Back-to-School Health Checklist: Essential Checkups and Vaccinations

Young girl receiving a vaccine for school.

As the summer winds down, it’s time to prepare your child for back-to-school season. With most schools starting in August or September, it’s important to ensure your growing child is prepared. This includes making sure they have the necessary health checkups before the school year begins!

Back-to-school checkups and vaccinations protect not only your child’s health but also the other children in their classroom. Make sure they’re fully prepared to start the school year with good health and immune protection. Use this back-to-school health checklist as summer comes to a close.

School and Sports Physicals

Before each school year starts, your child will need a school physical. Sports physicals are tailored for students who play any type of sport, no matter the intensity. These exams provide a comprehensive view of your child’s physical health, development, and growth.

Some schools require back-to-school physical exams, and nearly all schools require sports physicals before a child can participate. These exams look a little different from each other, but both are important.

What Happens During a School Physical?

School physicals check for external and internal problems in your child’s body. The doctor will ask about your child’s medical history. This usually includes any surgeries, hospitalizations, and major health conditions they’ve been diagnosed with. Physicians use this information to guide them through the rest of the exam.

The physician will feel for concerning lumps, swelling, and deformities. They’ll also look inside your child’s ears, mouth, and nose. The doctor will also check your child’s vital signs, including:

  • Blood pressure
  • Heart rate
  • Height
  • Weight
  • Lung sounds

Vision and hearing screenings are another part of routine school physicals. Any problems with seeing or hearing can impact your child’s academic progress, so this part of the physical is extremely important.

If your child needs any vaccines to stay up-to-date, the examining physician can administer them. Vaccinations are mandatory for kids and teachers in most schools.

How Sports Physicals Are Different

Sports physicals focus on your child’s eligibility to play sports. School sports require exertion, strength, and endurance. The goal of a sports physical is to ensure that your child is healthy enough to participate in intense physical activity.

During a sports physical, the examining physician will check your child’s medical history, just like in a school physical. The exam will then focus more on your child’s reflexes, musculoskeletal development, and overall fitness.

Back-to-School Vaccination List

Babies and children need certain vaccines at specific points during their childhoods. If your child is behind on a few immunizations, don’t worry; they can get caught up at any age.

Public schools usually require children to be up-to-date on all age-appropriate vaccines before starting school. The exact requirements vary by state. Here are the recommended vaccinations for children, sorted by age.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Vaccines

Each pre-kindergarten student (3–5 years old) should start getting the following vaccines:
Polio

  • Chickenpox
  • Pneumococcal vaccine series
  • Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (TDaP)
  • Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
  • Hepatitis B
  • Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib)
  • Annual flu shot

Kindergarten students (4–6 years old) will need all these vaccines, so it’s best to start the process as soon as possible during the pre-K years. It’s also ideal to get your child fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at least once. Check with their pediatrician to see whether they need any COVID-19 booster shots.

6th Grade Vaccines

By 6th grade, your child will need all previous vaccines on file. They will also need a TDaP booster shot to reinforce the effects of the first immunization. Additionally, your 6th grader should have a meningococcal vaccination on record to protect against harmful diseases like meningitis.

High School Vaccines

By high school (14–15 years old), your child will need two doses of meningococcal vaccination on file. Health guidelines state that if they receive their first dose after age 16, they only need one dose of this immunization total.

Mental Health Checkup

Even if your child doesn’t have any diagnosed mental health conditions, they can still benefit from a mental health checkup before school starts. The beginning of the school year can bring up strong feelings in children. Anxiety, depression, and social problems can all impact their academic performance throughout the year.

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), psychologists, and psychiatrists can all treat children with mental health concerns. Sometimes, a family or individual therapy session can help ease their worries about the upcoming school year. Whether they continue therapy or not after that is up to you and them.

During your child’s school physical, their pediatrician may ask about mental health concerns. Make sure you bring up any potential signs of depression, anxiety, and substance use issues that you’ve noticed in your child. Their doctor can use this information to give you appropriate resources.

School Health Records and Treatment Plans

Share any important health information about your child with the school when the academic year starts. Most schools will send home information forms for parents to fill out. Be honest and thorough on these documents, as they can dictate whether your child gets the medical care they need at school.

Include a doctor’s instructions for any medications your child must take during the school day. Be clear about the dosage, timing, and scenarios for each prescription. Have your child’s doctor sign off on the instructions to meet school regulations.

If your child has any underlying medical conditions, disabilities, or mental health problems, share them with the appropriate school officials. This will help them place your child in the right classes during the school year. If they need accommodations, the school will send home forms or schedule a meeting to discuss your child’s needs.

Get Back-to-School Care: Pediatric Services at Newport Children’s Medical Group

Are you ready to start crossing off your child’s back-to-school health checklist? Visit us for a pediatric appointment.

At Newport Children’s Medical Group, we’re dedicated to maintaining your child’s health and well-being. We offer specialized pediatric pulmonary services and routine health care for children of all ages. Schedule an appointment before school starts to ensure your child is in good health for the upcoming academic year.