Sharpen the Pencils, Roll Up the Sleeves—It’s Back-to-School Time!
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It’s almost the busiest time of the year… back to school! The start of a new school year can be stressful at times due to the extensive list of tasks that need to be completed before the first day. With all the excitement surrounding back-to-school shopping for clothes and supplies, it is easy to forget to add immunizations and sports physicals to the list.
If you have a student athlete that needs a physical or a child that is due for immunizations, you can schedule an appointment with a pediatric provider at Health Services of North Texas now.
Why Immunizations Matter
Whether you have a child entering kindergarten or high school, it is important to stay up to date on their immunizations. The 2025-2026 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements are the same as the 2024-2025 standards. To access the Texas vaccine requirements, click here.
It is important for children to get vaccinated because it helps protect them from diseases that can spread quickly in enclosed environments like schools and daycares.
“I highly recommend vaccines to prevent bad infectious diseases like whooping cough and measles for which there is no treatment, so prevention is key,” said HSNT Pediatrician Dr. Stephen A. Schulman.
While it’s completely understandable that parents have concerns when it comes to their child’s health, vaccines are safe and effective. Dr. Schulman addresses this by saying,
“The biggest concern I hear from parents regarding vaccines is the alleged link of vaccines to Autism. This has been thoroughly and completely disproven with multiple large studies, but this misinformation still persists. We cannot emphasize this enough. There is NO link between vaccines and Autism despite what is propounded on social media, which is very unfortunate.”
What to Bring to Your Child’s Vaccination Appointment
Please bring in any records of shots your child has received. If this is your child’s first time visiting with our pediatric providers, you may need to request additional information from their previous provider.
Your child is welcome to bring in a favorite toy, blanket, or any comforting object. Our pediatric team does their absolute best to minimize discomfort. Click here to learn more on how to help comfort your child during vaccinations.
Sports Physicals: What They Are and Why They’re Required
Students are typically required to have a sports physical conducted by a primary care provider before they can engage in school sports. The exam is to ensure that there aren’t any underlying health issues that could make intense physical activity a health risk for the student athlete. There are two components of the physical:
Medical history: The provider will ask questions about current or past medical problems you may have, allergies, medications that you may be on, family medical history, vaccine history, and more.
Physical exam: The provider will check the student’s height, weight, blood pressure, vision, heart, and lungs.
Dr. Schulman encourages parents to schedule school sports physicals as early as possible, saying “It can be difficult for students to get their physicals scheduled due to the sheer volume of requests as the start date for school gets closer.”
Be Prepared: What to Bring to Your Sports Physical
You will typically need to bring some documentation of your child’s medical history, a list of medications they’re taking, and glasses or contact lenses with prescriptions if they wear them. When you schedule your sports physical at Health Services of North Texas, you will receive a full list of what to bring.
Why Families Choose HSNT for Back-to-School Health Needs
At HSNT, our highly experienced team of compassionate and caring pediatric providers are always ready to support and serve families. They take the time to truly listen to you, understanding your needs and concerns.
Ready to get your vaccination or sports physical taken care of? Click here to schedule an appointment now with Health Services of North Texas.