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As young children wait to become eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, doctors are shining a light on another concern.



Pediatricians say many kids aren't getting their regular wellness checks and routine childhood vaccinations.

By law, children are required to receive several types of age-appropriate vaccines, like measles, before being able to attend public school.

Doctors said the dip could be due to parents being afraid of contracting coronavirus in the doctor’s office or vaccine hesitancy.

If students show any COVID symptoms, from a cough, headache, sore throat or fever, many school districts, including Wake County, require a negative COVID test or visit to the doctor to confirm another diagnosis.

OPTIONAL ARE THE TWO YELLOW DISTRICTS. WAYNE AND HARNET COUNTIES. &gt;&gt;&gt; PARENTS, IF YOUR CHILD IS SENT HOME SICK FROM SCHOOL, EVEN IF IT'S NOT COVID, THEY'LL LIKELY NEED A DOCTOR'S VISIT, BEFORE THEY'RE ALLOWED BACK. 5 ON YOUR SIDE'S MONICA LALIBERTY LOOKS AT THE REST AS THE K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS HEAD BACK TO CLASS. &gt;&gt;&gt; MOST FAMILIES ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE RULE THAT KIDS HAVE TO BE FEVER-FREE FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE THEY CAN HEAD BACK TO CLASS. BUT THIS YEAR, COVID ADDED A NEW LAYER OF RULES THAT MANY PARENTS MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH. [ MUSIC ] &gt;&gt;&gt; SCHOOL IS CALLING. OR MAYBE IT'S A TEXT. PICK UP YOUR SICK KID. ONE PARENT SAYS THE TEACHER TOLD HIM, IF YOUR CHILD SAYS THEY DON'T FEEL WELL, EXPECT THE CALL. IF STUDENTS SHOW ANY COVID SYMPTOMS, FROM COUGH, HEADACHE, SORE THROAT, OR FEVER, MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS INCLUDING WAKE COUNTY, REQUIRE A NEGATIVE COVID TEST OR VISIT TO THE DOCTOR TO CONFIRM ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS. &gt;&gt; BUT WHAT DO PARENTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF? &gt;&gt; YOUR CHILD MAY BE HOME. WITH A COLD. WHEREAS IN THE PAST, LIKE YOU SAY TWO YEARS AGO THAT, CHILD MAY HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO BE IN SCHOOL ILL. &gt;&gt; DR. JOANNE FRUGHT IS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER. &gt;&gt; YOU THINK OF ALL THE SYMPTOMS THERE. THEY'RE TYPICAL TO WHAT THE COMMON COLD WOULD BE. TYPICAL TO INFLUENZA. EVEN TYPICAL OF A STOMACH BUG IN SOME CASES FOR CHILDREN. &gt;&gt; 5 ON YOUR SIDE LEARNED OF THE REQUIREMENT THIS SUMMER. WHEN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT WAS SENT HOME COMPLAINING OF A HEADACHE. THE SCHOOL HAND THE THIS TO THE MOM. A TRIP TO THE DOCTOR. IT WAS DEHYDRATION. &gt;&gt; IF A COVID TEST IS REQUIRED, RESULTS CAN TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS. &gt;&gt; THAT MAY BRING FRUSTRATION TO FAMILIES AS THEY'RE HAVING TO WAIT FOR THAT PCR TO RETURN. &gt;&gt; THEY LIMIT CASES AND THE SPREAD. &gt;&gt; THE ENEMY IS THE VIRUS, RIGHT? THE ENEMY IS NOT THE MASK OR THE PERSON THAT TELLS US TO PUT THE MASK ON. &gt;&gt; WE HAVE TO FIGHT THAT VIRUS AND KEEP THAT IN MIND, WHEN WE'RE ANNOYED BY THESE DAYS HOME FROM SCHOOL. BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WITH OVER 650,000 DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES, FROM COVID. WE DON'T WANT THAT TO BE YOUR FAMILY MEMBER. &gt;&gt; Reporter: ABSOLUTELY NOT, RIGHT? SO DR. FRUGHTD DOES REITERATE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU FOR A LONG TIME NOW. THAT MASKS LIKELY HELP LIMIT EXPOSURE TO OTHER HEALTH ISSUES LIKE A COLD OR FLU. THAT IS ANOTHER BENEFIT IN WEARING THEM. BUT OBVIOUSLY, FOR PARENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOUNG CHILDREN, THIS IS GOING TO BE

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As in-person instruction gets underway for several Triangle public school districts, it's routine for doctors and nurses to check vaccination records when a child is enrolled in a school system.

Dr. Lori Langdon, a pediatrician in Harnett County, said the pandemic is causing students to fall behind on routine vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella.

"We have seen a decrease anywhere from 6-18% decrease in immunizations across the country for all ages, but it varies," explained Langdon.

Almost no one likes getting a shot, but for some, especially children and teens, it can be downright terrifying. Even though the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is available for children ages 12 to 15, some adolescents may be digging in their heels about getting the two-dose vaccine.



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The World Health Organization estimates 23 million children missed out on basic childhood vaccines in 2020 -- the highest number since 2009 and 2.7 million more in 2019.

Langdon said that it’s important children are getting their routine shots to prevent an outbreak of vaccine preventable diseases.

"In order for public education to be [the] safest environment possible, we need for kids to all be masked and to be vaccinated, according to their age group recommendations," she said.

Doctors with the American Academy of Pediatrics launched a social media campaign called #CallYourPediatrician to encourage parents to remember to schedule check-ups for their children.

Healthcare experts in eastern North Carolina said for the first time during the coronavirus pandemic, widespread numbers of children in the United States are becoming severely sick with COVID-19 due to the Delta variant.

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Pediatricians: Alarming number of children falling behind on wellness checks, routine childhood vaccinations 

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Pediatricians: Alarming number of children falling behind on wellness checks, routine childhood vaccinations

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Doctors worry children aren't getting their routine vaccines amid pandemic