Back-to-School Health Checklist: Vaccinations & Physical Exams Kids Need

Every school year, Filipino parents scramble to complete medical requirements before enrollment deadlines — often discovering missing vaccinations or expired physical exam forms at the last minute. This checklist covers what most Philippine schools require, the recommended vaccination schedule, and how to get everything done efficiently.

1. The School Physical Exam / Health Certificate

Most private schools, and many public schools, require a medical certificate or physical exam form confirming your child is fit to attend school, often specific to entering a new level (Kindergarten, Grade 7, Grade 11) or joining sports and PE programs.

A typical school physical exam includes:

• Height, weight, and BMI
• Vision and hearing screening
• Vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate)
• General physical examination (heart, lungs, abdomen)
• Review of vaccination history
• Assessment of any chronic conditions (asthma, allergies) that the school nurse should know about

This can be done by a pediatrician, family doctor, or general practitioner, and most clinics can complete it in a single visit.

2. The Philippine Childhood Vaccination Schedule

The Department of Health's Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) provides these vaccines for free at government health centers. Before school starts, check that your child's vaccination card (or e-immunization record) is up to date:

Vaccine	Typical Schedule
BCG (Tuberculosis)	At birth
Hepatitis B	Birth, plus follow-up doses in infancy
Pentavalent (DTP-HepB-Hib)	6, 10, and 14 weeks
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) / IPV	6, 10, 14 weeks + booster
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)	9 months, with a booster at 12–15 months
DTP booster	Before school entry, around age 4–6
Varicella (Chickenpox)	12 months and older (private clinics)
Hepatitis A	12 months and older (private clinics)
HPV	Grade 4–5 girls (school-based program) or ages 9–14

If your child missed doses, a pediatrician can create a catch-up schedule — it's rarely necessary to restart a vaccine series from scratch.

3. Documents Schools Commonly Require

• Vaccination card / immunization record (original or certified copy)
• Medical certificate signed by a licensed physician, often dated within 6 months to 1 year
• Dental certificate — some schools require proof of a recent dental check-up
• Vision/hearing screening results, especially for early grades
• For sports/PE programs: a clearance specifically for physical activity
• For students with allergies, asthma, or chronic conditions: an action plan the school nurse can follow in an emergency

4. Don't Forget These Often-Overlooked Items

• Deworming — DOH recommends deworming children twice a year; many schools run mass deworming days, but check if your child needs it beforehand
• Vision check — undiagnosed vision problems are a common, fixable cause of falling grades; if your child squints at the board or sits close to screens, get this checked
• Allergy and asthma review — if your child has a known allergy or asthma, make sure the school has an updated action plan and any needed medication (like an inhaler) on file
• Mental health/adjustment check — especially for kids transitioning to a new school level, a quick conversation with your pediatrician about anxiety or adjustment concerns can help catch issues early

Where to Get These Done

• Barangay health centers — free EPI vaccines and basic health certificates
• Government hospitals/health units — free or low-cost, may have longer wait times especially near enrollment deadlines
• Private pediatric clinics — faster, can bundle physical exam + vaccination catch-up + documentation in one visit
• School-based clinics — some private schools offer on-campus physicals during enrollment week

Tip: Book your pediatrician appointment at least 3–4 weeks before your school's deadline — the weeks right before enrollment are the busiest time of year for pediatric clinics nationwide.

PhilHealth and Vaccination Costs

All EPI vaccines are free at government health centers. Optional vaccines not on the free EPI list (like additional HPV doses, meningococcal, or extra varicella boosters) are typically out-of-pocket at private clinics, though some are bundled into HMO child wellness packages.

Find a Pediatrician for School Requirements

Search MyDoktor.ph for pediatricians and family doctors near you who can complete your child's back-to-school physical exam, vaccination catch-up, and medical certificate in one visit.