Prepare for School 2020

Sep 05, 2020

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By Dr. Todd Peters, MD, FACP, William Newton Pediatrics**

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For most kids in Cowley County, school starts soon. If you haven't already prepared, now is the time. peters examine pediatric patient WNH

Buy school supplies. Check your school supply lists for face masks, sanitizer, or other items to prevent the spread of germs.

Ensure your child has had check-ups for an annual physical, dental, and vision. Prepare your school child for annual physicals when vaccines are usually given: 4, 11, 12 and 16 years old. Bring any questions and concerns to the appointment.

Although no vaccine is available for COVID-19 (yet), many vaccines for children are effective at preventing diseases. They are so effective that healthcare workers rarely see them, and polio is nearly eradicated. Millions of children have had these current school vaccines, none are experimental.

One more recent addition is the Hepatitis A vaccine (Hep A). It has been available for 20 years. Toddlers have received this in their routine vaccine schedule for several years, and in August 2019, Kansas schools required Hep A vaccine for kindergarten and first graders. This change is well overdue, as multiple outbreaks of this liver infection have occurred in the US. (More info from CDC)

One other vaccine essential for middle and high school children is the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. This vaccine prevents genital warts in both women and men. Some types of this virus have been linked to cancer. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection adults (CDC facts).

Getting vaccinated before any infection is key. Since 2016, children 9 to 14 years old only need two doses (CDC doses), after data showed younger children have strong immune response with less. There are no medications to treat HPV like the vaccine.

As our community returns to school, help prepare the students and teachers by taking steps now. Prepare for a successful year for everyone.