Before your child heads back to school, take the time now to make sure the entire family is up-to-date on shots and screenings. Ask your doctor about the following:

Immunizations (shots)

Immunizations protect you and your family from getting and spreading serious diseases. Ask your doctor if you and your family are up to date on these shots:

• Influenza helps protect against the flu.
• Hepatitis B protects against a liver disease that could be deadly.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) protects against HPV, a very common virus spread through sexual contact. Some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer.
• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
• Pneumococcal protects against pneumococcal pneumonia, a lung infection that can be deadly.
• Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster protects against diphtheria, a bacterial infection that can be deadly; lockjaw, a jaw disorder; and whooping cough.
• Varicella protects against chickenpox, which can be deadly in adults.

Lead poisoning screening

Testing for lead poisoning is important since kids with lead poisoning may not look or act sick. Only a simple blood test can tell for sure. You can get a $10 prepaid Visa® card just for having a free lead poisoning test. Simply schedule the test with your child’s doctor and go to the appointment before your child’s second birthday, and we’ll mail you a $10 prepaid Visa® gift card.

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