Pediatric Care During COVID-19
Wellstar is committed to helping children stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Count on our dedicated healthcare team to keep your child in safe, expert hands.
COVID-19 Vaccine: Children Ages 5 to 11
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use authorization for children ages 5 to 11 years old. Now, anyone age 5 and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Certain immunocompromised children ages 5 to 11 may now receive a third primary series dose. Young people ages 12 and older can also get their booster, as well. Learn more.
Getting vaccinated is an important way to protect your child’s health during the pandemic, especially as new variants of the virus emerge.
Wellstar will be offering COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 years old. For more information or to book a vaccine appointment, contact your child’s Wellstar pediatrician.
You can also schedule a COVID-19 vaccine for your child at your local retail pharmacy or visit vaccines.gov to find a convenient vaccination site close to you.
Pediatric COVID-19 Testing
As new variants of the virus emerge and spread, parents may be worried about their child’s health and possible COVID-19 exposure.
Before you take your child for a COVID-19 test, it’s important to know the proper location for their medical circumstance.
Know Where to Go
If you are concerned your child may have been exposed to COVID-19 and is:
- Asymptomatic (showing no symptoms): Find a local COVID-19 testing site near you.
- Showing mild to moderate symptoms: Contact your Wellstar pediatrician’s office directly to determine the appropriate location to receive care.
- Experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, persistent high fever, unable to keep liquids down, lethargy, or severe gastrointestinal symptoms: Seek immediate medical care at the nearest pediatric emergency department.
Choose the Right Location
Take your child to the right location for their medical circumstance.
For more information about the types of testing offered at Wellstar, visit our main COVID-19 testing page.
If you, your child or a loved one has been diagnosed or exposed to COVID-19, we encourage families to follow the CDC's recommended guidelines for quarantine or isolation, especially for school-aged children.
Keeping Your Child Safe
The best protection against COVID-19 is prevention and stopping community spread.
Young children who are not eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine are counting on the community to take action and get vaccinated. Be sure you and your family members who are age five and up get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Parents can also help protect their child’s health by teaching them the 3Ws — wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance.
Learn how you can make well happen.
For more health tips, visit our COVID-19 resource page.
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Newsroom
Support Children’s Health During iHeartMedia Cares for Kids Radiothon
This holiday season, you can support Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital, by tuning in to the 24th Annual iHeartMedia Cares for Kids Radiothon.
Tune into 104.3 WBBQ, 96.3 KISS FM and 105.7 The Bull or watch News12 NBC26 to hear stories of hope, healing and inspiration as patients and families share how Wellstar Children’s has had a positive impact in their lives.
December 5 & 6
6 AM to 7 PM
December 7
8 AM to 1 PM
Wellstar Children’s offers dedicated, world-class care to the youngest patients in our state and beyond. The hospital is home to a 24/7 Pediatric Emergency Room, a dedicated Level II Trauma Center, a Level IV NICU and the only Level I PICU outside of Atlanta.
Giving is easy! Here’s how:
- caresforkidsradiothon.com
- During the event: Call the SRP Federal Credit Union Phone Bank at (866) 412-KIDS (5437)
- Anytime: Call (706) 721-4004
- By mail: Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia 1446 Harper Street, BT 1845 | Augusta, GA 30912
- By text: Text CHOG to 51555 at any time
Learn more at caresforkidsradiothon.com.
Highlights
5 Fun and Easy After-School Snacks
By Dr. Joanna Dolgoff, Wellstar pediatrician
When school is in session, finding the perfect after-school snack that balances nutrition and deliciousness can feel like quite a task. As a board-certified Wellstar pediatrician, I understand the importance of fueling growing bodies with the right nutrients. With that, I'm excited to share five wholesome after-school snack ideas that are easy to make and fun for kids to eat.
1. Celery Caterpillars
This creative snack recipe offers a good balance of protein from peanut butter, along with a variety of fruits and vegetables, providing essential vitamins and antioxidants for growing children.
What You’ll Need:
Peanut butter
Celery
Grapes
Blueberries
Grape tomatoes
Candy eyes
Directions:
- Fill stalks of celery with peanut butter.
- Place grapes, blueberries or grape tomatoes atop celery sticks. These will be the body and head of your caterpillars.
- Apply peanut butter to the backs of candy eyes, then place eyes on grape, tomato or blueberry to create face.
- Optional: Cut thin matchsticks from a celery stick and place behind candy eyes to create the antennae.
2. Apple Sailboats
This recipe is excellent for kids as it combines the crisp sweetness of apples, a good source of fiber and vitamins, with protein-rich peanut butter and the added crunch of Cheerios to create a tasty and nutritionally balanced snack. Toothpicks may be a choking hazard for children, so supervise as your family makes and enjoys this snack.
What You’ll Need:
One apple
Peanut butter
Cheerios
Low-fat cheese
Toothpicks
Directions:
- Cut apple in half and remove the apple’s core.
- Spread peanut butter across the flat side of your apple halves.
- Place Cheerios on top of peanut butter spread.
- Using a thick slice of cheese, cut triangular sails for your apple boats.
- Attach sail to boat using toothpick.
3. Krazy Kabobs
This krazy kabob recipe is a playful and nutritious way to encourage children to enjoy a variety of fruits. Filled with hydrating watermelon, sweet cantaloupe, refreshing honeydew, juicy pineapple, antioxidant-rich blueberries and grapes, these skewers provide a spectrum of vitamins and flavors, promoting a fun and healthy snacking experience for young taste buds.
What You’ll Need:
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Honeydew
Pineapple
Blueberries
Grapes
Wood skewers
Fruit-shape cutters (stars, hearts, etc.)
Directions:
- Cut horizontal slices of your larger fruits (watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew).
- Use your fruit cutters to cut shapes out of your fruit slices.
- Place any creative combination of fruits or fruit shapes onto your skewer to create the ultimate krazy kabob.
4. Veggie Cars
This wholesome veggie car recipe is a fun way to encourage children to enjoy their vegetables. With vibrant baby peppers and baby cucumbers, the snack not only provides essential vitamins, but also engages kids in a fun, hands-on experience of assembling their own veggie cars, promoting both healthy eating and interactive play. Toothpicks may be a choking hazard for children.
What You’ll Need:
10 baby peppers
Six baby cucumbers
Toothpicks
Directions:
- Slice cucumbers into half-inch rounds, discarding the ends. These will be your wheels.
- Place two toothpicks through each pepper. The toothpicks will serve as the axels to your cars.
- Push one cucumber round onto the ends of each toothpick to form the full car.
5. Banana Lollipops
These banana lollipops offer a delightful and healthier alternative to traditional sweets. With the natural sweetness of bananas and the richness of dark chocolate, the recipe makes for an enjoyable, nutritious after-school snack for kids of all ages.
What You’ll Need:
One banana
Chopped dark chocolate bar
Popsicle sticks
Wax paper and baking sheet
- Unpeel banana and slice into inch-thick rounds, discarding the ends.
- Insert one popsicle stick into each round.
- Place chopped dark chocolate into microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted.
- Dip each banana round into chocolate.
- Place popsicles onto wax paper-covered baking sheet and let freeze for 45 minutes.
As a pediatrician dedicated to the well-being of children, these snack ideas offer more than delicious bites—they pave the way for a lifetime of healthy habits. Incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables, these recipes not only provide essential vitamins and minerals, but also engage young minds in the joy of preparing and enjoying wholesome foods. Learn more about how to keep your kids happy and healthy by scheduling an appointment with a world-class Wellstar pediatrician today.
A graduate of New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Dr. Joanna Dolgoff is a board-certified pediatrician with Wellstar.
Wellstar’s content, and all related media, are provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Consult a pediatrician for the diet that’s best for your child.
Highlights
Marking Milestones with Wellstar Pediatricians
Because you and your child share the same goal—staying healthy and happy—your Wellstar pediatrician will partner with you both. Regular pediatric check-ups are beneficial for the whole family. Your family’s pediatrician will serve as a knowledgeable, trustworthy contact for all your health questions.
As children prepare for the new school year, one step families can take to stay healthy is to head to the pediatrician for an annual check-up.
“Children grow and change so much in their first few years of life,” said Wellstar Pediatrician Dr. Andrew Doyle. “Therefore, it is very important they see their pediatrician every few months during this time.”
In early childhood, your family should see a pediatrician regularly, with check-ups at these ages:
- The first week (3 to 5 days old)
- 1 month old
- 2 months old
- 4 months old
- 6 months old
- 9 months old
- 12 months old
- 15 months old
- 18 months old
- 2 years old (24 months)
- 2 ½ years old (30 months)
Starting at age 3, children and adolescents should see their pediatrician once a year through age 21, when they can switch to an adult primary care physician to continue their care.
Healthy kids at every age
Your family’s pediatrician will get to know you and your child, personalizing care as they grow. Check with their doctor to ensure your kids are up to date on their immunizations and protected from disease. Flu shots are also recommended every year for everyone at least six months old.
- Ages 3 to 5. Preschool-age children stay busy conquering milestones like climbing, taking turns, showing affection for others and learning shapes and colors. The pediatrician will ask if you have any concerns and discuss your child’s health, including eating habits and activity levels.
- Ages 5 to 12. At this age, your child is growing quickly—a little more than 2 inches a year—but your Wellstar clinician will help you and your child keep up with the changes. Nutrition is especially important at this age as your child goes through their growth spurts. Sometime between the ages of 7 and 11 in girls, and 9½ to 13½ in boys, children start experiencing hormonal changes, and your family’s pediatrician can help your child stay healthy, both physically and mentally.
- Teens. At this age, patients may have their own questions about their health and will have the opportunity to speak with their pediatrician alone. A check-up will include a physical exam, hearing and vision tests, and lab work like blood tests. The exam will likely include several screenings such as checking for scoliosis, measuring blood pressure and listening to the heart with a stethoscope.
To get your child all set for a healthy school year, visit wellstar.org/kidcare to learn more about our expert pediatricians and book an appointment online.