Child Health Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Children’s Health And Education, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, October interim meetings of the West Virginia Legislature kicked off in Charleston. Children’s health and education continue to be in the spotlight with state leaders discussing everything from school discipline to childhood literacy. And, more on the conditions inside West Virginia jails and prisons.

On this West Virginia Week, October interim meetings of the West Virginia Legislature kicked off in Charleston. Children’s health and education continue to be in the spotlight with state leaders discussing everything from school discipline to childhood literacy. And we have more on the conditions inside West Virginia jails and prisons.

Also, thrill seekers from across the world are gathering at the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville for the annual Bridge Day event this weekend.

And we hear how the end of pandemic-era benefits will affect child care costs and quality, the Black Infant and Maternal Health Working Group’s breakfast with lawmakers and a story about a practicing Appalachian witch.

Emily Rice is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caroline MacGregor, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Health Department: Parents Need To Ensure Child Vaccinations Are Current

As school begins across West Virginia, health experts say getting children their routine vaccinations is a “back-to-school” must.

Kanawha-Charleston Health Officer Dr. Steven Eshenaur said countless West Virginia children have missed their annual vaccinations during the global pandemic. It is what the World Health Organization calls a “global child health crisis.”

“Many routine immunizations including tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella. Millions of children worldwide did not receive those,” Eshenaur said. “Overall immunization rates are down in the U.S. over the past couple of years compared to what our traditional rates were in 2019 and earlier.”

Eshenaur said that history proves vaccines prevent childhood deaths. With a recent case of polio discovered in New York City, he said a possible outbreak could be underway.

“As New York has been testing their sewage water, they are finding polio virus in the sewage,” Eshenaur said. “That is scary given that only approximately one out of 1,000 individuals that contract polio actually come down with a full neurological disease and result in paralysis.”

Eshenaur said needed protection against meningitis looms large, since the disease is still prevalent despite having a relatively aggressive immunization program.

“We still require boosters, especially for many public colleges when large groups of young individuals get together,” Eshenaur said. “That disease is very infectious and can easily spread throughout the population.”

Eshenaur said there are vaccination schedules for children from birth to college.

“Anyone that is entering public school for the first time has quite the group of vaccines that they will need,” Eshenaur said. “Seventh and twelfth graders also have vaccines dependent upon what their history has been with their vaccinations.”

He asks parents to check with their family physician or local health department.

“Anytime anyone has a question of the needs of what vaccines their child might require, they can either follow up with their pediatrician or go to their local health department,” Eshanuer said. “That’s where their full immunization records can be reviewed and any deficiencies be immediately addressed.”

COVID-19 Vaccines For 5 And Under Heading To W.Va.

In Gov. Jim Justice’s Wednesday coronavirus briefing, Joint Interagency Task Force Director Gen. James Hoyer said about 17,400 vaccine doses for children 5 and under will arrive in West Virginia from June 20 through June 29. He said about 8,600 of those will be Moderna and 800 doses will be Pfizer.

COVID-19 vaccines for children 5 years old and younger are heading to West Virginia.

Half the total doses were ordered by pharmacies. The rest will go to physicians, health departments and hospitals.

Hoyer said parents need to be aware of age qualifications on what entity can give the shot.

“Pharmacies can offer vaccines for children ages 3 and older,” Hoyer said. “For under age 3, parents, guardians and caregivers need to reach out to pediatricians and local health departments.”

Hoyer said the state is working with medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatricians, the state Medical Association, Academy of Family Physicians, as well as the Primary Care Association to both encourage and coordinate the ordering and administration of vaccines.

State Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad said the Moderna and Pfizer vaccinations for the youngest will come in multiple shots, some just a few weeks apart.

“The Moderna vaccine will be a two dose vaccine series about four weeks apart,” Amjad said. “Pfizer’s is recommended to be a three dose series, three weeks apart between dose one and two and then two months after dose three.”

Amjad is hopeful final federal approval to begin administering the vaccines will come next week.

W.Va. COVID-19 Czar Highlights New Precautions, Protocols.

West Virginia Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh says right now, we are dealing with the most infectious forms of COVID-19.

West Virginia COVID-19 hospitalizations have nearly tripled since April. State health experts are now highlighting new precautions and protocols.

West Virginia Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh says right now, we are dealing with the most infectious forms of COVID-19.

During Gov. Jim Justice’s regular coronavirus briefing Monday, Marsh said the latest omicron variants are breaking through to people who have had a previous infection and gained immunity, or who have been vaccinated four months ago or longer.

“We are all about trying to help people see that staying up to date with the vaccines is absolutely the best protection that you can have against these variants,” Marsh said. “The variants that are coming here are not only more infectious, but they also replicate better in the lower airways, in the lungs.”

Marsh said it’s also been reported that with these new omicron variants, some of the rapid testing may not register positive as quickly as seen before.

“If you do develop symptoms of COVID-19 like disease and the symptoms continue to progress even though you would test negative with a home test, it’s probably a good idea to continue to test yourself,” Marsh said. “Not only so that you make sure that you aren’t infectious to spread it to others. But also if you’re in that vulnerable age category 50 and older.”

Marsh said to expect a new vaccination schedule out soon for people in the highest risk categories.

He also said there are efforts underway to develop a nasal vaccine.

“This virus enters the nose, the mucosal membranes, and the kind of immunity for the mucosal membranes is a different kind of immunity than we get when we get a shot,” Marsh said.

State COVID-19 prevention leaders also say they are ready for distribution when vaccines are approved for children under 5 years old.

New COVID Alert Sent To W.Va. Parents Of Grade School Children

State Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh said in West Virginia, less than 30 percent of 5 to 17 year olds have got their first and second shots.

The latest national COVID alert has West Virginia health experts sending a new message to parents of grade schoolers.

The FDA has approved a booster shot for children 5 to 11 years old who are five months out from their second shot.

State Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh notes that nationwide, fewer than one third of all children in that age group have been vaccinated with their first two shots.

Marsh said in West Virginia, less than 30 percent of 5 to 17 year olds have got their first and second shots.

He said it’s important for parents to consider getting their youngsters vaccinated.

“We know that fully vaccinated children have a two times reduced risk of being hospitalized,” Marsh said. “They are also more protected against the potential for the long COVID symptoms.”

Marsh said final approval from the Center for Disease Control for the 5 to 11 year old booster should come by week’s end.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

Excess Screen Time May Cause Developmental Delays in Young Children

A new study has found that young children who are exposed to high levels of screen time have delays in developmental outcomes such as language, communication, motor skills and emotional health.

Published this week in the pediatric journal of the American Medical Association, researchers looked at the screen time habits of a group of 2 year-old-children and their development. They studied the group again at 36 months (a year later) and then at 60 months and found that excess screen time may harm children’s ability to develop optimally.

By law, childcare centers in West Virginia are prohibited from using screen media under the age of two and screen time is limited to 75 hours a week for each school-aged child. But a 2017 survey from Common Sense Media has found that on average, 98% of US children ages 0-8 spend about 2 hours a day at home on screens. Which exceeds the recommended pediatric guideline of an hour a day viewing high-quality programming. The report didn’t break down the findings by state.

Researchers recommended that families consider putting together a media plan to manage screen time as a way to prevent excess use.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from Marshall Health and Charleston Area Medical Center.