NURSE NUGGETS

Hello Families! Spring is here, summer is coming!

With Spring coming back to life, allergies are too. Many symptoms of allergies are also COVID symptoms so we will require a test unless the symptom is ONLY sneezing and red watery, itchy eyes. We suggest you bring your child into their Health Care Provider so that they can start on allergy meds, some of which take weeks to a month to work.

We are still in the pandemic, but we are getting close! With more and more people getting vaccinated, we are seeing less transmission, less hospitalization, and fewer deaths. We are slowly getting back to safely being around others that are vaccinated and participating in more events, when vaccinated. Still, the mitigation strategies are strongly recommended from CDC and our medical community. There are variants of COVID 19 circulating in our community. Viruses are constantly changing through mutation and new variants are expected to occur over time.

Protect yourself and others against COVID-19 by wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet apart, avoiding crowds, washing your hands, and getting vaccinated when it’s available to you. Exciting news is that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are expected to be available for 12-15 year olds in the summer, prior to school entry! Vaccines for those 16 and older are already available.

You are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after the second dose in a 2 dose series. Once fully vaccinated, you do not need to quarantine if exposed to a confirmed positive, and are allowed to travel without needing a test or quarantine to many states that require the COVID passport (the card given to you when you receive a vaccination).

As ASD was symptom-free this school year, I appreciate those parents that prescreen their child before sending them to school, and if a child is sick at school with any symptom associated with COVID have been understanding and cooperative in getting a negative test or keeping their child home for 10 days. Having the parent call in and give the excuse for being absent has been very helpful

Have a great summer and stay healthy!

Kathy Seybert MS RN NCSN

seybert_kathy@asdk12.org

907-742-9913