You may be wondering if you should still visit the doctor’s office or clinic for your child’s shots. Health experts strongly recommend children, especially infants and toddlers, continue to receive their immunizations on time. We encourage you to contact the office or clinic and ask how they're handling the coronavirus outbreak.
You can also read about a few experiences from parents and expecting moms about their recent visits to the doctor's office on our Wellness Visits in the Time of COVID-19 blog post.
THE OFFICE MAY BE:
- Scheduling well visits in the morning and sick visits in the afternoon
- Separating sick and well patients in different areas of the clinic or another location
- Only conducting in person well visits for children who require immunizations and other procedures, and holding telehealth well visits when possible
- Screening you and your child in your car before you enter the building
- Wearing PPE when seeing patients, such as masks, gloves, and gowns
WHEN YOU ARE AT YOUR APPOINTMENT:
- Practice good hand hygiene —washing your hands and your child’s hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and using hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available (just remember hand sanitizer is not safe for babies)
- Sit as far away from other people as possible, ideally at least six feet away
- Take your own toys and books for your child to play with
Not sure where to go for vaccines? Call your child’s doctor, search for a pediatrician near you at NevadaAAP.org or call Immunize Nevada at , , or visit immunizenevada.org
If your child is uninsured, Medicaid eligible, American Indian, Alaska Native, or Underinsured; they may qualify for free vaccines through Nevada’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. To find out more, visit vfcnevada.org
Looking for your child’s shot records? Visit the Nevada WebIZ Public Access Portal at: https://izrecord.nv.gov
Download the SHOTS for TOTS Flyer in English/Spanish
Additional resources can be found here;
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia- How to have a productive video visit with your child's provider
Immunize Nevada- Where to go for vaccines in Nevada
What to expect- Well-baby visits during the Coronavirus outbreak