Back to school season is a good time to schedule a well-child checkup to ensure your child’s physical and mental health.
“Well-child” visits focus on developmental milestones, and present an opportunity for a comprehensive evaluation and discussion about the child’s wellbeing. They’re also a great time to complete medical forms required for some school activities and athletics, and receive needed immunizations to help protect them from infectious diseases, including measles, which is circulating nationwide and in some Colorado counties.
State law requires all students attending Colorado schools and licensed childcares to be vaccinated against certain diseases, unless an exemption is filed. Required vaccines for K-12 students include:
• Hepatitis B (HepB).
• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP)*
• Inactivated poliovirus (IPV)*
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)*
• Varicella (chickenpox)*
• Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap)**
*Students 4 through 6 years of age are required to have their final doses of DTaP, IPV, MMR and Varicella prior to kindergarten entry.
**Students are required to have Tdap prior to entry into 6th grade. One dose of Tdap is required for 6th through 12th grades.
These can all be scheduled through your pediatrician or primary care provider at Intermountain Health. Our caregivers are happy to talk through concerns and questions about your child’s development or vaccines, and ultimately provide parents with good information so they can make the best decisions for their child. Well-child visits are comprehensive and include:
• Physical exams
• Developmental assessments
• Relevant screenings for the child’s age, such as mental health, vision, and blood pressure
• Immunizations as needed
• Health and safety discussions
• Nutrition and physical fitness discussions
• General advice for now and the future
With the recent reports of Colorado measles cases (16 reported cases in 2025), staying current on immunizations is especially important, and the best way to protect children and families from this and other diseases like whooping cough, chicken pox, and other illnesses.
Measles is not just a mild rash; it is a serious illness and very contagious. It can also have serious complications, especially for babies and young children. The vaccine is very effective in preventing measles and is very safe. Families are encouraged to contact their child’s healthcare provider to find out what preventive care is needed for them.
If you need to find a primary care provider visit Wheat Ridge Clinic at: intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/wheat-ridge-clinic
Dr. Brian T. Gablehouse, Pediatrician, Peak Pediatrics, MD
