COVID Information for Parents and Caregivers

Vanderbilt Health is here to provide the best possible health care, whether your child needs need COVID testing, vaccination or treatment. Scroll this page to find info about care and policies at Monroe Carell and links to helpful resources. 

For any non-emergency health care need, your child's family pediatrician should be your first call. Outside of normal business hours, visit Vanderbilt Children's After-Hours Clinics.

Call 911 if you or your child experience life-threatening symptoms.

These include

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or lethargy
• Bluish lips or face

We urge everyone to

• Stay current on recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters
• Remind your loved ones to get vaccinated
• Take steps to reduce your risk of infection – and of infecting others – with COVID-19, the flu and other serious and easily spread infections

Commonsense steps to reduce spread of this virus and others that cause flu or colds include

• Washing hands well and often
• Keeping distance from others in public settings
• Covering coughs and sneezes with handkerchiefs or your inner arm/sleeve
• If you feel sick, especially if you have a fever, stay home or wear a mask in public places if you must go out

We also recommend home testing – with clinic follow-up on positive results – if you've had a known exposure before any travel or public gathering and if you feel unwell. This helps prevent exposing others, and helps Identify COVID-19 illness soon enough to make anti-viral treatments work better.