The COVID-19 pandemic caused a lot of parents to cancel well-child visits, and, as a result, many children missed routine vaccinations. 

The good news is that the trend is reversing as the pandemic recedes. The World Health Organization says the number of children missing out on vaccinations is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.

“We have really seen families getting right back into it, and now we are trying to determine, who is behind on immunizations? Who is behind on well visits?” says family physician Mindy Lacey, MD. “We are following up with patients to find out how to get everyone back on track.”

Missing routine vaccines puts children at risk for preventable illnesses like measles, mumps, polio, whooping cough and tetanus. These diseases have been largely wiped out in the U.S. But in recent years, the unthinkable happened; unvaccinated children caught these preventable diseases.

"It's important to keep your kids on track and to see your provider routinely," says Dr. Lacey. "Many of the vaccines we give in childhood are series. That means they have two or three shots in the series. So not coming in puts us behind for the future doses."

What are well-child visits, and why are they important?

While staying up to date on immunizations is important, well-child visits aren't just about shots. During the 20- to 30-minute appointment, your provider will:

• Perform a thorough physical examination
• Check height and weight to make sure your child is growing appropriately
• Assess your child’s development
• Discuss nutrition and exercise
• Check eyesight
• Review any recent illnesses
• Share information on what can be expected at each age level
• Answer any questions you may have about your child’s health, development and well-being

These preventive visits are important because they help your provider assess your child’s needs, support their growth and development identify issues, and intervene if necessary. 

“By seeing kids every year, if there are issues that arise, we can catch them early on and prevent longer-term consequences as they grow,” Dr. Lacey says.

When are well-child visits recommended?

Well-child visits are recommended at the following ages:

• Two weeks
• Two months
• Four months
• Six months
• Nine months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• Annually, between the ages of two and 21