The School Term Is Starting. What Else Should Be on Your Health Checklist?

The uniforms are ready, the books are labelled, and the school calendar is filling up. But as families prepare for a new school term, there is one thing that can easily be overlooked: your child’s vaccination record.

Back-to-school season is a good opportunity to check whether your child’s vaccinations are up to date, especially if a clinic appointment was missed during the year.

Start with the vaccination record

Between school, work, travel and everyday family life, vaccination appointments can sometimes get missed. If that has happened, don’t assume it is too late.

Catch-up vaccination helps children and adults who have missed or delayed recommended vaccines. A healthcare professional can review your child’s vaccination history and advise on what may still be needed.

While you’re checking the record, it is also worth knowing what to expect after vaccination. Some children may experience temporary reactions such as mild fever, shivering, or pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. These usually settle within a short period.

For babies, some vaccine options incorporate side-effect management considerations aimed at reducing discomfort such as pain and fever. If you are concerned about a reaction, speak to your healthcare professional.

And what about the rest of the family?

Vaccination isn’t only a childhood conversation.

Adults may also need vaccines depending on their age, previous vaccination history, health, lifestyle and risk of exposure. Protection can change over time, and some people may need additional or booster vaccinations.

This can be particularly relevant for older adults and people living with certain chronic conditions.

So, while you’re checking your child’s vaccination record, ask yourself:

When was the last time I checked mine?

If you’re travelling, add one more check

For families travelling during the school holidays, vaccination may also need to be part of the travel checklist.

Some destinations have specific vaccination requirements, while others may expose travellers to diseases that are less common at home. Depending on the destination and individual circumstances, travellers may be advised to consider vaccines such as yellow fever, typhoid, meningococcal, influenza or rabies.

Checking these requirements early can help avoid last-minute surprises.

A simple check before school starts

Before the new term gets too busy:

• Find your family’s vaccination records.

• Check whether any recommended vaccines have been missed.

• Ask about catch-up vaccination if needed.

• Consider whether your own vaccinations are up to date.

• If you’re travelling, check whether additional vaccination is recommended or required.

At AAR Healthcare outpatient centres across the country, vaccination services can be tailored to individual or group needs and risk profiles, including childhood, catch-up, adult, chronic-care and travel vaccination.