Sound Beach Pediatrics just hit our 8 year anniversary!

We are so grateful for our wonderful team, and especially thankful for the precious families we care for every day!

 

Sound Beach Pediatrics is excited to offer the new RSV immunization!

 

Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is a monoclonal antibody product that can protect infants and some young children from severe RSV disease.

Please read the following information below, taken directly from the CDC website, which provides the strict inclusion criteria for immunization. You can book your infant’s appointment online (through our website), or by calling our office.

We will provide the immunization to any infant who is eligible and have ample supply from the State of CT. In the first few days, our top priority will be to provide the immunization to our oldest 7 month old infants who are approaching the 8 month mark (at which point they will no longer be eligible).

If you have questions about whether or not your child is eligible for the immunization after reading the following, please reach out to your provider through our patient portal. Thank you!

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Who should get nirsevimab?

 

• Nirsevimab is recommended for infants younger than 8 months of age who were born during or are entering their first RSV season if
  • The mother did not receive RSV vaccine during pregnancy.
  • The mother’s RSV vaccination status is unknown.
  • The infant was born within 14 days of maternal RSV vaccination.

Most infants whose mothers got the RSV vaccine don’t need to get nirsevimab, too.

• Some infants and young children 8 through 19 months of age who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease should receive nirsevimab shortly before the start of their second RSV season:
  • Children who were born prematurely and have chronic lung disease
  • Children with severe immunocompromise
  • Children with cystic fibrosis who have severe disease
  • American Indian and Alaska Native children

Children who should get nirsevimab but have not yet done so may get nirsevimab at any time during RSV season.

How is nirsevimab administered?

Nirsevimab is administered as a shot into the thigh muscle. Only a single dose (i.e., one shot) of nirsevimab is recommended during an RSV season.

Who should not get nirsevimab?

Children 8 months old and older who are not at increased risk for severe RSV disease should not receive nirsevimab.

Except in rare circumstances, most infants younger than age 8 months do not need to get nirsevimab if their mothers got the RSV vaccine at least 14 days before delivery.

Infants and children with a history of serious allergic reactions to nirsevimab or any of its components should not get nirsevimab.

Infants and children with bleeding disorders such as hemophilia should get nirsevimab. But, as with all shots given into a muscle, parents should notify their child’s healthcare provider so additional precautions can be taken. 

Infants and children who have a moderate or severe acute illness usually should wait until they recover before getting nirsevimab. Your child’s healthcare provider may decide to postpone giving nirsevimab until a future visit when your child feels better. Children with minor illnesses, such as a cold, can receive nirsevimab.

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We are currently seeing a surge of sick patients right now, and a surge in COVID19 infections in parallel with what we are seeing across the nation. There are numerous changes in CDC guidelines, and schools and daycare centers in the community are updating their protocols. Sound Beach Pediatrics has also updated our workflow. We remain steadfast in our goal to provide outstanding health care to our families, while simultaneously protecting our patients and our staff from COVID-19 disease transmission.

Office hours remain the same:

• Monday-Friday: 7:45 am-5:00 pm (closed for lunch 12:30-1:30)
• Saturdays: 9:00 am-12:00 pm
• Sundays: closed

Appointments can be scheduled during regular business hours.

All visits:

• One parent or caretaker per child per visit. We currently allow an exception for newborns through 7 weeks, for both parents to attend.
• No siblings allowed unless he or she is also being seen for an appointment (ie. double check up, double sick visit). Exceptions made only in urgent circumstances with provider approval.
• Masks required for all children 2 years and up and all parents and caretakers.
• Please complete Phreesia Digital Check In prior to your appointment. This includes the COVID19 screening questionnaire.

Well care:

• Your child must be well and without recent COVID19 exposures (ie. not in quarantine). Please provide honest answers to our COVID19 screening questionnaire to ensure everyone’s safety.
• All children must be healthy to come to a “face to face” well visit – no fever, no cough, no vomiting/diarrhea. If your child has any symptoms of illness, or COVID19 exposures, please let our front staff know so we can reschedule your well visit.
• In certain instances, children with mild symptoms of illness (mild nasal congestion) who need a well visit urgently may be seen on the South Side in full PPE, at the discretion of the pediatrician.
• We encourage children who require vaccinations to come into the office to receive immunizations.

Sick patients:

• Please call upon your arrival to the parking lot.
• You will be brought back to an exam room as quickly as possible, to keep the numbers of patients and family members to a minimum.
• Sick patients will be seen on the South Side. These visits will take place in designated “sick rooms” by providers in full PPE, separately from our well patients.
• No walk-in visits at this time.
• Laboratory testing and referrals to the ER will be made as appropriate.
• For a true emergency, call 911 and go directly to the Emergency Room.

Patients with a known COVID19 exposure or suspected COVID19 infection will be seen initially through a telemedicine visit. We refer these patients to Greenwich Hospital (or Stamford Hospital) for drive up testing. We ask for your understanding as we balance individual patient demands, office safety, and ongoing volatile fluctuations of the pandemic in our community.

Patients with a history of recent COVID19 infection should have a telemedicine visit with us 7 days after the positive test. If our physicians have any concerns, or you would like your child to be seen in our office, we will arrange an in office-visit for your child at the appropriate time.

In addition:

• Medical advice and medication refills are provided through telemedicine visits​​.
• Portal messages will be answered generally within 24-48 hours, Monday through Friday.
• Please call us for urgent matters.
• Please reserve after hours calls for true emergencies and urgent health matters.
• As always, please call 911 for a true emergency.

We remain vigilant in ensuring your safety. We remain committed to following recommendations outlined by the CDC, AAP and Yale.

We will continue to make adjustments as the demands of the pandemic continue to change this summer, and into fall and winter. We will keep you informed. All of us at Sound Beach Pediatrics are here to help support your family in the coming months as we face the challenges of the pandemic with you.