It is more important now than ever to ensure that children are visiting their physicians for wellness visits and vaccinations.

Wellness visits and annual physicals are essential in ensuring that a child is reaching the appropriate milestones. A child’s medical team can spot any indication of developmental delays and underlying conditions that may otherwise be overlooked. These appointments are crucial because they allow a child’s physician to identify concerning matters early on and provide the necessary resources and tools to families.

Another significant consequence of missing these critical appointments is not receiving essential vaccinations. Ensuring kids are up to date on their immunizations is vital. As we face the greatest health crisis in over a century, it is important to avoid the possibility of another disease outbreak.

“It would be devastating if our children got through the crisis of coronavirus only to be hit with an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, like measles and whooping cough,” says Dr. David Soglin, La Rabida’s Chief Medical Officer.

To prevent these devastating infections from making a return, it is imperative that children receive the appropriate vaccinations. Annual physicals and wellness visits are the perfect opportunities to learn more about these vital immunizations.

La Rabida patients should continue to feel comfortable as they visit the hospital. Our staff continues to take the necessary precautions that ensure our families are in a safe environment, including pre-screening for illness, universal masking, careful hand hygiene, and limiting the number of people in the exam and waiting rooms.

At a time when public health is of utmost concern, it’s important to protect the wellbeing of our children. Maintaining these critical appointment schedules is the best way to do so.

This story was featured in the July 2020 issue of eCurrents, La Rabida's monthly newsletter. To view the July issue of eCurrents, click here.