USA/BACk TO SCHOOL—
By Suzanne Potter, producer, Nevada News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.
School will be back in session for students in Nevada and SoCal in a few weeks. So now is a good time to schedule a wellness check.
A pediatrician will make sure a child is hitting growth and developmental goals and is up to date on required vaccinations.
Jill Schwartz, a pediatric nurse practitioner and an assistant professor in residence at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, pointed to data from experts at Johns Hopkins University, showing just 91% of Nevada children are vaccinated against measles, which is not enough to provide herd immunity. Fortunately, Nevada only saw one case last year.
“There are cases around us. Arizona, Utah, and California all have measles outbreaks, so it is really important that we increase our MMR immunization rates because we’re not at the level of community immunity at this point,” Schwartz explained.
Kids commonly get vaccinations at ages 5 and 11, or before entering kindergarten and sixth grade.
Medical check up for students
The doctor will check a child’s vision, hearing and blood pressure and ask preteens and teens about social history to screen for anxiety, depression, and drug and alcohol use.
Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, said it is the perfect time for a child to get the physical required to participate in school sports.
“It gives you an opportunity to ask questions related to the sport that they’re planning to play,” Randall recommended. “Appointments tend to fill up fast and you don’t want to be in a situation where you’re going to see a healthcare professional that you don’t have a long-standing relationship with.”
Parents are also urged to book a dental cleaning and exam before the start of classes to reduce missed school days.
