The end of the school year is close at hand. It is time to think about school physicals for next year. Kids entering kindergarten, sixth grade, or the public school system for the first time in any grade are required to have a physical exam.
New kindergartners need a physical exam within six months prior to entrance. If your child did not receive vaccinations at age 4, he will also need booster shots. These usually include a DTaP, Polio, MMR, and chicken pox vaccine. He will also need an eye exam and dental exam. This can be an exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Visual acuity screening (eye chart) in your doctor’s office is no longer accepted for this initial eye exam.
Sixth graders need to also have a physical exam within one year and vaccinations for entry into middle school. At sixth grade, children receive a booster for tetanus (TdaP) and a meningitis shot. Children age 9-26 are eligible to begin the HPV series, a series of three vaccines aimed at preventing the main strains of human papillomavirus that cause cervical cancer.
If your child plans to play an organized school sport, she will need a physical and participation form filled out. These physicals need to be within the past year. If your child has had a physical within the past year, check with the doctor’s office about filling out a sports form.
Plan to get your child’s physical early. Since all children are required to get these physicals, the closer we get to the deadline, the more difficult it is to get an appointment. If you know your child will be playing sports next year, get the physical done in the summer. That way, you will already have the paperwork at tryout time and you will not need to pull your child out of school at the last minute for a physical.
About M. Rachel McGuffey, MD
Dr. McGuffey is board-certified in Pediatrics. She provides primary care for children, childhood immunizations, well-child physicals, and school and sports physicals. Dr. McGuffey’s professional interest is in general pediatrics.
Dr. McGuffey can be reached at (859) 258-5141. To schedule an appointment or for more information, visit LexingtonClinic.com.
