Coastal Pediatric Medical Group Oxnard

All children down to 6 months of age are now eligible for a bivalent Covid booster. Make sure your kids are up to date!

If your kids have not been vaccinated, good news! Most kids only need one dose of the new bivalent and they are considered fully up-to-date.

Great information on Covid vaccine for kids. We are not currently giving the vaccine in our office, but hope to in the near future. Go to
www.myturn.ca.gov to schedule an appointment with public health.

Which COVID-19 vaccine should I choose for my young child? Let's break down some notable differences between Moderna and Pfizer

During these uncertain times, one thing is certain. Coastal Pediatrics is commited to keeping your children healthy. Since the beginning of the pandemic, our outdoor sick/covid testing clinic in Ventura was established so that Urgent Care/ER visits are kept to a minimum. We also continue to see healthy children inside our offices for their essential physicals, immunizations and other needs. Coastal Pediatrics remains dedicated to the children of Ventura County!

Webinar from the AAP: Smart Solutions for Safe and Sound Sleep. Help your little ones sleep better and safer!

Do you wish your kids (and therefore you) slept better? 😴 Join us on November 10 at 12:30 pm ET for a new, free parent webinar: Smart Solutions for Safe and Sound Sleep. Reserve your virtual seat today! https://aap.webex.com/aap/onstage/g.php?MTID=e29e35ca719340fc26c21dd92ed52210b

Get your flu vaccine now!

Listen to experts not FB friends posting nonsense

There have been rumors, and tweets, and screenshots, and who knows what else stating that only 6% of CDC’s COVID19 death count is due to COVID19.

Thought I would clear the air from an epidemiological point of view. Here we go....

What happened?
• CDC updated its regular statistics page stating: "For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned." For the other 94% of people that died of COVID19, "individuals had an average of 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death".

What does this change?
• NOTHING. 182,885 people have still died from COVID19 in the US. COVID19 is still the third leading cause of death in the US.

What does the science say?
1. The CDC (and basically every scientist across the world) has consistently stated that individuals with underlying health conditions are more likely to die from COVID19. This is probably one of the first facts that we DID know. We shouldn’t be surprised of this “low” 6%
2. Long-term conditions (like obesity, diabetes, or heart disease) are “chronic” because they last for a long time. Most are, in fact, manageable thanks to modern science. Someone with diabetes (that wasn’t “supposed” to die this year) can manage to get infected with COVID19 and die quickly because their immune systems get overwhelmed.
3. The health of our nation has been terrible, even before the pandemic. 60% of adults have a chronic condition. Among those aged 65 and over, 80% have multiple chronic conditions. Minorities and low-income populations have more chronic conditions too. So, if you take a random sample of people who die, the majority will have at least one chronic condition.
4. There are many lines on a death certificate. This includes the “immediate cause of death”, “sequentially conditions leading to the cause of death”, and “other significant conditions contributing to death”. Which ties to #3…it would be odd if a chronic condition WASN’T listed on a death certificate in the US given the health of our nation overall and given COVID19 touches every organ system. Death certificate instructions are below if you’re curious how this data is collected.
5. If there is nothing else, just look at an excess death graph for 2020 (see Figure). We are WAY above our deaths this year compared to past years. Period. This doesn't just randomly coincide with a pandemic.

In epidemiology (and science), it’s very weird for us to beat a dead horse. We typically accept the conclusions of a room full of scientists with decades of experience until another room of scientists with decades of experience proves them wrong. We don't change our mind from a tweet that is taken out of context (no matter who it's from). The public should follow suit.

I guess I should just be happy that everyone (and I mean everyone) now pays attention to public health.

Love, YLE

CDC link to deaths causing the commotion: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm
Chronic conditions and of COVID19 death: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-increased-risk.html ;
Chronic conditions, overall, in the US: http://www.fightchronicdisease.org/sites/default/files/TL221_final.pdf; https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/chronic-diseases.htm
Death certificate instructions:https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/blue_form.pdf
Excess Deaths posts: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.com/excess-deaths/;
COVID19 as a leading cause of death: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.com/leading-causes-of-death/
Image from: Weinberger lab, updated on August 14, 2020

Opinion | Just Because You Test Positive for Antibodies Doesn’t Mean You Have Them In a population whose infection rate is 5 percent, a test that is 90 percent accurate could deliver a false positive nearly 70 percent of the time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly encourages continued routine physicals and immunizations for children. Please schedule your child’s routine physicals and immunizations to keep them healthy!

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/23/health/coronavirus-measles-vaccines.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage&fbclid=IwAR3n1mn7YbIPp15bRBK7mGUOn5hYhs_ACtsPmC2WB-S1nuooCVJi7Bi2Nwo

Vaccine Rates Drop Dangerously as Parents Avoid Doctor’s Visits Afraid of Covid-19, parents are postponing well-child checkups, including shots, putting millions of children at risk of exposure to preventable deadly diseases.

Please keep your young kids’ physical appointments!

Pediatricians Want Parents to Keep Children's Vaccination Appointments amid Coronavirus "As pediatricians, our job is to keep eyes on the children, to make sure that they are healthy during this crisis," says Dr. Sara Goza

Coastal Pediatrics continues to provide medical care for the children of VC during these unusual times.

We continue to see routine physicals and appointments in our offices. These visits are important to keep your child healthy, so please keep your appointments and schedule your routine visits. We are only seeing healthy children in our offices.

For our sick patients, we have an outside clinic running in Ventura. Please call for an appointment for your sick child and they will be seen the same day.

Coastal Peds is here for your family!

Coastal Pediatrics is dedicated to keeping our patients and their families safe and healthy. After thorough evaluation, discussion, and consultation with local and national experts, we have designed an action plan to minimize risks due to Covid-19.

1) Our offices will remain open for healthy children and routine physicals.
2) Starting Monday, we will have a tented clinic in the parking lot of our Ventura office, with a doctor on duty to see sick patients, by prior appointment.
3) If your child is ill, we ask that you call our office first, and our team will determine whether an appointment is needed and will advise you how to proceed.

Please know we care deeply about the health of Ventura County's children and families and are doing everything we can to keep everyone safe. We will continue to closely monitor this quickly-evolving situation, and will make appropriate changes to our safety protocols as needed.

Good summary of current Covid-19 situation and advice.

A COVID-19 coronavirus update from concerned physicians The actions you take starting today will save the lives of people you will never meet.

Concussions are no small thing. If your kid gets told they can't play for two weeks, KEEP THEM OUT. If he or she is still symptomatic, get cleared to return. It's frightening what this damage can do long term.

111 N.F.L. Brains. All But One Had C.T.E. A neuropathologist has examined the brains of 111 N.F.L. players — and 110 were found to have C.T.E., the degenerative disease linked to repeated blows to the head.

Happy Halloween!

Myths about ADHD. ADHD is not ‘real’, it isn’t serious, etc.

ADHD Myths | Joel T. Nigg, Ph.D. It is ADHD Awareness Month and a key theme is “myths about ADHD". This month, I will take a few of these ADHD myths one by one.

Study concludes design of Rock ’n Play, other infant sleepers led to deaths The CPSC has proposed limiting all infant sleepers to 10-degree inclines to prevent deaths. The move comes months after a stunning recall of millions of inclined sleepers.

Great perspective and advice!

Middle School Misfortunes Then and Now, One Teacher’s Take — Wait Until 8th One teacher compares the life of a middle schooler in 2008 versus 2018. There is a startling difference. Learn what life looks like for middle schoolers today, and gain valuable tips on how to reclaim childhood for your kids in this digital age.

Supporting Your Daughter’s Body Image Body image is how you think and feel about your body and what you imagine that it looks like.  It may or may not be a reflection of your actual appearance. Poor body image affects young people in so many ways - eating disorders, depression, social anxiety and low self-esteem are just a few.

PVC Walkers! Love that Home Depot helped out this family.

Possible trigger post. Please don’t let your kids light fireworks!

A pediatric radiologist posted this series of X-rays showing the damage done by stinky Roman candles. Look at the middle picture. Can you figure out where the child’s 4th and 5th fingers are? Please don’t allow your children to light Roman candles. Please.

Make sure you have been fully immunized against Measles!

Measles | Protect Your Child from Measles Infographic | Travelers | CDC Traveling abroad? This infographic shows how to protect your child from measles.

AAP Urges U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to Recall Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper AAP.org

Amber necklaces are dangerous! There are safer and more effective treatments for teething pain.

Amber Teething Necklaces Linked to Toddler’s Death An 18-month-old died by strangulation after falling asleep wearing an amber teething necklace. Following the toddler's death, the FDA issued a warning against the use of the necklaces.

Dr. Blank and the cutest baby ever making a connection for life.

This is an excellent summary of the HPV vaccine. Safe vaccine and it prevents cancer!

HPV, HPV Vaccines and Gardasil: Safety and Risks What is HPV? What is the HPV vaccine? Should I vaccinate my child for HPV? Is the HPV vaccine safe? What is Gardasil? Is Gardasil dangerous? Is Gardasil safe? Will Gardasil work after infection? Should I vaccinate my son for HPV? Will Gardasil kill me? Does Gardasil cause HPV?

More than 9,000 US children are injured by infant walkers every year, study finds

Infant walkers are dangerous. Please do not use them with your children.

cnn.com The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has called for a ban on baby walkers with wheels. It suggests parents throw away walkers in their homes and entertain their children in stationary activity centers and other activities.

Flu vaccines are highly recommended and important for your children to keep them healthy. We now have flu vaccines available.

The Flu Kills Kids. It Doesn't Have To. - We The Peds The benefits your child receives from the flu shot are substantial... Flu will continue to kill kids. You can protect yours.

Does Adolescent Vaccination Increase Primary Ovarian Insufficiency Risk? Adolescent vaccination was not associated with an elevated risk of primary ovarian insufficiency, according to a population-based retrospective cohort study published in Pediatrics.

I haven't had my 12 year old stay home alone yet. But I know some 12 year olds whose parents feel they are responsible enough. I think it very much depends on the child. How do you know when? Check this out...

Home alone? Is your child ready? - Quest for Health KC Parents often wonder when it's okay to let their kids stay home alone. There is no easy answer to this question. Many states, including Kansas, do not have a specific age allowable by law. If there's no legal requirement, how do you know when they're ready? Even if there's a legal age, is is appropr...

I HATE MEASLES. 1 in 5 have a complication (ear infection, pneumonia, encephalitis...), 1 in 4 people are hospitalized. 2016 was the first year the total number of deaths worldwide fell below 100,000. And yet it looks like it's going to be another bad year. Europe has been dealing with an outbreak since the Spring. It's in 21 states in the US, so keep on your toes, folks. Make sure your kids get vaccinated at 1 year and 4 years of age.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/15/health/us-measles-cases-cdc/index.html

Measles: At least 107 cases confirmed across 21 states The CDC reported more than 100 measles cases across 21 states and DC on Wednesday.

Bittersweet goodbye to a wonderful family who I’ve gotten to know over the last three years. I’ve loved watching their littles grow, but it’s sad they are moving away. I asked for a photo today and had completely forgotten mom snapped a photo when we first met (just a few days out of the NICU). Good luck guys!!

No study will ever be performed comparing the safest known way to have a baby sleep (flat on a firm mattress in a crib without bumpers, pillows, or blankets...) vs any other method. Almost every other method has demonstrated risks.

Granted it requires newborn deaths for there to be recalls and warnings... so it takes a few years for each of these methods to go away.

I suppose if Dock-A-Tot is making $270-$500 on what is essentially a child swim ring with a tough cover... perhaps a few years will make their millions before enough infants die.

Please do not spend hundreds of dollars on new things like this for your newborns. I vote for college savings account instead!

- Dr. Nichols (Please excuse the soapbox. I'm getting down now.)

https://www.todaysparent.com/baby/baby-sleep/dangerous-way-parents-are-using-dockatots/

The dangerous way parents are using their DockATots Doctors and experts say parents should not be letting their babies sleep unsupervised in popular "baby nest" products like the DockATot.

Now it's easier to call Coastal Pediatric Medical Group Oxnard.

Please bring your kids in every year for a physical, even if they get a "Sports Physical" at school.

There is so much for us to check in on that is not covered at a Sports Physical. Oh, and if you are not wanting to do two physicals each year, we can do the Sports Physical form while you are here for your child's complete physical. This saves you the cost of the Sports Physical entirely, takes care of both at once, and is much more complete health care for your child in their medical home!

https://lifewellnessforall.com/2018/02/02/he-had-a-sports-physical-at-school-why-bother-with-the-adolescent-well-visit/

He had a sports physical at school…. Why bother with the adolescent well visit? Annual check ups at your pediatrician is so much more than just making sure you’re OK to play sports. For the athlete and non-athlete alike Dr Molly explains why going to your pediatrician fo…

Your kids can back to school 12 hours faster now after Strep Throat treatment has begun!

Some of us have been following the 'next day is okay' rule for a while because this research has been available for a while now... but guidelines and the "Red Book" were just updated. Ask us if you have questions. But, kids should now definitely go back after the first dose of antibiotics.

(Caveat: with ANY illness, the going back to school rule always assumes that fever has been gone for 24 hours and they are otherwise well enough to learn.)

Thanks KCHealth for your great blog!

http://questforhealthkc.com/2018/06/19/new-back-to-school-recommendations-strep/

New back to school recommendations for strep throat! - Quest for Health KC The new Red Book is out with new recommendations for strep throat! Learn all about the back to school recommendations for strep throat.

An injection of Vitamin K should be given to all newborns.