Pediatrician urges parents to keep current with vaccines during pandemic

Dr. Margaret Hennessy, Ascension All Saints Hospital Racine's Department of Pediatrics Chairperson, said she is right now only seeing children for routine wellness visits if they're 2-years-old or younger.

TMJ4 NEWS LAUNCHED "THEREBOUND MILWAUKEE" TO HELP YOUGET BACK TO WORK.

IT'S TOP OFMIND FOR MANY PEOPLE... AS ISIS GETTING BACK TO SCHOOL.THIS MORNING... ONE LOCALPEDIATRICIAN HAS AN IMPORTANTWARNING FOR PARENTS.

PETEZERVAKIS JOINS US WITH THAT.VISITS AT PEDIATRICIANS ACROSSOUR AREA ARE LIMITED RIGHTNOW... TO TRY AND MINIMIZEKIDS GOING INTO MEDICALFACILITIES.ANN MCGOWAN ADMITS SOMEHESITATION ABOUT TAKING HERSONS ... 2 YEAR OLD DURHAM AND5 YEAR OLD COLBY... TO THEDOCTOR.

I probably wouldhesitate to take them in forjust a checkup - but if thedoctor said it was necessary iwould trust their judgment ANDSHE'S NOT ALONE.

I think thisis a very scary thing for alot of folks and I understandthe fear THAT FEAR AMONG MANYPARENTS IS WHY PEDIATRICIANSAT ASCENSION ALL SAINTS INRACINE ARE ONLY DOING IN-OFFICE CHECK UPS ON KIDS TWOOR YOUNGER.

FOR CHILDREN WHOARE OLDER BUT STILL NEED FINALDOSES OF IMPORTANT VACCINES...LIKE FOR MEASLES, MUMPS ANDRUBELLA.... THESE TRAILERSHAVE BEEN SET UP OUTSIDE THEHOSPITAL.

DR. MARGARETHENNESSY HOPES PARENTS WON'TPUT OFF VACCINES FOR THEIRKIDS BECAUSE OF THIS PANDEMIC.I do have fears that when theschool year starts up again wemay some outbreaks in vaccine-preventable diseases ASWISCONSIN REBOUNDS FROMCORONAVIRUS... WE COULD SEE AáSURGE IN KIDS NEEDING TO GETVACCINATED... SHOULD SOMEPARENTS PUT OFF THE VACCINESUNTIL LATE THIS SUMMER.

We'regoing to have to prob haveextended hours, weekend hours,to help accommodate thosepeople that have to be seenANN SAYS - DESPITE SOMECONCERNS OVER CORONAVIRUS -SHE INTENDS ON KEEPING BOTH OFHER BOYS UP TO DATE WITHIMMUNIZATIONS.

They both willbe due for some sort ofbooster - especially the onesrequired for school SO HERE'SYOUR REBOUND RUNDOWN: -PARENTS, DON'T POSTPONEVACCINES- IN OLDER KIDS,VACCINATIONS MAY NOT REQUIREAN IN-OFFICE APPOINTMENT.

THEYMAY BE ABLE TO GET THEMOUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL.- EXPECTEXTENDED HOURS SO KIDS AREREADY BEFORE SCHOOL STARTSFOR THE TIME BEING... HENNESSYSAYS KIDS OVER 2 SHOULD ALL BEWEARING MASKS.

IT'S SOMETHINGTHAT MIGHT BECOME PART OF THESCHOOL CURRICULUM... IFCLASSES RESUME THIS FALL.

SHESAYS KIDS DURING THE SCHOOLDAY HAVE 3X AS MANY TOUCHESWITH ANOTHER PERSON THAN THEREST OF US.THANK YOU PETE.IF YOU NEED HELP MANAGING THEPRESSURE AS THINGS BEGIN TOREOPEN... INCLUDING TIPS TOHELP KIDS ADJUST NOW THATSAFER AT HOME HAS BEENLIFTED... HEAD TO TMJ4 DOT COMSLASH REBOUN