinated and unvaccinated). We have had no admissions of children in this age group from our practice.
- Preschoolers have been positive due to both exposure to adults or older siblings who have transmitted it to them as well as preschool staff. Again, no admissions from this group in our practice.
- Ages 5-12 have been positive, both from family contacts as well as school exposures. We have had no admissions to the hospital from our practice in this age group but have had some children with pneumonia managed as outpatients.
- Ages 12 and up preteens and teens have been positive in increasing numbers from school or sports contacts. Vaccinated and masked teens make the smallest group of positive cases in our office. We have also seen a teen with their second Covid-19 positive illness after being positive last winter.
** We will soon be triaging who can get a rapid Covid-19 test in our office due to limited resources. We are going through >40 tests per day. Our ration of tests has been decreased to 200 tests per month.
** It is taking outside labs 3-4 days to return PCR tests for families.
** Please be aware that if your child needs a rapid test, we may not be able to provide that for him/her.
** We will be able to do a send out test and that means that your child will have to remain at home in isolation until the test is resulted and is negative.
** Our understanding is that pharmacies that are testing are having the same issues.
What does this data mean for me and my children? As children return to daycare, school and sports, the increase in all viral illnesses and Covid-19 are increasing. For most, it is a moderate inconvenience: missed school, testing, office visits and risk of exposure to siblings, who then need to go through the same. For some, it means a 3-5 day febrile illness along with the moderate inconveniences noted. For a few, they will potentially need medical intervention or will transmit Covid-10 to someone who will not enjoy the inconvenience and instead will have severe illness.
It means that having had Covid-19 in the past does not exempt you from a second infection. It also means that layering protection: vaccination when eligible, masks at school and with any indoor activity, following isolation guidelines, and not sending your kids to school or daycare when they are sick will help!
All of these interventions not only help your individual child, but they help release the pressure on our clinic, our area hospitals and other families.
Is it still the recommendation that my children attend in-person school? At this time, yes. The more you can layer risk protection (and get your school or daycare to do the same), the better!
What can I ask my school or daycare to do?
1. Vaccinate anyone eligible and encourage anyone who has contact with your children to vaccinate if they are not already.
2. Encourage your children, ages 2 and older to wear a mask at school. It is safe and effective to do so.
3. Email your school board or governing body and ask for:
A. Mask mandates for those >2 yrs old.
B. Mask mandates for staff and teachers so they can be leaders and help support kids who are wearing masks.
C. Better ventilation and air circulation in the classrooms.
D. Use of separated desks for social distancing; avoiding "small groups" or tables that work against proper social distancing.
E. Limiting parents or other adults in a daycare or school setting to limit contact with students.
F. Strict policies on not sending sick kids to school.
G. Covid testing for symptomatic students.
What is the current climate in Tucson regarding children and Covid? Our hospitals are seeing increased admissions in the pediatric and young adult population due to Covid. Our outpatient offices are overrun with sick visits and soon will not have the supplies for testing and masking due to restrictions. We are awaiting the increase in MIS-C that generally follows behind Covid-19 infection spikes by 2-4 weeks.
What are the updates on a vaccine for 5-11 year olds? We are still waiting and expect a vaccine EUA for this age group in winter. To ensure that the small risk of myocarditis is evaluated and followed, the group of children in the study groups needed to be enlarged. The extra time is frustrating but necessary to make sure that this age group gets a safe and effective vaccine. As soon as the EUA is given, TVP will be adjusting our regular office schedule in order to vaccinate all of our patients (or others) in this age group as soon as possible.
Can you say more about the myocarditis in teens related to the vaccine? There is a study that looked at NCAA athletes who had Covid-19 infection. 2.3% of them developed myocarditis. The risk of myocarditis in teens getting the vaccine was 1 in 20,000 (0.00005%). The risk is real, but low. Please vaccinate.
Can my children, ages 12 and up, still get their vaccine at TVP? Yes! Please fill out the online consent form, and call our office to schedule an appointment.
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To the families who have sent us letters and posts of encouragement and thanks and to those who have sent treats for the staff who are working so hard: We are so appreciative of each and every one of you! Your kids are an extension of our own families and we will continue to work to do what is in their best interests and the interests of our entire community. Thank you for the love! We give it right back to you!
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