Back-to-School Health Checklist

Immunizations, Physicals, and Prescriptions Before September

As summer winds down and school bells approach, a few clinic visits now can prevent weeks of missed class later. Here is your back-to-school health checklist for Ontario families, covering immunizations, physicals, prescriptions, and daily habits to lock in before September.

Back-to-School Health Checkist - The Key Takeaways

• Routine immunizations must be up-to-date according to local public health guidelines under Ontario's Immunization of School Pupils Act; incomplete records can result in suspension for up to 20 school days.

• Sports physicals are required for student-athletes before participation in school or club sports. Book in July or early August to avoid the last-minute rush.

• Renew asthma inhalers, EpiPens, and ADHD medications before the first day, and submit signed medical forms so teachers and staff have them on file.

• Annual checkups help ensure children are healthy for school by catching vision, hearing, growth, or developmental delays early.

• Book a back-to-school check-up at Eagles Landing Medical Centre now, before fall appointments fill up. View our full list of services at Eagles Landing Medical Centre.

  
  

Why Getting Ahead on Back-to-School Health Prep is Important in Ontario

When the school year begins in early September, kids return to in-person classes where cold and flu symptoms are common during the school year. Shared supplies, crowded hallways, and recess play all raise the risk of illness spreading quickly.

Ontario schools are not opposed to vaccines. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), the local Medical Officer of Health can order suspension from school if a child's immunization records are missing or incomplete. Preventive health measures reduce illness spread in schools, and a proactive back-to-school checklist saves parents from urgent visits and exclusion notices in September. August appointments at family practices across York Region and the GTA book up fast, making June through early August the ideal window for health checks, vaccines, and prescription renewals.

Ontario School Immunization Requirements - When's the Deadline?

School immunization requirements are different from province to province, so make sure you check what your school district needs. In Ontario, you'll need to get immunizations recorded with your local public health unit for school and daycare attendance. Check with your school district every year, as the schedule was updated in 2026.

Here's what you need to have done:

• DTaP-IPV (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio)- your child will need a booster dose between 4 and 6 years old

• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and varicella (chickenpox, for children born 2010 or later)

• Grade 7 vaccines: Tdap, meningitis, and HPV vaccines are required for older students (meningococcal Men-C-ACYW and hepatitis B, given at ages 11 to 12)

  
  

Some vaccines only count if your child gets them after a certain age, including the 4th, 11th, or 16th birthday. If your kid gets one and it's a week early, you might have to do it all over again.

Back-to-School Health Checklist

Your Annual Checkup and Sports Physical Countdown

Late summer's a great time to get a checkup, covering your kid's overall health from head to toe. A back-to-school visit should be checking growth, screening for vision concerns, discussing sleep and nutrition, and keeping an eye out for any signs of delays in development. And if you've got any worries about your kid's mental health as they head back to school, now's the time to talk it over with your primary care provider.

Schools and sports leagues will typically need a sports physical or some kind of pre-participation evaluation before tryouts. Under Ontario's Rowan's Law, your kid will need to get medical clearance from a healthcare provider before they can get back into action after a concussion.

Annual checkups and sports physicals can actually get done in one visit if you book in advance. Just bring the school or sports medical forms along and confirm you'll get them signed off before the first practice.

Book in now at Eagles Landing Medical Centre before the August slots disappear.

Handling Prescriptions, Allergies, and Chronic Conditions

Don't forget to get your child's prescription sorted before the first day, making sure their teachers know about any allergies or chronic conditions they've got. Getting your child ready for back to school means getting a head start on managing any chronic conditions like asthma, severe allergies, diabetes, seizures, and ADHD that require some planning before school starts in the fall.

First, review all prescriptions in August:

• Check the expiry dates on EpiPens and inhalers and replace any that are set to expire before December

• Check in with your child's doctor about getting a dosage adjustment if their weight or needs have changed over the summer

• Make sure you've got a fresh supply of ADHD medication that'll cover the first month without leaving any gaps

  
  

Allergic reactions can cause sneezing, hives, or mild swelling, so updated anaphylaxis and asthma action plans, signed by a physician or nurse practitioner, are required by Ontario's PPM 161 policy. Management plans for chronic conditions should be updated with the school nurse. Emergency contact and medical information should be current with the school before the first day. Many schools require specific forms for any medication stored or administered on site. Request these early and bring them to your visit for completion.

If your child's been diagnosed with something new over the summer like a food allergy, migraines, or a learning difference, let the teachers and other school staff know about it before September so they can start making any necessary changes and accommodations.

Beyond Clinic Visits: Boosting Your Child's Health Habits

There's a lot more to getting ready for school than just doctor visits. Building some healthy habits into your daily routine can make all the difference in keeping your kids in class and out of the doctor's office.

Hand washing: One of the simplest ways to prevent the spread of infections in schools is just to get your kids into the habit of washing their hands regularly. Teach them to use soap and water for at least 20 seconds after they use the bathroom, before they eat, after they've been outside playing, and after they cough or sneeze. Younger kids who are starting kindergarten may need to learn how to use hand sanitizer when they can't get to a sink, making sure it's the kind with at least 60% alcohol in it.

Sleep: Kids need a lot of sleep, between 9 and 12 hours a night, depending on how old they are. Start getting your children used to going to bed a little bit earlier a couple of weeks before school starts. You can do this by moving bedtime up by 15 minutes every few days until you get to the right time. Try to get them in the habit of going to bed at the same time every night, and limit screen time in the hour before bed. Getting enough sleep is the foundation of good physical health, concentration, and overall well-being.

Nutrition: What you feed your kids can make a huge difference in how well they do in school. Try to get whole grains, fruits, and vegetables into their lunches, and add a protein source in there too. And don't forget a refillable water bottle to keep them hydrated all day long.

Mental Health: School can be stressful for some kids, especially if they're anxious. Try to talk to your child about what to expect when they go back to school, and if they're really worried, you might want to think about taking them for a visit to the school before classes start. If anxiety is affecting their sleep or appetite for more than a couple of weeks, it might be a good idea to get some professional help.

Planning Ahead: Avoiding the Late-August and September Rush

All too often, families leave physicals and immunizations until the last minute, when clinics are at their busiest. Having a health checklist can help you spot any health issues that need to be dealt with before school starts, so why not start one now?

Write down all the things you need to check off on your checklist, like whether or not your child's up to date on their vaccines, if you've got a physical scheduled and if you've got all the necessary medical forms filled out and handed in to the school. Then get all that taken care of well before the first day of school.

Some of the vaccines that kids need come in multiple doses that have to be spaced out over a few weeks, so it's a good idea to get those appointments booked in early. And if you've got more than one child, why not book all their appointments on the same day? That way you can get them all done and dusted in one go.

Regular physical activity is really important for kids, and if your kid wants to play sports at school, you'll need to get a doctor's note saying that's okay. So use your back-to-school visit to have that conversation with your provider. Suffering from allergies this season? Learn more about outdoor activites and allergy management in Vaughan.

Eagles Landing Medical Centre offers dedicated back-to-school appointment blocks and reminder systems for parents. Book your family's back-to-school visit now before the back-to-school season rush hits.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I get my child in for their back-to-school check-up in Ontario?

The best time to do it really is in late June or early July. That gives you a good four or six weeks before school starts to get all the vaccinations and meds sorted out and all the necessary forms filled out. Don't leave it till the last minute. You'll probably find that clinics are at their busiest then, and it could all get a bit of a rush.

What should I bring with me to my child's back-to-school health appointment?

Make sure to bring their Ontario health card, their immunization record, and any medical forms they need to have filled out for school. A list of any medications they're taking, along with the dosage, and any action plans for asthma or allergies will also come in handy. And if there's anything else on your mind, like how well they're sleeping or if they're having any problems with their vision, now's the time to mention it to the doctor.

Can my child get all the necessary school vaccinations at Eagles Landing Medical Centre?

Family practices and clinics are where you can get most of the routine childhood and adolescent vaccines covered by Ontario's public health plan. Before booking an appointment, do some digging to find out what vaccines are available and how their records will get sent to your local health unit so that your kid's school files stay up to date. Getting your kid all their shots is probably the simplest way to give yourself a worry-free school year and help set them up for success.

Do Ontario schools let you opt out of vaccinations?

In Ontario, we can have medical and non-medical (because of religious or conscience beliefs) exemptions under the ISPA. For a medical exemption, a doctor or nurse practitioner has to put their name to it. Non-medical exemptions require you to sit in on an education session run by your local health unit. Kids who get exempted might still get suspended if there's an outbreak somewhere, so it's a good idea to talk to your doctor pretty early in the school year about what the risks are and what you need to do to get an exemption.

How do I know if my child is healthy enough to play school sports?

A sports physical examines heart function, lungs, joints, previous injuries, and overall fitness for ages ranging from elementary through high school. Disclose any history of chest pain, fainting, concussions, or family heart conditions. If your child starts playing a contact sport for the first time, a thorough evaluation at Eagles Landing Medical Centre gives both you and the coaching staff confidence that participation is safe.

Book a back-to-school check up