Summer is flying by, and back-to-school season is nearly here. Alexandria Health Department (AHD) encourages families to schedule doctor’s appointments now to set kids up for a healthy school year.

What’s Required

Children entering public kindergarten in Alexandria must receive a school physical. Many preschool programs also require a physical.

At a physical, your child’s healthcare provider will check their height, weight, blood pressure, and, sometimes, their vision and hearing. They will also review your child’s medical history to see if they need vaccines or any other health services.  

Vaccines are required to enter kindergarten, seventh, and 12th grade at schools and daycares across Alexandria. Virginia’s vaccine requirements and more information about vaccine safety are posted on the Virginia Department of Health's website.

Finally, sports physicals are required to participate in many athletic programs. Sports physicals can usually be done during a wellness visit, and they are done by providers to make sure your child can play safely.

For all of these required visits, you should ask for a record after your appointment to share with your child’s school, daycare, or sports program.

Where to Go

The best place for routine checkups, required vaccines, and sports physicals is your child’s primary care provider. Appointments fill up quickly in late summer, so book now!

If you do not have a primary care provider, Alexandria Health Department can help connect families to care:

• Vaccines are available at pharmacies throughout Alexandria. AHD also provides vaccines for all ages at our Main Clinic and for ages 12–19 at our Teen Wellness Center clinics. Visit www.alexandriava.gov/Vaccines for details.
• Sports physicals are available for Alexandria youth ages 12–19 through the Teen Wellness Center clinics. Visit www.alexandriava.gov/TeenWellnessCenter for more information.
• AHD does not offer primary care, but we can help families find providers nearby. Call 703.746.4988 during normal business hours to speak with AHD staff about local options.

Health Reminders

As we approach the 2026 school year, AHD Director Dr. David Rose highlights these important reminders:

• Don’t skip vaccines. We are currently seeing a measles outbreak in Virginia with over 150 cases, and Alexandria has seen a rise in other vaccine-preventable diseases in recent years. Vaccines are the safest and most reliable way to keep kids healthy, learning, and growing strong.
• Take care of mental health. Young people ages 12–19 can receive free mental health screening and support at Alexandria’s Teen Wellness Center. Families with questions about mental health should talk to a healthcare provider.  
• Remember the basics. Little things like handwashing and staying home while sick can curb many of the germs we see in schools. As the year begins, make sure everyone in your family has these personal health habits down.

For more information, call Alexandria Health Department at 703.746.4988 or visit www.alexandriava.gov/Health.

If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you, please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.3960. 

For media inquiries only, please contact Eve Elliott at eve.elliott@vdh.virginia.gov or call 804.467.5160.