By Laura Soto- Medicine Mom
Back to School
Today is one of the most exciting days of the year for kids and parents alike…it’s the first day of school! After a summer full of camps and activities, everyone will be settling into their routines. Kids are excited to see their friends and parents want to see their children learn and succeed in the year to come.
Time to See the Pediatrician
One of the first things we deal with as a parent in the beginning of the school year is having our kids’ “yellow” and “blue” medical forms filled out by their pediatricians. On the flip side, this is a great opportunity for the physician to see your children and address any health concerns you may have. Vaccinations, particularly, are a hot topic during this time of year since one of the school requirements is the vaccination form. Check out this table that let’s you know when to vaccinate your kids:
| Vaccines | 18 mos | 19-23 mos | 2-3 yrs | 4-6 yrs | 7-10 yrs | 11-12 yrs | 13-15 yrs | 16-18 yrs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis B1 (HepB) | ←3rddose→ | |||||||||||||
| Rotavirus2(RV) RV1 (2-dose series); RV5 (3-dose series) |
||||||||||||||
| Diphtheria, tetanus, & acellular pertussis3(DTaP: <7 yrs) | ←4thdose→ | ←5thdose→ | ||||||||||||
| Tetanus, diphtheria, & acellular pertussis4 (Tdap: ≥7 yrs) | (Tdap) | |||||||||||||
| Haemophilus influenzaetype b5 (Hib) | ||||||||||||||
| Pneumococcal conjugate6(PCV13) | ||||||||||||||
| Pneumococcal polysaccharide6(PPSV23) | ||||||||||||||
| Inactivated poliovirus7(IPV)(<18 yrs) | ←3rddose→ | ←4thdose→ | ||||||||||||
| Influenza8(IIV; LAIV) 2 doses for some: See footnote 8 | Annual vaccination (IIV only) | Annual vaccination (IIV or LAIV) | ||||||||||||
| Measles, mumps, rubella9(MMR) | ←2nddose→ | |||||||||||||
| Varicella10 (VAR) | ←2nddose→ | |||||||||||||
| Hepatitis A11 (HepA) | ←2 dose series, Seefootnote 11→ | |||||||||||||
| Human papillomavirus12(HPV2: females only; HPV4: males and females) | ←(3 dose series)→ | |||||||||||||
| Meningococcal13 (Hib-Men-CY ≥ 6 weeks; MenACWY-D≥9 mos; MenACWY-CRM ≥ 2 mos) | See footnote 13 | ←1stdose→ | Booster | |||||||||||
Note: The above recommendations must be read along with the footnotes of this schedule.
Information from the CDC.
Remember to Wash Your Hands Kiddos
Being in school can increase exposure to several diseases that can affect your children and families. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact your physicians.
We wish all children and their parents a happy first day of school!
Weekly Exclusive to aMother Adventure by:
‘Medicine Mom’
Laura Soto, DO
Family Medicine Doctor
Check out her Facebook page here.
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