Effective May 12, 2021,  all youth ages 12 years and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in WA state.  People ages 12-17  years can only receive the Pfizer vaccine. People aged 18 years and up can receive any available vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has also announced that COVID-19 vaccines can now be given without regard to timing of administration of other vaccines. People can now get the COVID-19 vaccine within 14 days of other vaccines, including on the same day.

We are not currently offering the vaccine in our office, please see the resources below to help you obtain an appointment for the vaccine.

Valley Medical Center | COVID-19 Vaccine. Valley Medical Center is offering the vaccine.  Call 425.690.3630 between 7 AM – 4 PM, Monday – Friday to make an appointment over the phone. Please note: call volumes are high so there may be long wait times.

Seattle Children’s is offering the vaccine, regardless if you are a current patient at SCH. Here is the link to the public portal.

Here is the link for the WA state vaccine finder site by zip code: Vaccinate WA: COVID-19 Vaccine Availability

The COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most important tools to fight the pandemic and bring some normalcy back to our lives. Our providers and staff have received the vaccine to help keep our patients safe and allow us to stay healthy to care for you. We are here to answer any questions you may have about the vaccine, and how you can protect your family in the months to come.

Vaccines for COVID-19 are now becoming more widely available as part of a phased approach in Washington. Getting immunized can protect you and your loved ones from becoming ill with the coronavirus.

Currently, Washington is in Phase 1b Tier 2. In addition to people included in the previous phases, Phase 1b Tier 2 includes people age 16 and up who are pregnant or who have a disability that puts them at high risk for severe COVID-19.

We do not currently have COVID vaccine in our office but below are resources for families and patients to help schedule your vaccine if you qualify.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information (wa.gov)

Vaccinations For Current Seattle Children’s Patients

Valley Medical Center | COVID-19 Vaccine. Valley Medical Center is offering the vaccine.  Call 425.690.3630 between 7 AM – 4 PM, Monday – Friday to make an appointment over the phone. Please note: call volumes are high so there may be long wait times.

Pediatric patients who are eligible for the vaccine but who are not current Seattle Children’s patients may still access the vaccine through Seattle Children’s public portal or another public vaccination site.

FOCUS on SAFETY:

Keeping patients, staff and providers safe is our number one priority. Currently, we are seeing all patients for well child care visits and encouraging families to keep up with their children’s scheduled immunizations.  When you come into the clinic to see your provider we want to reassure you that we here at Renton Pediatric Associates have a comprehensive safety plan in place that includes:

*Screening all our patients over the phone and when they first enter the clinic for COVID-19 symptoms

*Requiring masks for all patients over the age of 2 years as well as all of our staff and providers

*Rigorous cleaning protocols and surface disinfecting

*Adaptation of our spaces to allow physical distancing

*The use of personal protective equipment by our staff during your visit

*The maintenance of different times for our well child visits and sick office visit

ABOUT your VISIT:

With the recent resurgence of COVID in our community, please keep in mind our guidelines to keep you safe when visiting our office

*All parents and patients over two years of age must wear a mask for the entire visit

*Please bring only the patient who has the scheduled appointment and one parent to the office

*Please call our office to reschedule if you or anyone in your household within the past 14 days has had exposure to someone with a positive COVID19 case, has symptoms consistent with COVID 19, or has traveled outside of WA state

*Please utilize the handwashing stations in our office

*Please allow a few extra minutes before your appointment time for our screening process

TO FIND MORE INFO ABOUT TESTING FOR COVID19, COVID19 SYMPTOMS and QUARANTINE RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES LISTED BELOW

Renton Pediatric Associates strongly recommends the 2020-21 seasonal influenza vaccine for all of our patients ages 6 months and up.  Due to social distancing restrictions, access to appointments will be somewhat limited, but we will be doing our best to get all the children in our practice vaccinated.

We plan on having flu vaccine clinics on Saturdays in October and well as weekdays. These appointments will need to be scheduled in advance (no walk in visits allowed). We will post on the website when we have the dates and times for these clinics finalized, and then you will be able to call to schedule your child an appointment.

If you have a scheduled appointment already (for a well child visit or other concern), your child can get the flu vaccine at that visit rather than schedule a separate appointment. Siblings will be allowed to come into the clinic to receive the flu vaccine if their brother/sister is already being seen in the clinic for a scheduled appointment.

Thank you for your patience and understanding!

There are a number of illnesses in humans that can be linked to contact with animals or animal products. This article will focus on Salmonella which is a bacteria that causes fever, severe diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping in humans. People can become infected with Salmonella by physical contact with some animals. Children, the elderly and those with a weakened immune system are most at risk from this type of infection.

Here is a short review of the animals and related products that caused outbreaks in 2012:

1. Chicks, ducklings and other live poultry that are sold by mail-order hatcheries, agricultural feed stores or displayed at petting zoos, farms, or school events. These animals may be clean and appear healthy but may be contaminated with Salmonella. They pass the bacteria in their feces and contact with these droppings can leave residue on their bodies or the materials in their environment.
2. Hedgehogs that are kept as pets. They may pass Salmonella in their droppings and contaminate their enclosures hand may get droppings on their bodies. In 2012 six states have reported cases of Salmonella acquired from hedgehogs.
3. Small turtles that may be sold as pets for young children at fairs or flea markets. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale of turtles with shell lengths less than 4 inches, because these attractive little animals have long been known to be carriers of Salmonella.
4. Other reptiles and amphibians such as snakes, iguanas, frogs, salamanders, chameleons, and geckos that are quiet, undemanding pets. They often carry the bacteria Salmonella in their intestines. They shed the bacteria to their environment when they pass stool. Handling these animals, cleaning their enclosures (cages, aquariums, terrariums) and touching the water in their enclosure may pass the bacteria to humans. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends against keeping these type of animals especially in daycare centers, preschools or nursery schools for children younger than five years of age.
5. Dry dog food can also be a source of salmonella infection. Twenty states and Canada reported cases of Salmonella linked to dry dog food.

There are other sources of Salmonella which are not discussed here. The goal of this article was to mention some common encounters children may have with certain live animals.

The most important point to remember is the often repeated message from us health care providers: Handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds after coming in contact with these animals will help reduce your chances of getting infected with Salmonella. This should be practiced at home, schools, daycare centers or any place these animals are kept. Hands should also be washed after handling pet food.

There are specific instructions for cleaning pet enclosures, other materials in the pet’s environment and the pet’s water supply on the CDC website.

For more details regarding Salmonella outbreaks related to pets see: www.CDC.gov.