Keeping up on immunizations and annual exams is important, even during the pandemic

BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com

While COVID-19 is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, medical professionals are also talking about the need for continued preventative care for persons of all ages.

On Friday, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director of the Illinois Public Health Department reminded residents of Illinois that they should continue to get immunizations for children and go to their annual physicals.

“I’d like to remind parents and guardians to make sure that you’re staying up to date with your child’s vaccinations and their regular check-ups,” she said.

“Please check-in with your pediatrician or your pediatric provider to learn the guidelines that you need to follow in order to make your visit as safe as possible.”

Ezike also said that adults need to take care of themselves, as well.

Christie Clinic’s Dr. Jeanelle Murphy said Christie Clinic, alongside Carle, are continuing to see patients in-office or via telehealth, in some circumstances, during this time.

Murphy said that while people should not delay preventative care, more importantly, they should not delay seeking care for emergencies, such as chest pain or stroke symptoms, because of fear of COVID-19.

Emergency rooms at hospitals are open and following precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

It is also important to see a doctor for infections that are not COVID-19 related because without proper treatment, those illnesses can also develop into a more severe infection if they’ve gone untreated.

Another concern among medical professionals is that if people delay annual visits during this time, life-threatening issues may go undetected.

Screenings for cancer, including, but not limited to, mammograms, colonoscopies, and prostate exams, can lead to early detection, giving the patient many more options.

Murphy said all individuals over the age of 2 should be seen annually for an exam.

Today, though, persons over 65 could request a telehealth call from their healthcare professional instead of going into the office.

Murphy said that because these people, along with those who have heart problems, diabetes are immunocompromised or have had an organ transplant or cancer, might benefit from the remote visit instead of
coming into the office.

Medical facilities are taking additional precautions to make sure that in-office visits are safe.

Murphy, for example, is taking patients in her St. Joseph office, cleaning extensively after each patient and only having one family in the waiting room at a time. Those who are over 2 are also wearing face masks and sanitizing their hands.

Alongside making sure adults are going to their annual visits, Murphy said that bringing children to their regularly scheduled medical appointments continues to be two-fold: to check the child’s development and to immunize the child.

At each well-visit for a child, the pediatrician checks for physical development while also making sure the child hits the developmental milestones.

Murphy said that if a child is not hitting certain milestones, early intervention is the key to successes.

Additionally, between the age of 1 and 2, children are tested for lead and anemia, which, if undiagnosed, could lead to developmental delays, including those that would reach into a child’s ability to learn. Hearing and vision are also monitored.

Keeping children up-to-date on immunizations are also on the forefront of medical professionals’ minds.

Murphy said that parents should continue to bring their children in for immunizations as they are regularly scheduled to. If a child has missed an immunization due to COVID-19 concerns, the parent should
call their child’s pediatrician to schedule an appointment; they should be able to pick up where the immunizations were left off.

She, like other medical professionals, are concerned about children not getting vacinated during this time. Last year there was an outbreak of measles in Champaign County. Murphy said that it is harder to contain these types of vaccine preventable diseases when large groups of people are not vaccinated.

Pediatricians are also able and willing to work with young patients who have health concerns. Murphy said there are ways that pediatricians, too, can see children safely; parents just need to reach out and ask.

Summer months are a popular time for parents with older children to come in for well-visits and sports physicals. While sports in 2020-21 are questionable at this time, Murphy said that she still encourages
parents to bring their child in for their annual visit, at which time they can also get a sport physical.

Children are also required to show that they have seen a dentist and optometrist during certain times of their public education. Illinois optometrists are able to operate at this time, while dentists are working on emergency only situations.

Murphy advises parents to reach out to their dentist now to schedule an appointment so that they get in before the 2020-21 school year begins.

Medical professionals have been advised that as pandemic restrictions are lifted, there is a possibility that medical offices could see an uptick in patients.

Murphy said that it’s the right time to be thinking about taking care of or scheduling immunizations, annual exams while also being seen for a problem that may be unrelated to COVID-19.