News & Announcements

Pfizer COVID Vaccine for 12-15 Year Olds

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The CDC, FDA, and AAP have made their official recommendations and the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine is now available to 12-15 year olds under the same Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that is being used to distribute COVID Vaccines to adults! Maryland’s mass vaccination sites are now vaccinating all persons 12 and older. Visit covidvax.maryland.gov or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829) to schedule an appointment.

Our office does not yet have any COVID vaccine available, but we expect to get a shipment soon and will update this page as soon as we have more information.
In the meantime, please schedule through the state of Maryland (above) or look to your local health department, pharmacies, hospitals, or other vaccination sites for Pfizer vaccine doses for your 12-15 year old.

The Pfizer vaccine is an mRNA vaccine that has been studied and found to be safe and effective.
For more information on mRNA vaccines and how they work, check out these info sheets from the CDC or go to their website for more information.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mRNA.html?s_cid=10506:how%20mrna%20vaccines%20work:sem.ga:p:RG:GM:gen:PTN:FY21

As always, feel free to contact our office with any questions!

Dr. Louis Bland has retired

Dear Primary Pediatrics Patients,

It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing my retirement from Primary Pediatrics, at the end of December 2020. I have been with this practice for the past 25 years and it has been a pleasure to meet you and to be your child’s pediatrician. I have always believed in high standards of medical and compassionate care. Over the years, as I cared for and  worked with families and children from infancy to young adulthood, I hope our doctor patient relationship was enhanced. While I am looking forward to retiring, it has been difficult to say goodbye to families and patients. It was a pleasure meeting and caring for you and I wish you all the very best of health.

Going forward, I am leaving you with my competent and caring colleagues at Primary Pediatrics.

With sincere gratitude,

Dr. Louis Bland

COVID19 Update: COVID19 Safety Measures

Skipping vaccines and checkups can be dangerous. Pediatricians’ offices are open and safe. 

 

We have taken several safety measures to ensure the safety of our patients, parents, and staff, including:

– Screening all patients, parents and staff for COVID19 exposures and symptoms before coming to our office
– Adjusting our appointment schedule to limit the number of people who will be in the waiting room at one time
– Immediately taking patients back to exam rooms and completing their check in process with them in exam room if needed
– Requiring patients (2 years old and older), parents, and staff to wear a mask when in our office
– Only allowing one parent to attend visits with their child (no extra parents and no extra siblings)
– Having all sick visits be done as virtual visits.
– If a sick patient needs to be seen in the office, we bring them in at the end of the day after all our well check ups are done and have then call from their car upon arrival so that they will not be waiting in our waiting room.
– If a sick patient needs a test (ie strep test), we often test them outside in their car to avoid any unnecessary exposures in our office
– Frequent cleaning of all high touch surfaces and patient rooms
– Removed all toys and books from offices

 

Also, please note that each of our offices has a slightly different waiting room space and has a slightly different waiting room procedure.  All procedures are designed with the safety of patients, parents, and staff in mind and comply with all federal, state, and local guidelines.

 

Other steps you can take to limit the time you spend physically in our office:

– Complete forms and check in via our online portal before your visit.  (Not signed up for our online portal?  Click here to sign up.)
– Call ahead and put a credit card on file for your copay so you will not have to exchange money/credit card with our staff at the time of your visit.
– Bring any school forms that you need filled out with you during your child’s visit so that you don’t have to return to our office to have the form filled out.
– If you prefer to wait in your car and not in our waiting room, you may do so and just call our office when you arrive in our parking lot so that we can bring you back directly to an exam room.

 

We are here for you and want to make sure your child is getting the health care they need.  If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office. 

COVID19 Update: Evening Hours Suspended

For the safety of our patients and our staff, we are temporarily suspending evening hours.

 

We remain open at all 3 offices Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm.  We continue to have weekend hours at our Laurel Office on Saturday from 8:30am to 12:30pm and on Sunday from 9:00am to 12:30pm.

 

We continue to see well child check ups for children 4 years old and younger in the office before 2pm.  We continue to see sick visits for children of all ages via virtual visit.  If an in-person sick visit is necessary, it will be scheduled after 2pm to limit exposure to other patients and our staff.

 

We appreciate your patience as we continue to make changes to stay up-to-date with the latest Center for Disease Control (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and Maryland Department of Health recommendations.  If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office.

 

For the most current updates on what our practice is doing regarding COVID19, please follow us on social media:

 

Let’s all do our part to #flattenthecurve and protect each other from unnecessary exposure.

COVID19 Update: In-Person Office Visits

For your safety and the safety of our staff, we are making the following changes as part of our coronavirus precautions.

 

Well Child Checkups: Effective immediately, we will only be performing well child checkups for patients that are 4 years old or younger.  These checkups will allow us to continue to provide vaccinations and to monitor development during a particularly critical period.  In order to limit these children from exposure to sick patients, we are only doing these appointments BEFORE 2pm.  We ask that only ONE parent and NO siblings accompany the patient in order to prevent additional exposures.

 

  • If your child has a well child check up already scheduled and is 5 years old or older, please call the office to reschedule it for a later time.

 

  • If your child is 4 years old or younger and has a well child check up scheduled after 2pm, please call the office to schedule it for earlier in the day.

 

Sick Visits: Effective immediately, we will be seeing all sick visits as virtual visits.

 

  • To learn more about virtual visits, please check out here for more information or call our office.

 

  • If you feel that your child can only be evaluated in-person, it must be approved by a nurse or by a physician.  In-person sick visits will only be available AFTER 2pm.  We ask that only ONE parent and NO siblings accompany the patient in order to prevent additional exposures.

 

Online Scheduling: For the duration of this pandemic, we have disabled the ability to make in-person visits online.  This allows us to do proper screening of patients to protect you and our staff.  You can still make virtual visits online at a time that is convenient for you.

 

 

If you have any questions, please call the office directly.

 

 

For the most current updates on what our practice is doing regarding COVID19, please follow us on social media:

 

Let’s all do our part to #flattenthecurve and protect each other from unnecessary exposure.

COVID19 Update: No Walk Ins

 

 

 

Effective 3/21/2020, we will temporarily be suspending our walk in visits at all of our offices.  For your safety and the safety of our staff, we ask that you call to make an appointment before coming to the office.

 

 

All offices remain open and are able to see patients – virtually or in person.  We will continue to post updates as we make changes to maximize safe social distancing while also continuing to care for all our patients.  If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office.

 

 

For the most current updates on what our practice is doing regarding COVID19, please follow us on social media:

 

Let’s all do our part to #flattenthecurve and protect each other from unnecessary exposure.

COVID19 Update: Virtual Visits

COVID-19 Update:
As we continue to respond to changing guidance, we are expanding our capacity to do Virtual Visits. Available to all insurances, we are able to provide a virtual doctor visit from the comfort of your home for non-urgent issues. Check out our graphic for some ideas, and feel free to call our office to discuss and schedule virtual visits for your child.  Virtual visits are also available to schedule online.

 

Please note, your insurance treats these virtual visits the same as an in-person office visit and copays are due at time of visit.

 

For other measures that our practices is taking, please click here.

 

For the most up-to-date/breaking news updates, please follow us on social media.

 

Let’s all do our part to #flattenthecurve and protect each other from unnecessary exposure.

Coronavirus Update

Primary Pediatrics has implemented strategies to limit the spread of coronavirus in our community. As a precaution to protect our patients, families and staff, we are following the recommendations from the CDC.

If your child has developed a fever, cough or flu-like symptoms, or has been within 6 feet of someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you should contact us immediately. If you feel that your child is having a medical emergency, please go to the Emergency Department.

Please only visit the Emergency Department if you are experiencing a major or life-threatening issue. This will help limit the potential spread of the virus in our community, and will help ensure that our Emergency Department is able to care for patients with the most critical needs first.

We will work closely with the Department of Health to determine if testing is required based on a patient’s symptoms and risk of exposure.

Visitor Screening and Policy Update

Effective March 13, 2020 we will be enforcing the following office visit guidelines.

  • We are pre-screening some patients if they have an appointment.
  • We are actively screening at our check-in areas at all locations.
  • To protect our patients, any visitor who has a temperature, cough or flu-like symptoms will be asked to wear a mask during their visit.
Per the CDC, “the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses.
The CDC also suggests keeping yourself informed as new information is released, and following public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds, and other social distancing measures.
The below links provide additional information regarding the coronavirus:

Follow Us On Social Media!

It’s a new year and we’ve been revamping our social media presence.  Come follow us!

 

Follow us on Instagram: @primarypedsmd

 

On Facebook, follow your home office:

Laurel: PrimaryPedsMD

Silver Spring: PriPedSilverSpring

Bowie: PriPedBowie

 

Leave us a review to let us know how we are doing!

Welcome to Primary Pediatrics

Welcome Letter

Primary Pediatrics welcomes you to our practice.  We are aware that you have a choice in the pediatric care you select.  We provide individualized care based on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Centers of Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and welcome open communication in discussing the care of your child.

The physicians and staff of Primary Pediatrics promise to provide the best possible evidence-based care for your child throughout their young lives.  We are available 24 hours a day by phone and our offices are open seven days a week.  When we are not open, there is an on-call doctor available nights, weekends, and holidays for emergencies. If you call our office, you will be connected to our answering service for medical care advice.  Appointments can be made by calling our office or at our website www.primarypedsmd.com.

For your convenience, we offer early morning walk-in hours Monday through Friday, extended evening hours Tuesday through Thursday, and Saturday and Sunday morning hours to take care of your child’s emergent needs.  We can also accommodate several same day sick appointments.  We strongly encourage annual routine health visits.

Immunizations are given based on the AAP and CDC guidelines. There is no alternative vaccine schedule that has been proven to give full immunity to prevent illness and or potential death for  unvaccinated children and those in contact with them.  We firmly believe in the safety of vaccines and will be happy to provide information to help you understand the science behind vaccines.  However, if you have not vaccinated your child and do not plan to do so, we unfortunately cannot accept your family as new patients. We view this is a public health concern, putting our patients, staff and general public at risk of serious, preventable life-threatening illness.

We look forward to serving you. Thank you for choosing Primary Pediatrics.

Practice Overview