Summer is halfway over and it’s time to start preparing for back to school. Whatever grade your child is entering, they’re going to need a back to school physical. Why? Because this school year kids are going back in-person.
If your child got away with skipping their physical last year because everything was virtual, this is not the year to miss out on one of the most important physicals to date. A FULL physical is going to make sure they’re ready for common sicknesses kids get during the school year.
Whether they decide to play a fall sport or need updated immunizations, a physical will cover all of that. It’s more comprehensive than a sports physical or coming in for a tetanus shot. A Physical will help evaluate their overall health from head to toe.
Don’t know what to expect when checking in for a back to school physical? AFC Urgent Care West Springfield will help guide you.
A yearly physical can help build your child’s medical record
Is your child physically fit to play a fall sport? What about their overall well being and health? A FULL physical is going to cover all of this.
But, what if my child already got a sports physical this summer, does that mean they can skip their back to school physical? No, a sports physical only determines if your little athlete is fit to play a sport. A full physical is more comprehensive and evaluates your child's health from head to toe. If you need both, you can have them done all in the SAME visit.
A full, comprehensive physical will help determine if they have any physical limitations like asthma, or any as of yet undiagnosed health challenges. This is important because if they need medical attention or a prescription for an inhaler to keep with them while they participate in sports, they will have everything on file. In addition to this, a full physical will look into things like vision, hearing, lab testing and vaccinations.
Back to school physicals and vaccine schedules
Building your child's medical record also means looking into their vaccine schedule. Schools require renewing vaccinations prior to going back to school to help your child protect themselves and others from potential health risks and diseases.
Remember, this school year is going to be in-person, ( yippee!), so the chance of spreading germs and colds will be higher. This is why it’s important to make sure your child is getting the right vaccines according to their vaccine schedule (ages 0-18). Staying up to date on this can build immunity and protect others who are at high risk of getting sick.
Here are the most common required vaccines when going to elementary to high school:
- Influenza
- Meningitis
- hepatitis B
- Tetanus
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis
Most college students or incoming freshmen will need similar updated vaccines like the list above, but if you’ve skipped the doctor’s visit last year, you might need to play catch up.
For more information on vaccine schedules for adults click here (19 and up).
Does my child need a COVID-19 vaccine before going back to school?
At this time, The CDC recommends ages 12 and up to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Although the United States is roughly around 50% fully vaccinated, there are still plenty of people who are not vaccinated.
Also at this time, colleges and universities are taking action on mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for students staying in dorms and for faculty members, especially given the uptick in the Delta variant. Most colleges and Universities in Massachusetts are requiring the vaccine. If you’re going abroad, take a look at this state by state list to know if your college is requiring a COVID-19 vaccine
And, just so you know, only 63% of the population of Massachusetts(as of this date) are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, which is better than the nationwide average of 49% But it also means there are still individuals who are not COVID-19 protected across the state.
Check off your child’s back to school physical at AFC Urgent Care West Springfield
Check in and we’ll check you out at AFC Urgent Care West Springfield. We are affordable, convenient, and we provide quality care to all of our friends and families in the West Springfield community.
If you can’t get a physical with your primary care for months out, you can visit us any day of the week for your child’s back to school physical.
There is no appointment needed. We are open 7 days a week with extended hours on the weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm and weekend hours from 8 am to 5pm. We also accept most insurances.
