The Fidelis Care Blog

Fidelis Care is encouraging parents and caregivers to schedule well child visits and to keep their children up to date with required immunizations ahead of the 2024-25 school year. To help spread the word, Fidelis Care has partnered statewide with organizations such as the Erie County Department of Health, Fulton County Public Health,  Monroe County Department of Public Health,  Madison County Health Department, the Batavia City School District, Allegany County Department of Health, Monroe County Medical Society, and New York State PTA, among others.

Parents and caregivers can take advantage of the time away from school to schedule children’s annual well care visits because doctor’s offices often schedule out weeks or months in advance. This ensures they are ready for the academic year ahead.

“Annual well child visits play a vital role in ensuring the health and well-being of children and should never be overlooked, especially heading into a new school year,” said pediatrician Dr. Lisa Moreno, Fidelis Care Medical Director. “These exams provide a thorough evaluation of your child’s overall health and allow pediatricians to closely monitor children’s growth and development from birth to adolescence. Through regular physical examinations, vaccinations, and screenings, pediatricians can address concerns and ensure children’s best chance for a healthy future.”

Well child visits can vary based upon a child’s age and healthcare needs. A typical well child visit includes a physical examination, developmental assessment, vision and hearing screening, and immunizations.

“Well child visits are an important way for pediatricians to check on a child’s physical development and to address any parents’ and caregivers’ concerns about their child’s growth and what to expect,” said Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “Diseases like measles, mumps, polio, and chickenpox used to quite frequently cause severe disease, lifelong complications, and even death. These are now very rarely seen – all because of widespread, safe, and effective immunization campaigns that have prevented illness in generations of children and their families.”

New York State requires certain immunizations for school attendance. Children who do not have required immunizations may miss school or daycare, causing a loss of learning time and disruptions to family schedules. Children who miss vaccines can also be at risk for illnesses and can put others in their household at risk.

Children’s annual well visits are covered for Fidelis Care members. To learn more about Child Health Plus and other health insurance options for children, visit www.fideliscare.org/CHPlus or call 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547), TTY: 711.