Louisiana Edition – From Vaccines to Vision, We’ve Got You Covered

As Louisiana families gear up for another school year, there’s more to prepare than just backpacks and pencils. A complete back-to-school health check ensures your child is not only ready to learn—but safe, protected, and confident.

Whether your child is starting kindergarten or heading into their senior year, this student health checklist will help you cover all the essentials—and avoid last-minute scrambles.

✅ 1. Schedule a School or Sports Physical

Most Louisiana school districts and athletic programs require an annual physical exam for enrollment or sports participation. This quick visit checks overall health and clears your child for classroom or athletic activity.

We recommend booking your child’s physical in July or early August to beat the back-to-school rush.

✔️ What’s Included:

• Height, weight, blood pressure
• Vision and hearing screenings
• Musculoskeletal and joint exam
• Review of medical history
• Clearance for school or LHSAA sports

📌 Tip: Bring any school or sports forms with you—we’ll fill them out on-site.

💉 2. Update Required Vaccinations

Louisiana law requires students to be up to date on specific immunizations. These help prevent the spread of infectious diseases in schools and extracurricular settings.

📋 Required Vaccines by Age:

• Kindergarten: DTaP, Polio, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B
• 6th Grade: Tdap, Meningococcal
• 11th Grade: Second dose of Meningococcal
• College-bound: Check for additional campus-specific requirements

👓 3. Don’t Skip Vision & Hearing Checks

Undiagnosed vision or hearing problems can lead to poor performance in school. If your child has trouble focusing, frequent headaches, or says they can’t see the board—get their eyes and ears checked before class starts.

🩺 We can perform basic vision and hearing screenings during a school physical and refer you to specialists if needed.

😷 4. Stock Up on Everyday Health Supplies

Keeping your student healthy starts at home. Make sure you have a school-year-ready health kit that includes:

• Hand sanitizer and tissues
• Refillable water bottle
• Face masks (if needed or preferred)
• Thermometer for at-home checks
• Any daily medications + permission forms for the school nurse
• Emergency contacts and health info on file with the school

🧠 5. Check in on Mental Health

The school year can bring stress, social anxiety, or academic pressure. Especially after disruptions from COVID-19 or transitions to new grades, it’s important to check in emotionally too.

Look for signs like:

• Withdrawal or sudden mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
• Loss of interest in school or friends

💬 If your child is struggling, our providers can connect you to behavioral health support or counseling referrals locally.

🩹 6. Know Where to Go for Urgent Care

Accidents and illnesses don’t follow a school schedule. Knowing where to go for walk-in care saves you time (and panic) when your child gets a fever, twisted ankle, or bug bite after hours.

At The Urgent Care, we offer:

• Fast, same-day care for common school-related injuries and illnesses
• School and sports physicals
• Vaccinations and lab testing
• Bilingual services (¡Hablamos español!)
• Flexible hours, including evenings and weekends

Starting the school year strong means more than new shoes and supplies—it means supporting your child’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Let The Urgent Care be your family’s partner in school-year readiness. From vaccines to vision checks, we’re here to help Louisiana students start smart and stay healthy.

📞 Call or walk in today to check off your back-to-school health list!