The opinions expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mendocino Voice. We value the diverse opinions of our readers and we welcome robust, wide-ranging thoughts and ideas on subjects relevant to Mendocino County. Opinion pieces can be sent to info@mendovoice.com.
As a parent, you face a never-ending list of tasks to juggle. Between back-to-school prep, planning birthday parties, scheduling soccer practice, organizing park playdates, and the other demands of everyday life, it’s easy to overlook routine checkups. But well-child visits are a vital part of keeping your child healthy. These exams provide opportunities to monitor growth, screen for concerns, update immunizations, and complete sports physicals.
Why well-child visits matter
Well-child visits are regular check-ins with your child’s medical provider to assess development, address concerns, and administer immunizations. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a schedule with frequent visits in infancy, tapering to once a year starting at age 3. (See healthychildren.org for the full guidelines.)
At these appointments, pediatric providers like me monitor kids’ growth, nutrition, vision, hearing, reflexes, and motor skills. We also screen for things like lead exposure and iron levels, and we ask about your child’s social and emotional development. If concerns arise — like a heart murmur, possible attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or allergies — we can refer your child for further testing.
Understanding vaccines
Well-child visits often include immunizations to protect kids against measles, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria, polio, chickenpox, specific cancers and other serious illnesses.
It’s normal to have questions about vaccines, and providers like me want our patients to feel safe asking any question they have. I want to emphasize the excellent science and research around vaccines. Vaccines have been developed based on decades of research, and the recommended schedules are designed to offer kids the best protection against illness. For families who prefer a slower pace or have other concerns, we can discuss options and work with you to adjust the timing. Even if you choose not to vaccinate, well-child visits still matter.
Any side effects from vaccines are usually mild, most commonly a sore arm or low-grade fever. Serious reactions are extremely rare. Before I became a nurse practitioner, I worked in pediatric intensive care. I never saw a life-threatening vaccine reaction, but I did care for kids who were critically ill with whooping cough and measles. Some were exposed when they were too young to be vaccinated, and others had parents who had chosen not to vaccinate. These illnesses can have devastating effects, including deafness, blindness, seizures, brain damage and even death.
Vaccines also prevent issues that can occur later in life. Chickenpox, for example, is more dangerous for older kids and adults, and early infections can lead to worse cases of shingles in adulthood. The chickenpox vaccine helps mitigate these potential health problems.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is another powerful example of what is now possible with preventive care. HPV is a virus that causes cancer, and more than 80% of sexually active, non-vaccinated adults will be exposed in their lifetimes. By vaccinating early, we can prevent certain cancers from ever developing. This is a remarkable development.
As the body of research grows, vaccines have become even safer and more effective. For example, the HPV vaccine can now be given in two doses instead of three if started before age 15. Many other immunizations are combined into single shots to minimize discomfort, reducing the number of pokes and making the experience less stressful for both kids and caregivers.
Sports physicals: the importance of a thorough exam
As families gear up for fall, it’s also time to schedule sports physicals for student athletes. At many health clinics, including Mendocino Coast Clinics, we’re happy to include sports physicals as part of your child’s well-child visit.
Wherever you go, the provider who performs your child’s sports physical should:
- Check growth, development, vision, hearing and vital signs
- Screen for asthma, concussions and past injuries
- Ask about a family history of cardiac disease or other red flags
Whether your sports physical is scheduled with your regular provider or as part of a large-scale event, it should be thorough, not rushed. A complete exam can catch medical problems early and prevent tragedy. If any concerns come to light, your provider can order tests like an echocardiogram for further screening. Sports physicals are typically valid for one year.
Preventive care keeps kids healthy
If you don’t have a pediatric provider, you can call Mendocino Coast Clinics to establish care. Clinics like ours provide treatment to everyone who seeks it, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Whether it’s well-child visits, immunizations or sports physicals, preventive care is one of the best ways to support your child’s long-term health, now and into the future.
Breanna Lazar is a nurse practitioner at Mendocino Coast Clinics, a federally qualified health center that has provided high-quality, patient-centered health care to those on the Mendocino Coast for more than 30 years.
If you don’t like the message shoot the messenger? Why is a personal attack necessary?
What a man baby troll and pathetic insult. She is a professional who helps families keep their children healthy on the coast. We need more neighbors like her and less like “ab”. Please go away.