Thank you for adhering to our 1 child, 1 parent policy!
COVID-19 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
November 23, 2021
There are many questions about the Coronavirus pandemic, some that have definitive answers, some that require some judgment. While the situation is rapidly changing, our recommendations for your family are below. Please check back frequently for updates.
Q: What about COVID Vaccine for my 5-11 year old?
A: NEW! We are excited the FDA and CDC have granted EUA and approved COVID vaccination for the 5-11 year old population. Read FAQs about COVID vaccine for 5-11 year olds here.
Capital Area Pediatrics is excited to announce that we have received our first small shipment of COVID Vaccine for 5-11 year olds! As we receive more supply, we will continue to add vaccine clinics. Currently, we are ONLY administering at COVID 5-11 year old vaccine clinics. We will NOT be administering at well visits due to supply and will NOT be administering with 12+ year olds to avoid dosing errors.
We know that many of you have been anxiously awaiting vaccination for your child. We are doing our best to accommodate you as we can. When we are able to add more visits, we will message you again. We encourage you to schedule with us or with anyone in the community. Please visit vaccinate.virginia.gov, vaccines.gov, or CDC VAMS for locations in the community. Please check with major pharmacy chains, such as CVS and Walgreens, that book on their own site. Please check with INOVA who plans to add more appointments as supply allows. Loudoun families, check here.
Please subscribe to our website to receive urgent pulses and always come back to check for appointment availability as we add more visits or patients make cancellations. You may go to any CAP site that is available. Every child in your family needs a separate appointment. Your 2nd dose will be scheduled on the day of dose 1 at our office.
Q: What about boosters for our children?
A: NEW! We do recommend that all patients 18yo+ receive a booster. If they completed their mRNA series, they are eligible for a single mRNA booster 6+ months after completing their initial series. If they received J&J, they should receive any booster 2+ months after completing their initial J&J shot. If you have specific questions about boosters, we encourage you to schedule a telemedicine appointment to speak with your provider.
For 12yo+ patients: At this time, only moderately and severely immunocompromised patients are eligible for a Pfizer booster, to be given 28+ day from completion of their primary series. This would include patients with severe immunodeficiencies (i.e. HIV, Wiskott-Aldrich, DiGeorge); transplant patients; and patients on daily oral steroids, cancer treatments, or biologics (i.e. Remicade, Humira or similar). Please discuss with your specialist and your CAP provider to determine if you are eligible.
Q: We have been trying to call for advice and appointments - related to a sick child, a COVID exposure, school forms. We have had trouble getting through, what's going on?
A: Our sick season is unexpectedly early and busy! Combined with back to school physicals and a flood of school forms for everyone returning in person, heading off to camp, leaving for college - all pediatric offices in our community are feeling strained. Please know we are doing our best every day to take care of your children and families. Please see our piece recently aired on local news related to this unexpected and unprecedented influx of patient need in all of pediatrics. More here.
Q: COVID cases are going up. My family member had an exposure. What do I do?
A: Patients with a confirmed exposure should get tested after exposure.
Please schedule an appointment for all testing. Our exposure recommendations follow CDC and VDH guidelines. We are happy to perform the appropriate tests, but also will discuss with you appropriate masking, quarantine/ isolation guidelines, and return to school/ work guidance.
Q: Now that members of our family are fully vaccinated, what does that mean we can do?
A: The CDC released updated guidelines if you have been fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated means at least 2 weeks have passed since you completed all doses of your COVID vaccine. Current guidance allows fully vaccinated people to begin to resume indoor and outdoor activities without masks and without social distancing.
NEW! However, with the Delta variant and increased transmissibility, it is recommended to wear a mask indoors in public in areas of substantial or high transmissibility even if you are vaccinated. Please check your area's transmissibility rates here. It is also recommended to wear a mask indoors in public if you are at risk for severe COVID disease or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system, is at risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.
NEW! Back to school recommendations! The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC recommend mask wearing for all those ages 2 years and up, regardless of vaccination status. A layered approach is encouraged to get our children safely to in person school. Mitigating factors include, but are not limited to: vaccination for those that are eligible, universal mask wearing, physical distancing where able, cleaning and disinfecting, handwashing, and testing for COVID.
Even when fully vaccinated, masks are still required for public transportation, healthcare settings, and some businesses or workplaces.
Great graphic from the CDC reminding you how to choose a safer activity for unvaccinated people here.
Q: Parents and grandparents are fully vaccinated, but our children are not. What are your thoughts on travel?
A: At this time, the CDC still recommends that UNVACCINATED people still delay travel, which includes most children. We ask that you consider the risks and benefits of your travel, such as: What are the rates of COVID where you are going? What are your intentions for travel? Are your children at risk of COVID complications? Can you and your children still take precautions (especially wearing masks and avoiding crowds)? Will they be going back to in person activities when they return? The CDC does have recommendations for people who are unvaccinated that cannot delay travel here. Of note, if you are not vaccinated, it is recommended to get tested 1-3 days before travel, 3-5 days after travel, and still quarantine for 7 days after return.
Q: What do you know about the current COVID-19 vaccines available?
A: Most of our providers and many of our staff have received their COVID-19 vaccines from the local hospitals and health departments. We believe in the science behind the current vaccines, their safety, and the hope that we can put the pandemic behind us. We are hopeful that children will be approved for the COVID vaccine soon. For more information on FAQs about the COVID vaccine and updates on COVID vaccine clinics at CAP, follow along for updates here.
NEW! We understand some families have had questions about vaccination for their children - related to requirements for college and possible side effects. Please read our statement supporting COVID vaccination here.
Q: What do you think about in person school vs. virtual learning, especially for the 2021-22 school year?
A: NEW! We, along with our fellow pediatricians of the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, support the opening of school for full time, face-to-face instruction for all children. The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is overwhelming evidence of the negative impacts of school closures on children and their wellbeing, whether academic or emotional.
We believe that virtual instruction should be utilized only when necessary and in consultation with a child's physician and medical team. Most children with high-risk conditions can attend in-person school safely with appropriate precautions and close medical management and follow up (including, but not limited to regular well visits, routine immunizations, and specialist visits when appropriate).
Q: What should my student do if they tested positive for COVID and want to play sports?
A: Whether asymptomatic or symptomatic, COVID positive patients should complete a full 10 day isolation. All school aged children, whether they play a competitive sport or not, should have an in person sports physical before return to physical education class, recreational or competitive sports. A full preparticipation screening and examination should be completed before a gradual return to play. Based on their history and examination, further examination and specialist care may be recommended before returning to physical activity. See AAP Return to Sports.
Q: Do you suggest wearing 1 mask or more?
A: For everyone age 2 years and up, we recommend wearing a good-fitting double layer mask. Cloth is acceptable if it is at least 2 layers, with a wire nose piece to pinch at the nasal bridge and no gaping at the cheeks or chin. Double masking is an option if it helps the fit, but not required. It is NOT recommended to wear 2 disposable masks or layer other masks with KN95. See CDC updated recommendations here.
Q: What are the symptoms of Coronavirus?
A: There are a wide range of symptoms, presenting 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, congestion/ runny nose, nausea/ vomiting, diarrhea or new loss of taste or smell.
Per the Virginia Department of Health, even 1 single symptom in a child is enough to consider coronavirus as a possible diagnosis. Please see their updated recommendations for parents, schools, and daycares.
Q: Do you have tests for Coronavirus?
A:Testing for COVID-19 is important in order to identify those who are ill, and to isolate and trace all contacts.
NEW! Due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, we recommend testing any child with symptoms, regardless of daycare attendance, vaccination, or exposure. We are offering in-house rapid COVID antigen tests for sick patients on day 1-5 of symptoms. All patients must have an in person office visit or telemedicine visit to assess your child and give appropriate guidance for their recovery and isolation. There are different brands of tests out there, including their accuracy. Our rapid antigen test is most accurate for symptomatic patients day 1-5. The accuracy drops dramatically for asymptomatic patients or day 6 and after.
Rapid antigen test results may or may not clear your child to return to activities based on the organization or facility policy. If you need clearance to return to a facility or activity, please clarify with your organization what is valid for return. When in doubt, the send out PCR test is the gold standard for clearance (both symptomatic and asymptomatic). Your provider will also help you decide if the rapid antigen and/ or send out PCR are recommended in your child's situation.
NEW! Due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, all asymptomatic patients who have a confirmed exposure to COVID should get tested after exposure. Unvaccinated patients should get tested day 5-7 after exposure. Vaccinated patients should get tested day 3-5 after exposure. All patients must have an in person office visit or telemedicine visit to assess your child and give appropriate guidance for quarantine. All asymptomatic patients may ONLY have a send out PCR test. The turnaround time for this PCR test has been < 5 days. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Q: Can I get antibody testing for Coronavirus?
A: While there is abundant information on the media about antibody testing now being available, we are not recommending antibody testing at this time and do not offer it. While there have been antibody tests that have been "approved," the standards for antibody testing are not yet reliable. In addition, it is not yet clear what antibody testing results really mean for a patient. We will stay up to date and informed on the latest evidence behind all testing and make changes as guided by the health department and our local infectious disease experts.
Q: What does quarantine and self-isolation mean for my family?
A: Home quarantine and self-isolation are strategies to use in order to limit the spread of the virus. They both mean staying home and limiting contact with people outside your household, which we know can be challenging for families.
The CDC and the Virginia Department of Health recently updated their quarantine guidelines for those exposed to COVID-19 and are asymptomatic. A 14 day quarantine is still recommended, as the residual risk of transmission averages at ~0.1%. In discussion with your provider, a 10 day quarantine can be considered with an additional 4 days of risk mitigation strategies (social distancing, mask wearing, hand washing, avoiding crowds and symptom monitoring). The residual risk of transmission averages at 1% for a 10 day quarantine.
Q: My child needs an appointment (for well, sick or flu shot). Is it safe to come in?
A: We have made many changes in order to keep patients and staff safe.
CAP Resources and Guidelines:
Websites: