COVID-19 Updates for Physicians & Providers
Support during COVID-19
We continue to update guidance regarding COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine. Check back often for updated information below.
If you have a specific question related to COVID-19, visit our FAQ page where you can find answers to provider questions categorized by topic.
COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibodies
Children’s Mercy has a limited supply of COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies. Contact the Infectious Diseases Physician On Call for patients who meet eligibility criteria (must be ≥12 years and weigh ≥40kg).
The federal government is determining state allocations based on available supply as well as case-level data in each state. The COVID-19 infusion location website is: https://covid.infusioncenter.org/
COVID-19 testing
Drive-through COVID-19 testing is available for children and young adults between the age of 2 months up to 22 years. Testing is done by appointment only. For more information, please visit the COVID-19 Testing at Children’s Mercy page.
View COVID-19 positive results at Children's MercyCOVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 vaccine resources
Children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Children's Mercy is following the rollout plans developed by Missouri and Kansas. Currently, multiple vaccines are available for older adolescents and adults that have been shown to be highly effective in preventing COVID-19 disease.
Please find updated resources below related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Vaccine at Children's Mercy
- Vaccine clinics are available for ages 5 years up to 22 years.
- Appointments are needed for all clinics.
- View COVID-19 vaccine FAQ for patients and families
- View process for requesting help storing or managing Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine supply
- Request observation of Children's Mercy vaccine clinic
- View videos from Children’s Mercy on topics related to COVID-19.
- AAP COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit – find information and videos to help families learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine.
- CDC Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
FAQ & resources for physicians and providers
Access answers to provider questions, categorized by topic and updated on an ongoing basis. Questions received during COVID-19 LIVE events and otherwise are published here.
Additionally, locate resources including webinars, podcasts, published articles and more.
COVID-19 LIVE Virtual Event: Community Physician & Provider Update
Vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds
On Wednesday, Nov. 10, we hosted a COVID-19 live virtual event for community physicians and providers. A recording of the event is below.
During the event, Angela Myers, MD, MPH, Director, Division of Infectious Diseases, and Sarah Bledsoe, PharmD, MSHA, CPHIMS, BCSCP, Senior Director of Pharmacy, discussed the following topics:
- Update on COVID-19 vaccines in the pediatric population (5-11)
- Differences between the adult/adolescent formulation and the pediatric formulation
- Vaccine logistics and administration
- Q&A
Recent topics from The Link newsletter
Recent Changes on the Definition of Fully Vaccinated and Updated Quarantine and Isolation Guidelines from the CDC
Column Editor: Angela Myers, MD, MPH | Director, Division of Infectious Diseases | Professor of Pediatrics, UMKC School of Medicine | Medical Editor, The Link Newsletter
Just when you think you have it all down, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) makes multiple changes to definitions and quarantine and isolation recommendations that make your head spin. At least that’s how I felt when I read them. So, let’s go through the recent changes and see how they apply to pediatrics.
First, the definition of fully vaccinated.1
1. Having completed a primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least two weeks ago,
OR
2. Having completed a primary series of Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two months ago.
Additionally, a person is considered boosted and up-to-date right after receiving their booster dose at least five months after their last dose of either of the mRNA vaccines or at least two months after their Johnson & Johnson vaccine.2
Approximately 62 million Americans had received a booster dose as of the week of Christmas, representing 19% of the population and about one-third of those who had been fully vaccinated previously.3 The CDC recently extended eligibility of Pfizer boosters to 12- to 15-year-olds, and booster doses are now recommended for everyone 12 years and older.