03/05/2024 COVID-19 Virus Guidance Update
Click here for updated COVID-19 / Respiratory Guidance from the Kansas Health Alert Network and the CDC.
09/24/2023 Updated COVID vaccine
The 2023–2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines more closely targets the XBB lineage of the Omicron variant and could restore protection against severe COVID-19 that may have decreased over time. We anticipate the updated vaccines will be better at fighting currently circulating variants.
Who Should Get an Updated COVID shot?
- Everyone aged 5 years and older should get 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine, at least two months after getting the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
- Children aged 6 months–4 years, should get one, two, or three doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine depending on if they received previous COVID vaccines.
What COVID vaccines will Lawrence Pediatrics offer?
- Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
- Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
These vaccines are given as a shot in the muscle of the upper arm or in the thigh of a young child. COVID-19 vaccine ingredients are considered safe for most people. Nearly all of the ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines are ingredients found in many foods—fats, sugar, and salts. None of the COVID-19 vaccines affect or interact with our DNA and the following are not included in the vaccines:
- No preservatives such as thimerosal or mercury or any other preservatives.
- No antibiotics such as sulfonamide or any other antibiotics.
- No medicines or therapeutics such as ivermectin or any other medications.
- No tissues such as aborted fetal cells, gelatin, or any materials from any animal.
- No food proteins such as eggs or egg products, gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, nut products, or any nut byproducts. (COVID-19 vaccines are not manufactured in facilities that produce food products).
- No metals such as iron, nickel, cobalt, titanium, or rare earth alloys. They also do not have any manufactured products like microelectronics, electrodes, carbon nanotubes or other nanostructures, or nanowire semiconductors.
- No latex. The vial stoppers used to hold the vaccine also do not contain latex.
After the body produces an immune response, it discards all of the vaccine ingredients, just as it would discard any substance that cells no longer need. This process is a part of normal body functioning.
LAWRENCE PEDIATRIC'S MASK POLICY UPDATE:
The health and safety of our patients and staff is always our number one priority. After careful consideration we have made the decision to update our mask policy.
Masks are still required for everyone over the age of 2 who have symptoms of illness. Effective 3/21/23, masking is now OPTIONAL for all other non-symptomatic patients and families.
While masking is optional for non-sick patients and staff, if a patient requests their care team to wear a mask, we will happily accommodate their request.