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Health & Fitness

A Healthy Start to School: A Checklist

Summer is quickly coming to a close. Soon those long days at the pool will be replaced by a busy routine of homework and after-school activities. Unfortunately, back-to-school often means back-to-germs for families.

There are many ways families can ensure a healthy start to the school year. Below are four steps every parent should add to their back-to-school plan.

Get vaccinated.

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Vaccinations are important for the health of your kids, and also help protect your child’s friends, classmates and teachers. Your state may require several vaccinations prior to the school year. If you’re unsure of these requirements, check with your child’s school or the Fairfax County health department. Target Clinic offers vaccinations without an appointment, including flu ($28 - $45, beginning in August), Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis [whooping cough], $60) and meningitis ($130).

 Schedule routine checkups.

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Remember to schedule routine checkups with your primary care provider in conjunction with the start of the school year. Additional screenings, such as hearing and vision tests, can also be scheduled around the back-to-school timeframe.

Get screened for sports.

In addition to routine checkups, most states require students to have a physical prior to the sports season every three years. Check with your school or league for specific requirements.  These physicals help your healthcare team discover and treat health problems that might interfere with athletic participation. Target Clinic offers convenient walk-in appointments for sports physicals for children ages four and older for $39, seven days a week, including nights and weekends.

Re-adjust sleep schedules.

Children need a good night’s sleep to wake up rested, healthy and ready to learn. Re-adjusting bedtime at least two weeks before the start of school will help make the transition a little easier for kids—as well as parents.

Target Clinic helps families stay healthy during the school year by offering convenient, walk-in medical care for minor illnesses and injuries, skin treatments, vaccinations, tests and screenings for guests ages 18 months and older.

There are currently four Target Clinic locations in Northern Virginia: Falls Church, Fairfax, Gainesville and Leesburg. Three new locations will open in Northern Virginia in late August: Chantilly, Sterling and Manassas. For more information and to find the nearest Target Clinic location, please visit Target.com/Clinic

 

Kevin Ronneberg, M.D., is associate medical director for Target, where he oversees the corporation’s focus on providing high quality, affordable and convenient care to guests through Target Clinic and Target Pharmacy. Dr. Ronneberg is also a board-certified family medicine physician who has focused on sports medicine and wellness for 13 years.

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