Evening and weekend well-child appointments are available to help you get those back-to-school checkups, immunizations, and clearance for sports off your to-do list.
Schools and sports teams require documentation that your child has had an annual well-child physical within the past year. This check-up can be scheduled with your child’s primary care provider, whether it be a pediatrician or a family medicine provider.
A well-child check-up is a full annual physical, with review and clearance for school, daycare, and sports physical paperwork, if needed. They can be done anytime throughout the year, but many families choose to schedule these appointments during the summer, before school starts, or around their child’s birthday as an annual reminder.
In Iowa, children who attend child care centers or are enrolled in school must show their immunization records to attend any facilities licensed by the state. The following guidelines generally apply:
Hep A to protect against hepatitis A
Hep B to prevent hepatitis B
DTaP to protect against:
Diphtheria
Tetanus (lockjaw)
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Flu to protect against influenza (yearly)
Hib to protect against Haemophilus influenzae type b
IPV to prevent polio
MMR for measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles)
Pneumococcal to protect against pneumococcus (causes pneumonia and other diseases)
