Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has provided tips to help parents of K-12 students ensure that their children receive the necessary vaccinations for a healthy school year.
As summer vacation begins to wind down, parents should take their kids to the doctor to receive the appropriate medical exams - including dental and vision - and up-to-date immunizations.
“[Parents] need to make sure each child gets the recommended immunizations, along with an eye exam and dental cleaning,” said Dr Art Jones, medical director for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nevada.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all school-age children should receive an influenza vaccine. A tetanus booster shot should be administered to adolescents between 11 and 18 years of age. Children should also receive the appropriate immunizations for measles, mumps and rubella.
Although schools do not require the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine - which is administered in a series of three doses over six months - it is recommended for girls beginning at the age of 11.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that K-12 children be evaluated for visual difficulties each year, and that parents should take kids to the dentist annually as soon as their first tooth appears.
