Forest Park Pediatrics

11/11/2025

wishing everyone happiness in the “is it too early to decorate for Christmas??” days ahead

10/21/2025

we know your toddler wants to wear their halloween costume every day this month (year?) and we are here👏🏻for👏🏻it👏🏻

09/17/2025

Flu shots are here!
Get them at your next scheduled visit or sign up for a quick visit to our flu clinics today!
Please call 314-535-7855 to make an appointment for flu clinic.

09/28/2024

07/13/2022

To Our Forest Park Pediatrics Families,

We apologize but we have been experiencing connection issues with our phone service the last few days and have trouble both accepting and making calls. We have been in constant contact with our phone service provider to address the issues which has required escalation up the chain of command.
In the meantime, for urgent appointments, if you are unable to get through our main number, please call our exchange at 314.362.4433 to leave a message and our staff will contact you from an alternate number. Please do not call back on the alternate number as it is not equipped to handle a call queue.
For non-urgent questions or requests, you may continue to send Mychart messages that our staff will review and respond within 24hrs.

Thank you
The physicians of Forest Park Pediatrics

06/17/2022

6.17.22
COVID Vaccine 6mo-4yo

By the end of this week we are expecting to hear recommendations for COVID vaccines for children down to 6 months of age. Both Pfizer and Moderna have submitted requests for approval.

We have requested doses of the Pfizer vaccine for children 6mo-4yo from the CDC. It is expected to be a 3-dose series. The 2nd dose is due 3 weeks after the first and the 3rd dose will be 8 weeks after the second. The advisory committee for the CDC meets this weekend and we should have more information soon.

The CDC plans to begin shipping doses by the last week of June. We plan to offer vaccines through nurse-only appointments, the same way we run our fall flu-shot clinics. As soon as we know when we should expect our shipment, we will begin opening up the schedule to take appointments. We will send out another MyChart message at that time so please be patient and hold all vaccine scheduling calls until then.

We highly recommend the COVID vaccine for all our patients 6mo and older, including those who have had COVID infections with previous variants. The research shows better immunity with a completed vaccine series plus past infection than past infection alone.

We will only be able to vaccinate patients between ages 6 months and 4 years old. For those 5 years and older we continue to recommend vaccination through community providers such as commercial pharmacies and the St. Louis County Health Department, all of which have easy to access appointments through their on-line scheduling.

05/16/2022

We are aware of the formula shortage that is causing distress for many of our patient families. Here are the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics that we would like to share.

* Check smaller stores and drug stores, which may not be out of supply when the bigger stores are.

* If you can afford it, buy formula online until store shortages ease. Purchase from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies rather than individually sold or auction sites. DO NOT import formula from overseas, since imported formula is not FDA-reviewed.

* For most babies, it is OK to switch to any available formula, including store brands, unless your baby has a doctor-diagnosed allergy or intolerance and requires specialty formulas such as Nutramigen or Elecare (no store brand exists). It is also fine to use concentrate or ready-to-feed for a child who usually uses powdered formula. At this point nutrition is most important and some may have to put up with additional spitting or gas.
https://www.perrigopediatrics.com/AbbottRecall/

* Check social media groups. There are groups dedicated to infant feeding and formula, and members may have ideas for where to find formula. (FB group - St. Louis Formula Swap. Beware of scammers!)

* DO NOT add more water to formula to stretch it out. Always follow label instructions or those given to you by your pediatrician. Watering down formula is dangerous. It can cause nutritional imbalances in your baby and lead to serious health problems. Always mix formula as directed by the manufacturer.

* Toddler formulas are not recommended for infants. However, if you absolutely have no other choice, toddler formula is safe for a few days for babies who are close to a year of age.

* Whole milk may be started early within a few weeks of the baby's first birthday but not earlier than 11mo. Be sure to include plenty of iron-containing solid foods (meat, spinach, beans) in their diet while you are using whole cow's milk.

* Milk alternatives are not recommended for babies under a year of age or infants with certain medical conditions requiring specialized formulas. Be especially careful to avoid almond milk or other plant milks as these are often low in protein and minerals.

04/07/2022

***OFFICE UPDATE 4.7.22***

We would like to inform our patient families over this coming month we will be overseeing staff turnover in our Triage nurse department. Wait times may be longer than usual and messages regarding non-urgent matters may be taken and returned by the physicians over the lunch hour and after patient appointments in the evening. Our front desk staff will also be scheduling more straight forward acute visits. Medication refills and requests for completion of physicals, letters and other documentation may take an additional day or so. Remember, questions regarding acute issues that require a same day response should NOT be sent via MyChart as those messages may take up to 48hrs to review and respond.
Please be patient as we are training new staff during this time and we will hopefully soon be back to our high standard of service for our patients’ needs.

Also, as of 4.6.22 BJC will no longer be offering drive-thru COVID testing. Testing can still be found in the community at the St. Louis County Health Department, various community pharmacies and urgent cares as well as in our office for SYMPTOMATIC patients needing clearance for return to school and/or daycare.

Finally, with the second Omicron strain BA.2 becoming more prominent in our area, we urge our families who have not yet done so, please seek out COVID vaccination for all members 5years and older. Most retail pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS are offering walk-ins for COVID vaccinations, including CVS located in Target and Schnucks. If you need help finding vaccination sites, please let us know.

St. Louis County Dept of Health – for testing (symptomatic or asymptomatic, drive through or curbside) or vaccinations: https://revivestl.com/vaccine-events/

St. Louis Children’s Hospital After-Hours – for symptomatic testing (visit required)
5-11 pm, Monday-Friday
Noon-11 pm, Saturday-Sunday
Noon-7 pm, Holidays (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)
12436 Tesson Ferry Rd
St. Louis, MO 63128
Same Day Reservations: 314-454-6340
Phone: 314-454-6336

2206 Highway K
O’Fallon, MO 63368
Same Day Reservations: 636-696-4790
Phone: 636-696-4780

BJC– for testing (visit required) or vaccinations: https://www.bjc.org/Coronavirus

CareSTL - https://carestlhealth.org/
Walk-in testing 8a-5pm, results in 3-5 days.
Walk-in vaccinations 9am-1pm at 2425 N. Whittier Street.
** Residents who live in St. Louis City receive a $100 gift card when they come in for their 1st shot**

Comprehensive health centers providing St. Louis City with high quality health care services, including pediatrics, women's health and dentistry.

01/07/2022

Due to the recent surge in COVID-19 in our area leading to staff and supply shortages we will no longer be able to order drive-through COVID testing through BJC for ASYMPTOMATIC patients with recent exposures or required for screening for travel, school, or events. We also DO NOT provide ASYMPTOMATIC testing in the office. We will continue to perform testing in the office for patients who have symptoms to help clear for return to daycare/school. Patients who have symptoms and known close exposure to COVID-19 and otherwise do not need a physician evaluation will be referred to BJC drive-through testing while they continue their quarantine.

There is a huge demand for COVID testing which has led to supply shortages and long waits at testing sites. We ask that you be patient and consider what activities and travel are essential at this time.

We would also like to remind you that our After Hours Exchange service is for questions regarding acute symptoms when the office is closed. The nurses staffing the exchange are not directly associated with our office and are not familiar with our patients or our physicians. Their responsibilities are limited to advice only and are able to contact the on-call physician for emergencies.
Please DO NOT call the exchange for the following reasons:
1. Requests for any kind of testing including COVID, flu, RSV, etc.
2. Test results
3. Appointment scheduling
4. Medication refills

Here are the community testing resources we know are or will soon be available in our area.

Sites sponsored by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Every Monday and Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
IBEW Local #1, parking lot (near the new QT on Hampton near The Hill)
5850 Elizabeth Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110

Every Tuesday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
"Legacy Bar & Café"
Delmar Plaza, parking lot
5261 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108

St. Louis County sites
*All STL County locations require an appointment which can be found at revivestl.com
John C. Murphy Health Center
Mondays-Thursdays, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Fridays, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
6121 N. Hanley Road No. 2003
St. Louis County, MO 63134
*Appointment required

South County Health Center
Mondays-Thursday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Fridays, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
4580 S. Lindbergh Boulevard
St. Louis County, MO 63127
*Appointment required

North Central Health Center
Mondays-Thursdays, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Fridays, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
4000 Jennings Station Road
St. Louis County, MO 63121
*Appointment required

North County Recreation Complex
Weekdays starting 1/10/22
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
2577 Redman Avenue
St. Louis County, MO 63136
*Appointment required
**Saliva test with results in 24-48 hours

*The county also has separate appointments available for those requiring a test for international travel.

City of St. Louis sites
Ballpark Village
Weekdays, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Weekends, 4 hours before home Blues games
601 Clark Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63102
*This site uses rapid result tests

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-testing-sites-missouri-st-louis-area/63-6eabe51f-408c-4977-a24e-e2fd342f6585

Missouri and Illinois have several options to get a free COVID-19 test. 5 On Your Side compiled some of the options.

12/24/2021

THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED Friday 12/24 THROUGH Sunday 12/26 for the Christmas Holiday and AND WILL REOPEN Monday 12/27. We will also BE CLOSED Friday 12/31 THROUGH Sunday 1/2 for the New Year's Holiday.
** Please DO NOT call the After Hours Exchange number to request COVID testing when the office is closed. The After Hours Service DOES NOT have the ability to refer for Covid testing**

Due to spread of the new COVID Omicron variant, as well as increasing numbers of Influenza in addition to our usual circulating winter illnesses, we are still experiencing very high call volumes. Our staff is doing their best to accommodate all patient requests.
If you require a response about a question or an acute appointment the same day, please be patient while waiting for our staff to assist you by phone. Our busiest phone times are between 8am and noon. If your needs can wait until after 1pm you will have a better chance of getting though quickly.

For those families who have been exposed to COVID and would like testing while on quarantine, we ask that you delay your calls until after the busy morning period.

Anticipating a large surge of illness post-holidays, we have adjusted our schedules into January to accommodate more acute visits per day. We encourage everyone to continue to take precautions going into the holiday to limit exposure and further transmission of illness. Please continue to wear masks when indoors with anyone outside of your immediate family especially if you are going to be around those who are potentially unvaccinated for COVD-19. We also encourage all patients and their family members >5 years old to get their COVID vaccines or boosters if eligible and have not yet done so.

As some school districts are converting to “mask-optional” in the New Year, we fear an additional surge of in-school transmission and ask you to protect your children and our community by continuing to encourage your children to wear their masks in school. We would hate to see classes revert back to virtual learning as some schools in New England have already experienced in the last week before the holiday break due to overwhelming cases in a short period of time.

And finally, like many local small businesses, and apparently major sports teams, we are not immune to illness and staffing challenges, so we appreciate your patience and understanding during these difficult times.

Wishing a happy and healthy holiday to all our families.

Drs. Ankney, Epstein, Harrison, Meyer, Ruby-Ziegler and Schmandt

11/05/2021

The emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine in children 5-11 years old was approved by the FDA last week and the CDC provided their recommendations this week. All children over 5 years old are now eligible to begin scheduling appointments for their COVID-19 vaccines.

Forest Park Pediatrics will NOT be providing COVID-19 vaccines in the office at this time.

St. Louis County will begin vaccine clinics with the COVID-19 pediatric dose next week. You can check their website on Monday 11/8 for the week’s vaccine events locations and online scheduling. https://revivestl.com/vaccine-events/
For children 5-11 the appointment heading must read COVID-19 Vaccine (Pediatric 1st dose, Pfizer).

Commercial pharmacies including Walgreens and CVS are currently accepting online appointments for 5-11 year olds that begin next week.

Washington University/BJC has now opened their online scheduling for patients ages 5 and up. Appointments can be made through MyChart by choosing the child’s profile > Schedule an Appointment > COVID-19 Vaccine: Initial Dose > choose desired location(s) to find available time slots. For those who do not have MyChart activated, appointments can be made at https://www.bjc.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines

Pop-up clinics at SLCH and Children’s Specialty Care Centers (CSCC)
- Tuesday 11/9 10am-4pm at SLCH
- Wednesday 11/10 10am-4pm at SLCH
- Thursday 11/11 9am-5pm CSCC South (55 and Butler Hill)
- Friday 11/12 9am-5pm CSCC West (Mason and 40)

Weekly BJC vaccine clinics at Christian Hospital, Clayton Avenue Building and Wentzville on weekends from 11/13-12/18
- Clayton Avenue Building (4353 Clayton Ave in the CWE between FPP and IKEA): Saturdays 7am-2:30pm
- Christian Hospital: Saturdays 7am-2:30pm
- Wentzville: Saturdays and Sundays 9am-3:30pm

Mercy will also begin vaccination clinics starting starting Saturday morning 11/6/21 at the Kirkwood and Chesterfield vaccine clinic locations. Appointments can be found at Mercy.net
1. Chesterfield - 1350 Elbridge Payne, Chesterfield, MO 63017
- Mon – Fri 8am – 6pm
2. Kirkwood – 1001 S. Kirkwood Rd
- Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm
- Saturday 8am-12pm

**Please be considerate and cancel any scheduled appointments if you find availability at a different preferred time or location**

BJC HealthCare is one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States, delivering services to residents primarily in the greater St. Louis, southern Illinois and mid-Missouri regions.