In Reply We appreciate the comments from Feketea and Vlacha and Ha et al, who offer perspectives on solutions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in response to our article “Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Children: What Pediatric Health Care Clinicians Need to Know.”1 As our article noted, children, especially those with special health care needs, might be more likely to experience COVID-19–related complications, as well as the unintended consequences of public health recommendations. Feketea and Vlacha demonstrate their institution’s operationalization of COVID-19 screening via telemedicine services. While their algorithm will need modification as more information becomes available about COVID-19, it stands ready for future studies that could test how well this telescreening can be used to make safe and effective recommendations for care. Ha et al remind child health clinicians to prioritize physical activity for children with cancer during the COVID-19 stay-at-home recommendations. We support their use of telemedicine to evaluate and provide safe activities for children who are immunocompromised. As COVID-19 takes on additional chapters, we are hopeful that we will continue to see important and creative modifications to routine and complex care for children.
Corresponding Author: Sonja A. Rasmussen, MD, MS, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Rd, PO Box 100296, Gainesville, FL 32610 (sonja.rasmussen@peds.ufl.edu).
Published Online: September 21, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.3016
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.