Summer break is underway, and with the back-to-school season approaching, UHS pediatricians are urging parents to schedule their children’s physicals early. The summer period offers a chance to avoid the rush by arranging these essential check-ups before school resumes in the fall.
Dr. Mary DeGuardi of UHS Pediatrics and Primary Care highlights the need for timely planning: “While flu season in the fall can be extremely busy, the summer back-to-school rush requires special planning to ensure we have the capacity to meet every family’s needs. This is why we strongly encourage parents to book appointments early, ensuring all necessary health requirements are met before the school year commences.”
Well-child visits are crucial as they establish a comprehensive medical history and facilitate early detection of potential health issues. These visits also cover developmental, safety, or wellness concerns and allow for administering tests, screenings, and immunizations. For adolescents, discussions may include sexual health, mental health, and substance use.
It’s important to note that a sports physical does not replace an annual well visit. Schools mandate certain vaccinations for entry in the fall for children aged 4, 10, 11, and 16. These vaccines cover diseases such as Diphtheria and Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), Polio among others.
UHS pediatricians stress that routine childhood immunizations have been safely administered since 1914 when the whooping cough vaccine was introduced. Additional vaccines like those for pneumococcal disease and chickenpox were added in the 1990s. Vaccines protect individual health and contribute to herd immunity.
Refusing vaccines could leave children vulnerable later on. Every year globally childhood vaccinations prevent around four million deaths. By 2030 measles vaccines are projected to save nearly 19 million lives while hepatitis B vaccines could save 14 million lives.
The recommended immunization schedule is available on the UHS website along with guidance on scheduling check-ups effectively.
Parents seeking primary care providers can utilize the “Find a Provider” tool at nyuhs.org for pediatric or family medicine options at nearby UHS Primary Care locations.
