02/23/2021
To whom it may concern,
Over the past 2 weeks, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (NCH) has been has been able to administer 265 first dose COVID vaccines to adolescents and young adults who have complex medical conditions which place them at risk for complications of a COVID-19 infection. Please keep in mind that there continues to be a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines at this time. Please see details below.
- NCH has a limited supply of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines.
- These vaccines are intended for vulnerable patients under the age of 65. In order to receive the Pfizer vaccine, individuals must be 16 years of age or older.
- NCH is currently offering the vaccine to patients who are 16-21 years of age with the identified medical conditions explained below. Individuals older than 21 and under the medical care of a pediatrician or pediatric specialist are also being evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We are working with area hospitals, health systems and pediatricians to quickly offer the vaccine to applicable patients as soon as possible.
The Center for Disease Control has designated the following conditions as high risk conditions which would classify as “extremely vulnerable”:
· Cancer
· Chronic Kidney Disease
· Down Syndrome
· Heart Conditions (Heart failure, Coronary Artery Disease, or Cardiomyopathies)
· Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
· Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/ m2
· Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
· Pregnancy
· Sickle Cell disease
· Smoking
· Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Currently there is limited data and information about the impact of many underlying medical conditions on the risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Based on what we know at this time, individuals with the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
· Asthma (moderate to severe)
· Cerebrovascular Disease
· Cystic fibrosis
· Hypertension or high blood pressure
· Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
· Neurologic conditions such as dementia
· Liver disease
· Overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2, but < 30 kg/m2)
· Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
· Thalassemia (blood disorder)
· Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
If any of these pertain to you or your child, please call our office at (305) 777-3505 so that we may facilitate a possible vaccination appointment with NCH. If you have further questions or concerns, please feel free to call us. We are here to serve our patients and community at large. Please continue to practice CDC safety guidelines. Please do not hesitate to share this information with other family members or friends who you may know that could benefit from this information as well. We are here for you if you have any other questions or concerns.
Best Regards,
Dr. Damaris Mafut and the FLPC Team