Has your child had their back-to-school physical yet? While physicals are only required when first enrolling in a Florida school, an annual physical reinforces the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Your doctor can assess growth, discuss important milestones, and provide any required immunizations during a back-to-school physical.

Annual check-ups are more important than ever to ensure that children are safe, healthy, and ready for the upcoming school year. If your child is planning to participate in any sports, they’ll also have to get a sports physical.

What to expect

General health assessment

During the routine physical exam, our doctors will measure vitals and perform a general health assessment. The doctor’s goal is to assess your child’s development, behavior, screen for medical and mental health problems, and gauge their maturity-level based on their age group.

The doctor can also advise on health and wellness topics, such as: 

• Illness prevention
• Nutrition and physical fitness
• Sleep
• Health and safety issues
• How to handle emergencies

The doctor will also review your child’s medical history to ensure their immunizations are all up-to-date. This visit is also a great time to bring up any health concerns so that your doctor can provide guidance that will help keep your child healthy for years to come. If you have any specific questions, have them ready!

Staying up-to-date on all required immunizations

Your child will be required to stay up-to-date on immunizations that will protect them from harmful diseases. 

Common immunizations for school-aged children include:

• Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccines
• HPV vaccines
• Meningococcal vaccine

We also recommend they receive a flu shot each year before the flu season starts. For more information about the importance of flu shots, check out our blog on the subject.

Schedule your child’s annual physical today

The school year is coming soon, so don’t wait to schedule your child’s exam! You can schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Dopson Family Medical Center by calling the office at (904) 259-7815. You can also get a physical at Baker Rural Health Clinic – walk-ins are welcome and we offer clinical care at a discounted rate. To contact us at Baker Rural Health Clinic, please call (904) 653-4700.

You can rest assured that our team is taking every precaution during this time to keep our patients and community safe during this time. For more information on our pandemic response, please visit our COVID-19 updates page.