Is your child excited to go back to school in-person? They’re going to need an annual physical before they go.

July and August are the months to get their annual physicals done. What your child needs before they go back to school is a full comprehensive physical that evaluates their overall health. Physicals are a great way to determine if they’re healthy, up to date on immunizations and cleared to participate in school sports.

If you’re getting your child ready for the school year, AFC Urgent Care Torrington is here to help guide you on what you need to know about back to school physicals this year.

So, bring your forms!

If your child skipped the doctor’s visit last year, it’s time to catch up

Last school year, we were virtual for the most part. Some of your children may have skipped their yearly visit. So, it’s time to play catch up!  This school year, schools are sticking to COVID-19 safety precautions, but the precautions vary district to district, and it doesn’t mean your child won’t get sick.

Think about it: If kids are going back to school in-person, the risk for spreading germs increases. Just as in the 2019 to 2020 school year we had cases of colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses, we want to make sure that your child is physically ready for that and doesn't add COVID to the list.

Playing catch up also means updating their medical history. Now is the time for your little ones to build up a medical file so that in case they do need to be seen for a medical emergency, they’re in the system. Life is full of surprises and if your child has asthma, diabetes, or any other health conditions, it would greatly help a doctor know what to do next in terms of treatment, if they had this information on file.

Your child’s annual physical might include vaccinations

Everyone has a vaccine schedule. Specifically, children in elementary and teens in middle school and highschool should follow their recommended immunization schedule.

The CDC lists the most common vaccinations a child has to get from ages 0-18. Here are the most frequently required immunizations from schools around the country:

• Meningitis
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza
• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Pertussis

Colleges on the other hand, also follow similar requirements to the list above. Vaccination requirements might slightly differ from college to college for incoming college Freshman who will be living in the dorms. If you don’t know what’s required for your child’s particular school we suggest that you look on the college’s website for Health Services where the requirements will usually be listed. If not, contact them directly.

Does my child need to be COVID-19 vaccinated?

At this time, The CDC recommends ages 12 and up to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Although the United States is roughly around 65% vaccinated with at least one of the doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, there are still plenty of people who are not vaccinated.

At this time,select colleges and universities around the U.S are mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for college students when returning in the fall. This state by state list is here.

My child already got a sports physical for camp. Can they skip their back to school physical?

In short, no. A sports physical only covers the athletes capability to participate in sports. This means their physical fitness like, their heart rate, weight, height, flexibility, posture, lungs, blood pressure, etc.

A back to school physical on the other hand, is more comprehensive. You can have both a sports physical and physical done in SAME visit ( remember to bring your forms). A full physical will cover sports, and everything else unrelated to sports, like lab work, testing, vaccinations and overall well being.

Make the most out of your child’s doctor visit by requesting both.

I’m ready to check my child in for their back to school physical

It’s time to get your child a back to school physical. If you’re looking for a quick, convenient and reliable place to get your child a physical, they can come to our center any day of the week.

AFC Urgent Care Torrington is open 7 days a week with extended hours on the weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm and we have weekend hours from 8 am to 5 pm. There is no appointment needed when visiting our center. Just bring your school forms and any sports forms and we'll take care of the rest!