Back to School Checkups with Dr. Kevin Carter

Every year parents are given a long list of things to do and supplies to buy to start off the school year. Although it may not be on the list sent by the school, a back-to-school checkup should be part of your child's annual routine. Dr. Kevin Carter, family physician for GBMC at Owings Mills, and Magic 95.9 multi-media personality April Watts address your questions about back-to-school checkups and what children must have before the school year begins to keep them healthy.

Parents often ask why an annual checkup is necessary if their child isn't having any health problems. Dr. Carter says that the main goal of your child's back-to-school checkup is prevention; it's better to intercept a potential problem early than to have an emergency later. The appointment gives you the chance to address any concerns you may have with the doctor and it allows the doctor to make sure that your child's growth and development are on track. Annual checkups include tests such as vision and hearing screenings, blood pressure checks, and mental health evaluations, as well as vaccination updates.

In the past few years, there has been a growing concern about the safety of vaccines. Dr. Carter addressed this issue head on. When asked if vaccines were dangerous, he responded "quick, easy answer: no." Vaccines are not linked to autism and do not make you sick. They have a hugely positive effect on the health of you and those around you and are the reason that we no longer have to worry about many dangerous diseases like polio and smallpox. They also greatly reduce your likelihood of catching the flu, pneumonia, shingles, and other viruses. Parents have expressed apprehension about how many vaccines their children are getting, especially since the amount has increased substantially since their childhood. According to Dr. Carter, this is because:

"There have been so many medical advancements in recent years that we've been able to develop more. The vaccines that are given to your child have gone through such intensive research and trials to prove safety. Nothing is going to be on the standard, recommended schedule that isn't proven to be absolutely safe."

Dr. Carter and Ms. Watts also discussed when it's appropriate to keep your child home from school and answered live and pre-submitted questions about mental health in children, vaccines, and more.