COPC - Step by Step Pediatrics

01/09/2026

Anyone else seeing the headlines, "SUPER FLU is SURGING!" all over the place? Seasonal flu has quickly increased in the US over the past two weeks. Cases of influenza have surpassed the peaks of the past five seasons, due to a new K subvariant of the H3N2 strain. This K variant emerged after the vaccine was chosen, so this is a mismatched year. Also, less than 25% of Americans have gotten vaccinated and the new variant is better at side stepping previous immunity. So, overall, more people are susceptible to the virus. As more people are getting infected, we are seeing an expected increase in severe cases. However, hospitalizations due to flu are following a similar trend to previous seasons. There is not evidence that this strain is more dangerous than previous H3N2 strains. It is not really a "Super Flu". Actually, the most severe flu season this decade was the 2024-2025 season with activity levels, hospitalizations, and deaths exceeding previous years. Yet, vaccination rates are down this year.
Best protection: wash hands, avoid large crowds and get vaccinated. Even in a mismatched year like this one, the vaccine still provides protection and is worth getting.

01/08/2026

The USDA has released its most current version of dietary recommendations for Americans and as you can see, they kind of flipped the old Food Pyramid on its head.
There is a lot to like with these new guidelines. For example the first statement in these guidelines is, "The message is simple: eat real food." The guidelines make a strong point of avoiding highly processed foods and focusing on whole, nutrient-dense foods—protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats. There have been some criticisms of the renewed emphasis on red meat and whole milk and I can't say that I am a big fan of beef tallow. However, I feel that this is a minor issue and less important than the overall message. Also, the new guidelines do still include a long held recommendation to limit saturated fat to 10% of your daily calories. In response to these changes, the American Heart Association does encourage consumers to "prioritize plant-based proteins, seafood and lean meats and to limit high-fat animal products including red meat, butter, lard and tallow, which are linked to increased cardiovascular risk."

01/07/2026

The Department of Health and Human Services significantly changed their vaccine recommendations on Monday. Despite this, the American Academy of Pediatrics and experts in the fields of Infectious Disease and Public Health have NOT changed their recommendations on vaccines. The HHS move was not based on any scientific evidence or concerns. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a strong response, calling the overhaul "dangerous and unnecessary". Vaccines will remain available as always and insurance will continue to cover them.

01/06/2026

Strengthen Your Immunity This Winter! 💪
As we find ourselves in the heart of winter, many of us are feeling the effects of less daylight, seasonal stressors, and the chill of freezing temperatures. It's more important than ever to support our immune systems during this time!

We've put together some science-backed tips to help you stay healthy and fend off seasonal illnesses like the flu and RSV. From the importance of vaccinations to the power of good nutrition and restful sleep, we’ve got you covered! 🥦😴✨

👉 Discover how small changes can make a big difference in your health: [How to Support Your Immune System This Winter](https://www.copcp.com/Articles/Details/270-how-to-support-your-immune-system-this-fa)

Let’s prioritize our health together! Share your favorite immune-boosting tips in the comments below! ⬇️

Help your body fight off seasonal illness with simple, science-backed habits. Learn how vaccines, sleep, nutrition, stress management, and regular movement can keep your immune system strong this fall and winter.

01/01/2026

HOLIDAY CLOSURE:
In recognition of New Year's Day, all COPC practices and services will be closed on Thursday, January 1.

12/23/2025

Step By Step Hours this holiday season:
Wednesday: 8am - 12:30pm
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 8am - 1:30pm
Dec 31st: 8am - 12:30pm
New Years Day - Closed
Jan 2nd: 8am - 1:30pm

12/22/2025

HOLIDAY CLOSURE:
Please note that all COPC practices and services will be closed on Thursday, December 25, and Thursday, January 1.
✨As a COPC patient, if you need non-emergency care around the holidays, check out the availability of the following services:
🩺SameDay Center (ages 18+)
🩺Pediatric Support Center (ages 0-17)
🩺Orthopedic Urgent Care

❤️Wishing you and your family a happy and safe holiday season!

12/17/2025

12/16/2025

The Holidays, despite all of the positives, often leads to stress and anxiety in adults and children. However, children demonstrate stress differently. Holiday stress in children shows up as tantrums, clinginess, sleep/eating changes, or physical complaints (headaches, stomach aches) due to disrupted routines, overstimulation, new people, and high expectations, but parents can help by maintaining routines, ensuring rest/activity, prepping for changes, and creating quiet , calm moments for decompression and allowing emotional release with free play time. It is also important for parents to manage their own stress as children pick up on parental anxiety.

The holidays can be magical times for children, but they can provoke stress, which can manifest in different ways than in adults.

12/15/2025

Planning on traveling for the holidays? Make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
The US reported 74 new cases of measles over the past week, an increase from the 35 cases last week. The increase was driven by the outbreaks in Arizona (+21), South Carolina (+35), and Utah (+10). The outbreaks in Arizona and Utah are linked and are spreading in the border counties of the two states. The US total is now 1,909 for 2025, the most cases the US has had since 1992.
Pertussis cases (whooping cough) continue to rise across the US. Several states are experiencing elevated case counts surpassing their own previous records. States such as Arkansas have reached a 20-year high for recorded pertussis cases, and Texas has nearly quadrupled the number of reported cases from last year alone. Combining CDC reports and state publicly available data, Texas (3,500), Washington (2,049), California (1,915), Oregon (1,446), and Florida (1,436) shoulder the largest burden of pertussis.

12/12/2025

COVID vaccination rates have been falling significantly with conflicting information on their benefits. We have been offering them, but by no means pushing them. However, new data shows we should be more strongly encouraging COVID vaccination. New data released by the CDC on Thursday show that “Covid vaccines administered last fall sharply decreased the risk of emergency department and urgent care visits in children.” The findings, published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, “showed that Covid shots cut the risk of needing medical care in the first six months after vaccination by 76 percent in children under 4, and 56 percent in children 5 to 17

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12/10/2025

The office will be closing early tomorrow for our annual Holiday party. Last appointments will be at 12:30pm.

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