KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Doctors at the Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center in Kansas City, Missouri, say parents should make an appointment for standard back to school check-ups and immunizations sooner rather than later.
Many districts are still finalizing what school will look like in the fall. Doctors worry if parents wait to get those plans, there may not be enough time to schedule appointments for all children before the start of the school year.
“We don’t want the kids to be behind on their immunizations. To me that’s a really scary thought,” explained Dr. Toni Zink, a family physician at Samuel U. Rodgers.
Because of social distancing guidelines in effect to prevent the spread of COVID-19, clinics do not want large groups of people in waiting rooms at once.
Zink said her clinic and others are putting several precautions in place to ensure safety for everyone who comes in for an appointment.
A staff member asks patients a series of questions about symptoms and takes their temperatures. Everyone is required to wear a face mask. Staff members use a fog machine to disinfect common areas. They wipe off door handles throughout the day and clean exam rooms between patients.
“We want parents to be proactive and start coming in now for those well exams. That’s why we have so many things in place to keep everybody safe in this clinic,” Zink said.
She doesn’t want people to put their health on the back burner during the pandemic, especially people with chronic medical issues like asthma and diabetes.
She said immunizations and wellness exams are good practices, even if school doesn’t return to its traditional setting.
“As adults, when we get sick, we muster up, we take care of ourselves, but it’s really hard when your little one gets sick,” Zink pointed out.
The Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center encourages people to make appointments so staff members can maintain social distancing practices.
