Students must have physicals to play fall sports
By Mark Hebert
June 20, 2023 - For Erik Brice, it was an easy decision. His family of seven had recently lost its health insurance and his kids needed vaccinations or physicals so they could play school sports this fall. When Brice learned Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) was offering free sports physicals and immunizations at Marion C. Moore High School, he and his wife got three of their children in the car and headed to Moore.
“What they’re providing here really helps our family,” Brice said. “It’s an opportunity for all families who need a little help getting the care they need.”
The June 16th clinic at Moore was the last of 10 offered at JCPS schools during the month of June. A local non-profit group, Doctors for Healthy Communities, provided staffing support at the events, which featured full physicals for students planning to play fall sports. Vision, ear, blood pressure, heart, height and weight checks were among the stations set up in Moore’s gym. For some parents the free clinics were a far better option than trying to schedule an appointment with a doctor’s office before practices start in August.
“My son loves wrestling and he needed a physical,” said Lily Hernandez. “Instead of going to the doctor’s office we can come here with no copay!”
The clinic at Moore brought in more than 80 children for physicals, including virtually the entire Moore girls volleyball team.
“We talk about students having access to extracurricular activities to give them a better sense of belonging,” said Dr. Eva Stone, manager of JCPS Health Services. “This is one way we can do that - by keeping them healthy and helping ensure they’re eligible to participate in sports.”
While nurses and doctors performed physical exams on one side of the gym, health care providers were also giving vaccinations on the other side. Stone said there are about 20,000 thousand JCPS students who are not up-to-date on their vaccines, many of which are required to attend school. Brice’s youngest son is entering kindergarten in August and needed two immunizations. The five-year-old held his brother’s hand and winced as a nurse stuck a needle in his arm.
“This is a good thing JCPS is doing for families,” Brice said.
Since the clinics began on June 5th, 635 students received sports physicals and health care professionals gave 383 vaccinations.