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KNOWLEDGE CENTER

School-Age Well Visits: Supporting Healthy Childhood

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Well visit services

Learn how well visits prevent illness and keep your child healthy and focused throughout their school years.

Vaccines for grade school

Seasonal immunizations for grade school

Screenings for grade school

Labs for grade school

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Protecting your child with vaccines

Vaccination is one of the safest and most effective ways to protect your child’s health early in life. The immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is the trusted standard to train your child’s immune system. 


Here are the immunizations recommended for 6 to 11 years:

HPV

What: Protects against 9 strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is known to cause cervical, laryngeal, and penile cancers

How: A series of 2 injections, typically given at the 9 years and 10 years well visits

Tdap

What: Like DTaP, which your child received as an infant to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough), Tdap is a booster given every 10 years to continue protection

How: Given as an injection, this booster is typically given at the 11 years well visit

MenACWY

What: Protects against 4 different strains of bacterial meningitis, which can infect the lining around the brain and/or the spinal cord and result in death without treatment

How: The first dose is typically given at the 11 years well visit

Fewer shots, more protection

Giving vaccines in combination completes the series more quickly and reduces stress for your child. Combination vaccines do not “overload” your child’s immune system.

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Seasonal immunizations for grade school

The flu vaccine is recommended for all children 6 months and older, while the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for children at high risk of severe COVID disease.

Flu shot

What: Protects against seasonal influenza (flu), which can lead to serious complications in children with certain chronic health conditions, such as asthma or diabetes. 

How: Flu vaccines are given as an injection (approved for use in children 6 months and older) or as a nasal spray (approved for use in children 2 years and older) 

When: Children should receive a flu vaccine every flu season. September and October are generally good times to get vaccinated, with a goal of vaccination by the end of October whenever possible.

Two doses may be needed

Children between 6 months and 8 years of age may need two doses of flu vaccine if they are getting vaccinated for the first time, have only previously received one dose of flu vaccine, or if their flu vaccination history is unknown. Ask your Pediatric Associates provider for more details.

Screenings for grade school

Screenings are vital during grade school to protect long-term health, ensure academic success, and prevent minor issues from escalating. Here are the screenings recommended for 6 to 11 years:

Hearing

What: This screening detects any hearing changes or hearing loss

How: Your child will be asked to wear a set of headphones and respond to sound

Why: Early detection of hearing loss allows us to address concerns promptly and support speech, language, and learning development

Social needs

What: A short set of questions we ask all families about things like food, housing, transportation, and safety

How: Questionnaire during pre-registration or check-in that takes 2-3 minutes

Why: When we understand your child’s environment, we can better support their growth, behavior, and success at home and at school

Vision

What: This screening checks your child’s vision and how their eyes are working together

How: We may ask your child to read an eye chart to identify letters and images

Why: Children should be screened annually for vision changes

Substance use & nicotine

What: It is recommended that all children, age 11 and older, be screened annually for tobacco, alcohol, and drug use

How: Confidential conversations between child and provider, plus validated questionnaires

Why: Early detection allows for intervention before experimentation turns into addiction or long-term health complications

No right answers

No right answers

Every child develops differently and every family is unique, so there are no right or wrong answers. This information allows your care team to help you and your child in a way that best meets your needs.

A note about privacy

A note about privacy

All your screening answers are private — we do not report this information to outside agencies. However, we can connect you to helpful resources if you request them.

Labs for grade school

Labs are another important part of grade school well visits. Here are the labs recommended for 6 to 11 years:

Lipid panel

What: A simple non-fasting blood test that checks cholesterol and other indicators

How: Typically done at our office or a lab as part of the 9 years well visit

Why: High cholesterol often starts in childhood and may not cause symptoms. Identifying it early can help lower your child’s risk of heart disease and stroke as they get older.

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