Vaccines

[Anonymous]

Sorry for this sloghtly off-topic question but it is nebertheless related to schooling.
We are moving from France to VA this summer and my son will start K in a apublic school. I found online the VA health requirements form and I see that we need some extra immunizations to enter the school.
Do you recommend that I get this done in France before we move?
We will arrive in VA in August, is it easy to find a Dr and make an appointment? (I know nothing about the health system there, luckily medical expenses will be 100% reimbursed by my husband's employer)
Are the schools very strict, or would they not let us start school at all?
Thank you

[Anonymous]

the schools are very strict and they won't let you start school without the health form - and the health form needs the vaccines. Once you get here make it a priority to get an appt. right away. Having the form filled out here is probably easiest and you can drop it off when you go to the school to register.

[Anonymous]

It should be easy to get done here. If you can't get into a doctor right away, you can get them done at a walk in clinic or health department.

[Anonymous]

If it is easier to get them done in France, then do it. You are required to provide proof of shots before they will enroll your child in schools.

I don't know about the health department but there seems to be a line of people waiting to be seen whenever I pass by the office. I believe they do vaccines at those "minute" (CVS/Safeway etc.) or "acute" care clinics.

[Anonymous]

If you tell us where in VA you will be living, we can give you some pediatrician recommendations. You can probably even make an appointment now by email for August.

The only reason I would recommend doing it in VA is that the doctors here are very familiar with those forms and can do them with their eyes shut. That way you won't have any concern that your doctor missed something.

Unrelated advice--when you arrive to register for school, make sure you get the school supply list and shop for that stuff as soon as possible--the "back to school" sales start in July. The lists are often very specific and if you wait until the last minute you'll end up digging through the bins at Target frantically searching for "10 count medium tip classic color Crayola markers" or whatever. Also, at least at our school, we bring all those supplies in on "back to school" day before school starts. Usually this is the week before school starts--you can go in, meet your teachers, see your classroom and drop off your supplies.

[Anonymous]

ja, mir ist gerade was eingefallen. einkaufsgutschein für usa einrichtung. schicke email rum. weis aber nicht ob machbar. danke für bild. ig

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for all your comments.
The school is Mount Daniel in Falls Church. I believe they organise formthe supplies to be bought online.
Paediatrician or clinic recommendation would be very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Northern VA pediatrics in Falls Church City.
We love all the doctors we've seen.

Our school also has the option to order school supplies online, but the deadlines have already passed. You might want to look into that before you count on it. Most school supply items can be bought in a single trip to Staples or Target. I wouldn't worry too much about the supplies.

[Anonymous]

Sleepy Hollow Pediatrics in Falls Church is also great. You'll need to call soon to stand a chance of geting an August appointment.

Here are Falls Church city school physical exam/vaccine requirements for those enrolling, including those moving from abroad:
http://www.fccps.org/board/policies/9/9_17_1R.pdf

Here's the school entrance health form:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/school_entrance_form/school_entrance_form.pdf

You can purchase school supplies online. The price is a bit higher than if you shop the sales, but it's worth it for the convenience. The supplies are delivered to your child's classroom:
http://www.edukitinc.com/page.asp?id=15&schoolid=982

Welcome to the area!

[Anonymous]

+1 for Northern VA Pediatrics in Falls Church. You do need to call and make an appt for this now. While they are great at getting your child in when they are sick, "well" visit appts fill up fast espcially at back to school time.

[Anonymous]

OP again
I think I will get this done in France, at least the vaccines.
I have another son aged 2 1/2, and I may look for a prt-time day care for him, once I have arrived. I imagine there are also health requirements for him, but that form only is for K onwards. Is there another form?

[Anonymous]

Try to get it done in France! One less thing to worry about. And sometimes appointments with the doctor you want here can be booked up. It will just be easier to have it out of the way.
Have them document the vaccines in a trilingual immunization booklet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ja, mir ist gerade was eingefallen. einkaufsgutschein für usa einrichtung. schicke email rum. weis aber nicht ob machbar. danke für bild. ig

Viel Spass beim einkaufen!?

[Anonymous]

OP again sorry.
I will try tomget them done in France, but want to make an appointment with a paed in Falls Church just in case, and would cancel (with enough notice) if I don't need it. Today I called both Northern VA and Sleepy Hollow Paediatrics and neither take new patients until October.
Any other recommendations please?

[Anonymous]

Half of my son's shots were done in London, where we lived for a couple of years. They aren't on the same schedule so when we moved back here we had to (1) get DS caught up and (2) makes sure DS was properly credited for the vaccines he did overseas.

CMA Alexandria is not far from Falls Church - you could try them.

Make sure you get a complete copy of your child's vaccination and other medical records and bring with you. It usually takes pediatricians at least 4-5 days to fill out the forms, so drop it off early if you can't get an appointment until right before school starts.