Not an option in Florida. Not sure what state you live but even private schools here require a visit before school starts. My daughter is in a private school and there’s no way around this, we never go otherwise and would never go voluntarily. Home school would be the only way to avoid entirely.
Not an option in Florida. Not sure what state you live but even private schools here require a visit before school starts. My daughter is in a private school and there’s no way around this, we never go otherwise and would never go voluntarily. Home school would be the only way to avoid entirely.
You don’t have to see a pediatrician. See a family doctor who is respectful of your views, then you’re on record as seeing a doctor but avoid all the pitfalls of those pediatric “well” checks.
At this age (9) it is not the pediatrician requiring us to come. we don’t go for well visits. We go once a year only for the form required by the state of Florida department of health to attend each school year.
But there is no requirement to see a pediatrician. Any doctor is sufficient. We used a family doc for years but now only see a chiropractor. My kids (all teens now) have never seen a pediatrician once.
Lily - I found this from the Florida Dept. of Health stating the health exam is ONLY for the initial entry into a Florida school (NOT needed annually). I'm hoping this is correct - would love to see where the state of Florida requires an annual health exam - if so, what a crock! "Students in grades prekindergarten through twelfth grade who are making their initial entry into a Florida school must present a record of a school entry health examination completed within one year before enrollment." https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/childrens-health/school-health/enrollment.html
I live in SO FL and use a chiroprator for the wellness and sports check up requirements. Back in 2019 Pediactric Associates refused to accept unvaxxed children even though we had been taking them there since the 90s.
I got religious vax exemptions from the local health dept for them too and it was pretty simple.
I’m in FL. We went to “well child” visits but I found an integrative pediatric practice and they didn’t push the vaccines the way they are normally pushed. They even made a video on their website years ago that they didn’t push flu shots the way cdc does but I think they removed it. They offer them at every visit and recommend them but they work with the patient, if someone wants to spread them out, get only certain ones or not to get at all. I’m not sure how they are now, we haven’t gone in a long time. It was Miami Beach Pediatrics. Dr. Bruce Eisenberg. What I can say is they respect your decision, this was my experience with them. I think the best thing to do is to find a provider that’s not a complete zealot when it comes to this issue
Yup. School sends out an email in June saying, the Florida Dept of Health requires a Florida School Entry Health Exam every year and preferably should be submitted by august 1 before school starts Aug 21. Also it says must have a current Immunization form on file or an exemption form.
This must be new in last 4 years. I taught in FL for 30 years and raised 5 kids in public school. They have never required a yearly physical. They do require shot records.
They are pushing their control too far!!! So glad I'm retired and my kids are grown.
Had to do a little research on this. Florida's Health Department said:
The state of Florida only requires school physicals for the initial enrollment into a Florida school; however, we recommend that your child receive well checks annually, even if your child appears completely healthy.
If your district is requiring it, they are overreaching state requirements.
It is a waste of time for my healthy happy child, that’s for sure! they call it a health exam. And all the schools require that particular health exam form to be signed by the doctor. I guess it could potentially help children in abusive homes , or who are malnourished, who would otherwise fly under the radar, to get the attention and help they need.
“or an exemption form”...hopefully that means exemptions are readily available there? I know in our red state it was very easy to obtain an exemption based simply on “philosophical” grounds- just a phone call to the state dept of health in our capitol city and then submitting the exemption form to the school nurse. Each year, everyone I talked to or dealt with was incredibly laid back and friendly about it - no questions or attitude whatsoever, I don’t think they thought anything of it at all? This was many years before covid but I’m hoping the same is true today for parents here who choose to opt out. I wish you the best!
Not an option in Florida. Not sure what state you live but even private schools here require a visit before school starts. My daughter is in a private school and there’s no way around this, we never go otherwise and would never go voluntarily. Home school would be the only way to avoid entirely.
You don’t have to see a pediatrician. See a family doctor who is respectful of your views, then you’re on record as seeing a doctor but avoid all the pitfalls of those pediatric “well” checks.
At this age (9) it is not the pediatrician requiring us to come. we don’t go for well visits. We go once a year only for the form required by the state of Florida department of health to attend each school year.
But there is no requirement to see a pediatrician. Any doctor is sufficient. We used a family doc for years but now only see a chiropractor. My kids (all teens now) have never seen a pediatrician once.
Lily - I found this from the Florida Dept. of Health stating the health exam is ONLY for the initial entry into a Florida school (NOT needed annually). I'm hoping this is correct - would love to see where the state of Florida requires an annual health exam - if so, what a crock! "Students in grades prekindergarten through twelfth grade who are making their initial entry into a Florida school must present a record of a school entry health examination completed within one year before enrollment." https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/childrens-health/school-health/enrollment.html
Florida requires a form annually?! Or just at kindergarten?!
I live in SO FL and use a chiroprator for the wellness and sports check up requirements. Back in 2019 Pediactric Associates refused to accept unvaxxed children even though we had been taking them there since the 90s.
I got religious vax exemptions from the local health dept for them too and it was pretty simple.
I’m in FL. We went to “well child” visits but I found an integrative pediatric practice and they didn’t push the vaccines the way they are normally pushed. They even made a video on their website years ago that they didn’t push flu shots the way cdc does but I think they removed it. They offer them at every visit and recommend them but they work with the patient, if someone wants to spread them out, get only certain ones or not to get at all. I’m not sure how they are now, we haven’t gone in a long time. It was Miami Beach Pediatrics. Dr. Bruce Eisenberg. What I can say is they respect your decision, this was my experience with them. I think the best thing to do is to find a provider that’s not a complete zealot when it comes to this issue
Wait, you’re forced to go to the doctor?
One of the many intrastate problems that Governor DeSantis is too busy (now) to address.
Nailed it 🎯
Yup. School sends out an email in June saying, the Florida Dept of Health requires a Florida School Entry Health Exam every year and preferably should be submitted by august 1 before school starts Aug 21. Also it says must have a current Immunization form on file or an exemption form.
Well I think Jeff needs to look into that. I believe that’s unconstitutional!
This must be new in last 4 years. I taught in FL for 30 years and raised 5 kids in public school. They have never required a yearly physical. They do require shot records.
They are pushing their control too far!!! So glad I'm retired and my kids are grown.
Had to do a little research on this. Florida's Health Department said:
The state of Florida only requires school physicals for the initial enrollment into a Florida school; however, we recommend that your child receive well checks annually, even if your child appears completely healthy.
If your district is requiring it, they are overreaching state requirements.
It is a waste of time for my healthy happy child, that’s for sure! they call it a health exam. And all the schools require that particular health exam form to be signed by the doctor. I guess it could potentially help children in abusive homes , or who are malnourished, who would otherwise fly under the radar, to get the attention and help they need.
“or an exemption form”...hopefully that means exemptions are readily available there? I know in our red state it was very easy to obtain an exemption based simply on “philosophical” grounds- just a phone call to the state dept of health in our capitol city and then submitting the exemption form to the school nurse. Each year, everyone I talked to or dealt with was incredibly laid back and friendly about it - no questions or attitude whatsoever, I don’t think they thought anything of it at all? This was many years before covid but I’m hoping the same is true today for parents here who choose to opt out. I wish you the best!
It really should be an opt in system not opt out. I don’t like when you have to jump through hoops to be “allowed” to disagree with the state.
And the state pays for this mandatory examination?