Contributed by: Henry T. McGee, MD, Pediatrics
It’s back-to-school time, and that means it is time to schedule back-to-school and sports physicals. Starting the school year with a clean bill of health sets children up for school success.
“Back-to-school physicals should be part of every family’s summer routine. During these visits, we can screen for potential health issues, make sure kids are up to date on vaccines and talk about any concerns about your student’s overall physical and mental wellbeing,” said Henry T. McGee, MD, Pediatrician at MetroHealth.
During a back-to-school physical, your pediatric provider will:
- Do an overall check for any health issues.
- Check on their mental wellbeing.
- Measure growth in height and weight.
- Check hearing.
- Review any medications you child takes or needs to take.
- Fill out back-to-school and sports forms.
- Let you know what immunizations your child needs to stay healthy.
In addition to making an appointment with your child’s pediatric provider, it’s a good time to schedule a dental checkup if they haven’t had one in the last 6 months, and an eye exam if they haven’t had one in the last year.
It’s time to schedule…
- Annual well check
- Sports physicals
- Dental checkup
- Eye exam
- Vaccinations
Required for Grades K-12
- DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
- Hep B (Hepatitis B)
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- Polio
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
Source: Ohio Department of Health
Required for Grades 7-12
- Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
- Meningococcal (Meningococcal ACWY)
Source: Ohio Department of Health
Recommended Vaccines
- Influenza (flu) — yearly
- COVID — yearly
- HPV — routinely recommended at age 11–12 years (can start at age 9 years)
Back-to-school and sports physical appointments are available at MetroHealth’s main campus, Tuesday through Friday. Back-to-school physicals are also available at our community health centers.
