As summer winds down, families start thinking about pencils, backpacks, and back-to-school shopping. But keeping children up to date on their health requirements, such as vaccines, physicals, and medication, is also important to add to the list.
Dr. Chad Rodgers, pediatrician and Chief Medical Officer at AFMC, reminds families that now is the time to schedule those annual checkups, update immunizations, and ensure children are physically and medically ready to return to the classroom.
Stay Ahead of the Back-to-School Rush
“Summer is a great time, but don’t wait until the last minute,” Dr. Rodgers advises. As school approaches, appointment slots fill quickly. He encourages families to avoid the seasonal crunch by scheduling physicals and wellness visits early. If your child typically has a birthday checkup each year, that visit can often count as their school physical, making things easier all around.
Scheduling regular appointments is essential for our patients’ well-being. Learn more about the benefits of an annual wellness visit.
What Happens at a Back-to-School Visit?
It’s not just about getting shots. A complete back-to-school visit can include:
- Routine vaccinations to meet school requirements.
- Medical action plans for children with asthma, diabetes, or other chronic conditions who require medications
- Letters of accommodation confirming diagnoses and needed support for students with ADHD, food allergies, or disabilities
“If your child needs medication during the school day, like an inhaler for asthma, you’ll need forms in place,” Dr. Rodgers explains. “It’s important to get those details to the school early.”
Don't Delay: Some Vaccines are Age-Specific
There are only so many check-ups a provider can do well in one day to ensure every child and family gets their needs appropriately addressed. Some providers may not have many appointments available.
“These back-to-school appointments take more time than a sick visit because there are so many screening questionnaires and tests the doctor must perform,” Dr. Rodgers says.
Waiting until the last minute can mean delays. Certain vaccines are only valid if given after a child’s 4th, 11th, or 16th birthday.
“If you come just one day early, your child might not qualify for those required shots and could have to return another day,” says Dr. Rodgers. This can be frustrating for families and create gaps in care.
Busting Myths about Vaccines
Dr. Rodgers acknowledges some families' hesitancy about getting shots, especially with harmful myths about vaccines floating around lately. Open dialogue can help alleviate patients’ reservations about vaccines.
Arkansas vaccination rates are low due to poor access to healthcare and misinformation about vaccine safety. Find out more about strategies you can use to reduce vaccine hesitancy
“Nobody loves shots, but they’ve been extremely effective in preventing illness, disability, and death,” he says. “Vaccines are not associated with autism or developmental delays. That’s a common myth we need to keep correcting.”.
As children continue not to get vaccinated or delay their vaccination appointments, the risk of a widespread outbreak, like the recent measles outbreak, increases.
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He urges families to bring questions to their healthcare provider, who can give trustworthy, science-backed answers in a calm and respectful setting.
“Families are just looking for a trusted or reliable source of information on vaccines because there is just so much information out there,” Dr. Rodgers says. “Open and calm discussions about how vaccines help with immunity can help address these concerns.”
Supporting Families beyond the Doctor's Office
Providers often add extra appointment slots or weekend hours to meet the demand for school physicals. But keeping kids healthy is a team effort. Encouraging families to schedule recommended visits at their annual visit can also ensure that families avoid the rush.
“If a patient has a good relationship with their provider, they may go ahead and provide immunization forms and other necessary documents to provide the school,” Dr. Rodgers says. “They may even go ahead and schedule a visit in the near future for additional checkups as needed.”
“Schools and clinics can also work together to ensure communication is smooth,” says Dr. Rodgers. “Children spend most of their day at school; teachers and staff know them well and can partner with providers to support their well-being.”
A Healthier Start, a Stronger School Year
Back-to-school season can be hectic, but your child’s health doesn’t have to be. With early planning, annual checkups, and trusted guidance from your doctor, your family can enter the new school year with confidence—and everything in place for success.
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