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Pediatric Care During COVID-19

Wellstar is committed to helping children stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Count on our dedicated healthcare team to keep your child in safe, expert hands.




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COVID-19 Vaccine: Children Ages 5 to 11

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use authorization for children ages 5 to 11 years old. Now, anyone age 5 and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Certain immunocompromised children ages 5 to 11 may now receive a third primary series dose. Young people ages 12 and older can also get their booster, as well. Learn more. 

Getting vaccinated is an important way to protect your child’s health during the pandemic, especially as new variants of the virus emerge.

Wellstar will be offering COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 years old. For more information or to book a vaccine appointment, contact your child’s Wellstar pediatrician.

You can also schedule a COVID-19 vaccine for your child at your local retail pharmacy or visit vaccines.gov to find a convenient vaccination site close to you.

Pediatric COVID-19 Testing

As new variants of the virus emerge and spread, parents may be worried about their child’s health and possible COVID-19 exposure.

Before you take your child for a COVID-19 test, it’s important to know the proper location for their medical circumstance.

Know Where to Go

If you are concerned your child may have been exposed to COVID-19 and is:

  • Asymptomatic (showing no symptoms): Find a local COVID-19 testing site near you.
  • Showing mild to moderate symptoms: Contact your Wellstar pediatrician’s office directly to determine the appropriate location to receive care.
  • Experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, persistent high fever, unable to keep liquids down, lethargy, or severe gastrointestinal symptoms: Seek immediate medical care at the nearest pediatric emergency department.

Choose the Right Location

Take your child to the right location for their medical circumstance.

COVID-19 testing diagram for children and adolescents to know where to go get tested

For more information about the types of testing offered at Wellstar, visit our main COVID-19 testing page.

If you, your child or a loved one has been diagnosed or exposed to COVID-19, we encourage families to follow the CDC's recommended guidelines for quarantine or isolation, especially for school-aged children.

Keeping Your Child Safe

The best protection against COVID-19 is prevention and stopping community spread.

Young children who are not eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine are counting on the community to take action and get vaccinated. Be sure you and your family members who are age five and up get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Parents can also help protect their child’s health by teaching them the 3Ws — wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance.

Learn how you can make well happen.

For more health tips, visit our COVID-19 resource page.

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Highlights

BackToSchoolCare: Helping Your Child With Anxiety

The new school year comes with a lot of change for children — a different classroom, teacher, peers and learning material. That change can cause anxiety in some children, especially if they struggle at school and are dreading the return. 

You can help your child start the school year with confidence by discussing any anxiety they may feel and talking through what they can expect.

“We have to make sure that kids are ready and comfortable,” said Wellstar Pediatrician Dr. Hebah Pranckun. “We should validate their feelings and let them know being nervous and anxious about school is normal.”

  • Encourage conversations. Talk with children about the upcoming school year and some changes they can expect so they feel a bit more prepared. Role play any situations they’re nervous about and brainstorm possible solutions.
  • Visit the school. If children are new to a school, especially if they are younger, arrange a time to visit the school and see the classroom.
  • Plan ahead. After the first few days of school, check in with your child about how the year is going so far. Then, look ahead at what the rest of the year could be like.

Start the year strong with a wellness screening

One way to begin the school year with confidence is to have a healthy start and book a  preventative care check-up. While wellness screenings are important for helping children grow up healthy, going to the doctor can be a stressful or scary experience for some children. 

“I try to do whatever I can to make life better, whether it's treating their acute illness or helping them work through the troubles that they're having, so that when they leave my office, I've given them something to hold onto that is going to make life better for them,” said Wellstar Pediatrician Dr. Andrew Doyle.

Wellstar’s pediatricians will get to know the whole family and ease your child’s fears about their check-up.

“You have to get down on their level, whether that means squatting on the floor or sitting next to them on the table. Let them know that you're not a threat and this should be their comfort zone,” Dr. Pranckun said. “All the attention goes to them, whether it's a high-five or asking what their favorite sport is.”

Find a pediatrician near you and book your child’s back to school check-up so they start the year healthy.

Keep reading
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Highlights

BackToSchoolCare: Checking in on Your Child’s Health

As you prepare for the new school year, give your child a positive start by completing your own homework assignment — checking in on their health.

Before heading back to school, prioritize your child’s physical and emotional well-being with a visit to your family’s Wellstar pediatrician. Our compassionate pediatricians share your goal of keeping children healthy as they grow.

“In pediatrics, it’s always a relationship with the entire family, and it’s working in partnership with the parents,” said Wellstar Pediatrician Dr. Andrew Doyle. “We’re here to help them take care of their children.”

Preventative check-ups and screenings help children stay ahead of health issues, and our pediatricians will ensure your child is up-to-date on their vaccines and discuss which immunizations are needed to prevent disease.

“Our job is to make sure our children are growing up healthy and poised to be successful in life, and the best way to do that is to set them up well from the beginning,” Dr. Doyle said.

Your family’s pediatrician also can help you navigate health requirements at your child’s school.

“Parents need to complete a lot of forms for their child to attend school, and they don't know how to navigate the process. That's when you reach out to your pediatrician,” said Wellstar Pediatrician Dr. Hebah Pranckun. “We are knowledgeable about what forms schools require, and we make sure the kids are up-to-date on their vaccines so they're protected against all the illnesses they can be.” 

Heading back to school healthy

Teach your child healthy habits so they can feel their best throughout the school year.

  • Practice good hygiene. Show children how to wash their hands properly and remind them to do it frequently. Don’t send your children to school if they’re sick. If they’re exposed to or test positive for COVID-19, follow CDC guidelines to prevent the spread.
  • Get moving. Children should have about 30 to 60 minutes of moderate activity every day. “Sometimes that's as simple as going outside to play or going for a walk and, especially for older kids, staying off screens and getting up to move,” Dr. Doyle said.
  • Eat healthy. Teach children about good nutrition by encouraging them to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and limiting sugary drinks.
  • Get plenty of sleep. Children aged 3 to 5 should get about 10 to 13 hours of sleep a day. Children 6 to 12 years old should get nine to 12 hours, and teenagers need about eight to 10 hours. “Children need more sleep than adults do, and unfortunately, just like adults, children are chronically sleep deprived,” Dr. Doyle said.

While the end of summer is often a busy time, planning ahead now will help ensure the whole family has a healthy, successful year.

Find a Wellstar pediatrician near you and book your child’s wellness exam today.

Keep reading
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Highlights

Marking Milestones with Wellstar’s Pediatricians

As children prepare for the new school year, one step families can take to stay healthy is to head to the pediatrician for an annual check-up.

Regular pediatric check-ups are beneficial for the whole family. Together, you can discuss your child’s development, behavior, eating habits, sleep schedule and any other concerns you may have about their health. Because you and your child share the same goal — staying healthy and happy — your Wellstar pediatrician will partner with you both.

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