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COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Now Offering Doses for High-Risk Children
Dear PAA Families,
We’re writing to share an important update on COVID-19 vaccines for children in our practice. We understand that there is collective confusion and concern regarding availability of the vaccine and are committed to keeping our families as updated as possible as we learn more.
First Priority: High-Risk Children
We should be receiving our first shipment of the updated pediatric COVID-19 vaccine within the next 14 days. We will be first prioritizing our patients who meet the high-risk criteria, in alignment with current FDA authorization.
Eligible high-risk conditions include:
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Asthma (moderate to severe)
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Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
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Congenital heart disease
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Chronic lung disease (e.g., bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis)
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Immunocompromised status (e.g., cancer treatment, organ transplant, or
immunosuppressive medications)
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Obesity (BMI > 95th percentile for age)
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Genetic, neurologic, or metabolic conditions (e.g., Down syndrome, mitochondrial
disorders)
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Sickle cell disease
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Chronic kidney disease
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Medically complex children (e.g., tracheostomy, ventilator dependence)
If your child qualifies under any of the above and you are interested in getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine, please send a message by one of the methods listed below:
TEXT: 512-640-2119
EMAIL: patientcare@pediatricassociates.net
PATIENT PORTAL: www.myhealthrecord.com
Please reach out to us by Sunday, September 14 to help us with determining the need and getting a list together. We will contact you once the vaccine is available to schedule. Limited doses may be available during this first phase.
What’s Next?
Once initial demand for high-risk patients is determined, we will begin offering the vaccine to our other patients upon request. As you may know, healthy children are not currently recommended under federal guidelines so COVID-19 vaccination for this group is considered “off-label.” However, the American Academy of Pediatrics along with multiple other professional organizations recommend COVID-19 vaccination for all ages. At Pediatric Associates we support parental choice and will provide vaccination with informed consent and advance payment. Advance payment is required for children who are not considered high-risk because most insurance carriers may not cover the vaccine due to the new guidelines.
We’ll send another update as soon as we are able to open scheduling for all children. Once we know our availability of the COVID-19 vaccine supply at PAA, we will discuss providing prescriptions for pharmacy administration if we cannot meet the demand. We will keep families informed if things change.
Need More Help?
If you're navigating eligibility—whether confirming if a condition qualifies or understanding how policy applies to your family—know that you're not alone. We're committed to helping families stay informed and make the best decisions with confidence. Please refer to trusted sources like the AAP, CDC, and your local health department for the most up-to-date guidance tailored to your needs. You can also find more information here:
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
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