Press Release

Your Child’s Health: What Parents Need on Their Back-to-School Checklist

Posted on by Ashley Guidry
Two-panel image: teal panel with a child-health back-to-school checklist and a logo on the left, plus a smiling girl with a backpack and books outdoors on the right.
05
Aug

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact:

Sandra Fernandez

sfernandez2@legacycommunityhealth.org

(713) 568-5604

 

Legacy Community Health encourages families to schedule annual wellness visits, required immunizations, and sports physicals before the school year begins

 

HOUSTON, TX (August 5, 2026) — As Houston and Galena Park -area families prepare for a new school year, Legacy Community Health is reminding parents that some of the most important back-to-school essentials can’t be found in the school supply aisle. Annual wellness visits, sports physicals, and required vaccinations help students start the year healthy, protected, and ready to learn.

“Parents spend weeks checking off backpacks, notebooks, and new clothes, but health should be at the top of every back-to-school checklist,” said Dr. Rubina Khan, Medical Director of Pediatrics at Legacy Community Health. “Annual checkups and recommended vaccines help ensure children are healthy, protected, and prepared to succeed both in the classroom and beyond.”

A well-child visit allows pediatric providers to monitor a child’s growth and development, review important health milestones, and discuss nutrition, sleep habits, and behavioral health concerns. These visits can help identify health issues early and ensure children are up to date on recommended immunizations before the school year begins.

Vaccines Remain Essential for School Readiness

The Texas Department of State Health Services requires students to meet specific immunization requirements before attending school.

Required vaccines vary by age and grade level and include:

  • Kindergarten Entry: MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), DTaP, Polio, Varicella, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B
  • Middle School: Tdap booster and Meningococcal vaccine
  • College-Bound Students: Proof of a Meningococcal vaccination administered within the required timeframe before enrollment

Recent measles outbreaks across the United States have served as a reminder of the importance of staying up to date on recommended immunizations. Families are encouraged to review their child’s vaccination records and schedule any needed vaccines before classes begin.

“Vaccines don’t just protect one person at a time. They help protect classrooms, teams, families, and entire communities,” Dr. Khan said. “Back-to-school appointments are an excellent time for families to catch up on missing vaccines and discuss additional protections like flu vaccinations with their healthcare provider.”

Annual Wellness Visits and Sports Physicals: What’s the Difference?

Annual wellness visits and sports physicals, including back-to-school physicals required for student activities, help students start the year healthy and ready to learn. Many parents assume a sports physical replaces an annual wellness exam, but healthcare providers say the two serve different purposes.

Annual Wellness Visit

  • Comprehensive assessment of a child’s overall health and development
  • Growth and developmental screenings
  • Immunization review and updates
  • Nutrition, sleep, and mental health discussions

Sports Physical

  • Evaluates a child’s readiness for athletic participation
  • Screens for conditions that could affect participation in sports and physical activities
  • Focuses on musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health
  • Often required by Texas schools and athletic programs before participation

For busy families, annual wellness visits and sports physicals can often be completed during the same appointment.

“Whether a student is preparing for football season, marching band, cheer, volleyball, or another activity, a sports physical helps ensure they’re ready to participate safely,” Dr. Khan said. “Scheduling both exams before school starts can save families time and help avoid last-minute enrollment or participation delays.”

Starting the School Year Strong

Beyond checkups and vaccinations, healthcare providers encourage families to establish healthy routines before the first day of school. Healthy habits can help students adjust more easily and support their physical, mental, and academic well-being throughout the year:

  • Returning to regular sleep schedules
  • Prioritizing nutritious meals
  • Limiting recreational screen time
  • Staying physically active
  • Scheduling vision and hearing screenings
  • Updating medication and emergency action plans with school nurses

“A successful school year starts with healthy habits at home,” Dr. Khan said. “Simple steps like reestablishing bedtime routines, making time for physical activity, and addressing vision or hearing concerns can help students feel their best and be ready to learn.”

By addressing these needs before the first day of school, families can help students stay focused, engaged, and healthy throughout the academic year.

Making Preventive Care Accessible Across Greater Houston

Access to healthcare can be challenging for families, especially during the busy back-to-school season. Through its School-Based Health Care program, Legacy Community Health has partnered with school districts and charter schools for more than a decade to bring healthcare directly to students.

Legacy operates 39 school-based clinics across Greater Houston and Galena Park, including partnerships with YES Prep, KIPP, and Galena Park ISD. These clinics provide convenient access to:

  • Wellness visits
  • Vaccinations
  • Sports physicals
  • Behavioral health services

“School-based healthcare helps remove barriers that often prevent children from receiving care,” said Stephanie Ramirez, Vice President of School-Based Health Clinics. “By bringing services closer to students, we’re reducing missed class time, transportation challenges, and the need for parents to miss work.”

Families interested in scheduling a back-to-school appointment can visit www.legacycommunityhealth.org or contact their nearest Legacy clinic.

 

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About Legacy Community Health

Legacy Community Health is a full-service health care system comprised of more than 60 locations in the Texas Gulf Coast region offering primary and specialty care, as well as pharmacy services. For over 40 years, Legacy has been innovating the ways we provide comprehensive, quality health care services to individuals, families, and communities in need. As the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Texas and a United Way-affiliated agency since 1990, Legacy ensures its services and programs are open to all, regardless of the ability to pay—without judgment or exception. To learn more, visit www.legacycommunityhealth.org.