Back-to-School Prep Should Include Well Checks and Immunizations

Besides new backpacks and shoes, parents should be thinking about back-to-school immunizations and well-visit check-ups as summer comes to a close. Some kids have gotten behind in their regular vaccinations, but now is a great time to catch up.

“We don’t know what a new school year may bring,” said Dr. Tamara Sheffield, Medical Director for Intermountain Healthcare Preventive Medicine. “We do know that vaccines have helped safely protect children for decades, to the point that many of diseases like mumps or measles are rarely seen now.”

“Your pediatrician can help you find what you need,” said Dr. Sheffield. “Vaccines are also available from your local health department. Even if you don’t have insurance, the Vaccines for Children Program is available to those who qualify.”

Dr. Sheffield said children can be protected from the following diseases through vaccination:

• Influenza (flu)
• HPV
• COVID
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Polio
• Hepatitis A and B
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB)
• Neisseria meningitidis
• Pneumonia

In addition to school required vaccines, the HPV vaccine is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for kids between the age of 9 and 12 years old to prevent six different types of cancer. Influenza and COVID vaccines help protect against severe respiratory viruses that spread around the community during the school year.

“Your child’s well-check can be a time to catch-up on missing vaccines, as well as a time to review developmental assessments, vision and blood pressure screenings, important mental health screenings, and other guidance critical to a child’s health and growth,” said Dr. Sheffield.

“We insist on seat belts, helmets, and other safety precautions for our children to keep them safe,” said Dr. Sheffield. “Vaccines are just one more way we work to keep our children healthy and safe.”

For more information visit https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/pediatrics/

About Intermountain Healthcare

Headquartered in Utah with locations in eight states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Healthcare is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called SelectHealth with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information and updates, click here