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There are immunizations and boosters that are required (or at least should be done) between 5 and high school. Perhaps that's where the disapproving look came from (although uncalled for).
My kids are fully immunized, though we don't get flu shots. My older daughter needed the Tdap booster to enroll in high school and that's why I took her in. Yes, the booster is usually given in middle school, but we were homeschooling at the time, so it was a little late.
There are immunizations and boosters that are required (or at least should be done) between 5 and high school. Perhaps that's where the disapproving look came from (although uncalled for).
However, yes, at 19, my oldest still gets a yearly physical. Everyone in the house does. That's the meaning of preventative care. I like to try and prevent things from happening instead of dealing with it when it's happened and out of control. My youngest child's eye sight changing was caught during one of his yearly physicals.
The only immunization required after K in most states is Tdap, which is required in 6th or 7th grade in most states. Some states require the 2nd chickenpox and/or MMR dose in 6th or 7th, most require the second dose for kindergarten entry. A few states require Menactra (meningitis) for some time in middle school. Many states do vision testing in school as well. State Mandates on Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
A few states require Menactra (meningitis) for some time in middle school.
Yes, I forgot about this. When my daughter got the Tdap the doctor also recommended the meningitis vaccine. It was not required for school but she did get that one too.
While annual checks may be a little often, especially if there are no special health issues to track, that is a FAR cry from not coming in for EIGHT years. How about every 2 or 3 years? What exactly is your reason for not taking them in? As an adult you may not feel you need a checkup so often but kids are developing rapidly and you want to nip any issues in the bud.
I have to say, I am a little surprised by the general unanimity of the responses!
I do agree that it is important for the girls to go more often after a certain age. I don't have an annual physical myself, but I never miss my annual GYN appointment.
Why is it more important for girls? Maybe this is why it's so hard to get adult men to take care of themselves and get to the doctor unless they're dying! Because as kids, they rarely went in - apparently health wasn't a concern when young so they never learned.....
If your kids are healthy then I see no reason to abide by the yearly well checks. I don't think it's a big deal to skip them. I really like my doctor and she gives us a full hour for a well check. She is very thorough and she discusses child development, etc. With a doc like her, I now go every year. Before her we didn't go regularly.
Hmmmm...maybe they SEEM healthy because you're not trained in healthcare? The idea is to prevent problems before they become major. There's no respect for the medical profession these days...anything you need to know, just google it - why go to the doctor?
Where do you live that you don't need to get immunizations at age 12? In fact, our school district in NY required a well child check up before 4th grade.
your insurance company would not pay for them if they weren't important. In fact, it is required by law that your insurance company pay for them. Doesn't that send a message?
You aren't a bad parent, but it seem silly not to take advantage of this benefit. We have not gone every 12 months like clockwork, but we go.
While annual checks may be a little often, especially if there are no special health issues to track, that is a FAR cry from not coming in for EIGHT years. How about every 2 or 3 years? What exactly is your reason for not taking them in? As an adult you may not feel you need a checkup so often but kids are developing rapidly and you want to nip any issues in the bud.
Yes, eight years was a long time and I admit I was a little taken aback when I realized it had been that long. However, in my defense, it really did not occur to me, and it wasn't as though the pediatrician was sending me reminders and I was just ignoring them. It just kind of dropped off my radar.
My daughter was never sick. She was obviously growing at a healthy rate. There were no developmental or behavioral concerns. Honestly, the idea "I need to take her to the doctor, just because!" did not cross my mind.
ETA: I should add that she did see the dentist (and orthodontist) and eye doctor regularly during those years.
Last edited by saibot; 11-25-2014 at 06:44 PM..
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