Preventive care and vaccinations are essential for your child’s health

Children need preventive health care.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents schedule health care visits for many reasons, including:

• Newborn visits after a baby is born.
• To stay up-to-date on immunizations.
• For hearing and vision screenings.
• To monitor growth, blood pressure, and other vital signs.
• To check blood work such as for anemia.
• To check on developmental milestones.
• To treat infections or injuries.
• For adolescent health concerns, such as menstrual care and depression screening.
• For routine lead testing. ​

ProHealth Medical Group clinic visits can continue as recommended during the pandemic when everyone in the child’s household is healthy. ProHealth has taken additional precautions to ensure you and your child’s health and safety during an office visit.

One adult is allowed to accompany a child during the child’s office visit. We ask every person age 2 and older to wear a mask and we check everyone’s temperature when they arrive. We practice social distancing, clean high-touch areas often, and disinfect exam rooms after every use.

Children need vaccinations

Because of vaccination, the last measles death in the U.S. occurred in 2015. Severe cases of measles can cause intellectual disabilities. Safe, widely tested, proven vaccines can also protect people from deadly pneumonias, pertussis, tetanus and other diseases.

Medical immunization schedules ensure that every eligible child is safely protected against diseases at appropriate ages. If your child’s vaccination was postponed, your provider can bring it up to date.

Contact your provider’s office

Your provider is here for you. Call your provider if you have questions about your child’s health. The health care experts in your provider’s office are available to answer questions and discuss office visits, immunizations and health issues.

Anyone with infectious disease symptoms such as headache, cough, fever, chills, shortness of breath, aches and pain, gastrointestinal illness, sore throat, congestion, runny nose or sudden loss of taste or smell, should call their doctor’s office as soon as possible – before going to a health care location. They should stay at home and schedule a virtual health care visit or call 911 for severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing.

To find a physician, visit ProHealthCare.org/Doctor or to find an available appointment with a new pediatrician, Get care.