(last updated November 29 2023 @ 11:25 am)

On Thursday, November 30, 2023 COX will be doing work in our neighborhood that may lead to intermittent service interruptions.  If you are unable to reach us during normal business hours please try calling again later

Beyfortus is not yet available in our office.  This space will be updated when it is available in our office.

Beyfortus, the new anti-RSV immunoglobulin is an injection that has the potential to significantly decrease the burden of RSV in infants, reducing hospitalization and death (CDC information statement here). It is intended for all new babies born during RSV season (November 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024) in the first week of life.  The newest CDC guidelines (Oct 23, 2023) also recommend this immunization for infants born before November 1, 2023, at the highest risk for severe disease (healthy infants < 6 months old and infants < 8 months old with underlying conditions that put them at high risk for severe disease*).

Beyfortus is not available for infants 8 months old or older. Infants who have turned 8 months old or are older and are at high risk for severe disease* may be eligible for Synagis.  In general, these babies would have received Synagis during the 2022-2023 RSV season.

When Beyfortus is available in our office we will:

• offer the injection to all new babies born after November 1, 2023
• reach out to high risk patients born between March 1 and November 1, 2023
• Once high risk patients born prior to November 1 are vaccinated, Beyfortus will be available at routine physicals and may be available at shot-only visits for non-high risk patients born between May 1 and November 1, 2023

There is nothing you need to do now.  We have a data set with all patients who meet criteria for Beyfortus and Synagis.  There has been considerable delay in the release of this immunization due to limited supply nationally.  We are waiting to receive Beyfortus through the Rhode Island Department of Health are anticipating receiving it in mid-to-late November.

*The following conditions pose a high-risk for severe RSV disease:

• premature birth at less than 29 weeks gestation
• chronic lung disease of prematurity 
• hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease
• severe immunocompromise
• severe cystic fibrosis
• neuromuscular disease or congenital pulmonary abnormalities that impair the ability to clear secretions

East Side Pediatrics, on Providence's historic College Hill, is a primary care pediatric office caring for children from birth to 21 years old.  We are a NCQA-certified Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) providing comprehensive and coordinated care that focuses on families.

Our doctors are members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and are board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. Academic rigor keeps our doctors from having stagnant medical knowledge.

Knowledge is not enough, though. Our providers understand the importance of bedside manner. We always consider things from both a doctor's and parent's perspective. We love taking care of children and treat patients as if taking care of our own.

After Hours

• when we are not in the office there is always one of us on call.  we also use an overnight nurse triage service. the doctor on call and the nurse triage service are both accessed by calling our main office number @ 401-383-4411.
• With this recent surge in community illness, many medical systems, including our answering service and nurse triage service, are deeply impacted by increased call volume.  As always, call 911 if you think you are or may be experiencing an emergency.  For more routine calls, our answering service taking the message and our MDs and nurse triage service will get back to you as soon as possible..
• Please note that our overnight nurse triage service does not have access to patient records, so they can not send referrals, or orders for testing, can not schedule vaccine appointments or office visits, and do not have access to test results.
• For patients needing in-person evaluation when we are unavailable we recommend JustKidsRI, a pediatric-specific urgent care in Cumberland, Rhode Island, and the Hasbro Children's Hospital emergency department in Providence.