As students, families, and caregivers across the Commonwealth prepare for the start of a new school year, Massachusetts physicians are urging all families to ensure that school-aged children are up to date on required and recommended vaccines and boosters, including those that reduce the spread and severity of pertussis, Covid-19 and influenza. The recent surge of Covid-19, evidenced by wastewater surveillance and community reporting, underscores the importance of discussing with your child’s trusted health care provider Covid-19 vaccines and boosters.
Families and caregivers can help in reducing the spread of germs and illness by keeping children home when they are ill and encouraging frequent handwashing and etiquette when a child has a respiratory illness.
In addition, a child can increase their chances of staying healthy by, when possible, establishing a healthy school-day routine, including optimizing the availability of healthy foods, taking part in physical activity, getting plenty of rest, and limiting time spent on social media and electronic devices.
While back to school is met with excitement and anticipation by many students, it is important for parents to be cognizant of and talk about overall mental health and anxiety that can affect some students as they transition into a new routine. If families and caregivers detect a heightened or concerning level of anxiety and stress in their child, we recommend as a first step communicating with appropriate school staff to investigate these concerns.
Please be sure to schedule and attend well visits and, if needed, sports physicals, with your child’s health care team and if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s physical, mental, or emotional health, please contact your provider as soon as possible. We wish the best for a successful, safe and fun academic year for all students, families and school staff.
-Hugh Taylor, MD, President, Massachusetts Medical Society
-Ronald N. Adler, MD, FAAFP, president, Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians
-Brenda Anders Pring, MD, FAAP, president, Massachusetts Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics
