What To Expect
The following is a list of common tests and immunizations given at each well visit:
2 Month Well
Dtap, Hib, Pneumococcal, Polio, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus
4 Month Well
Dtap, Hib, Pneumococcal, Polio, Rotavirus
6 Month Well
Dtap, Hib, Pneumococcal, Polio, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus
9 Month Well
Hemoglobin and Lead
12 Month Well
Hepatitis A, MMR
15 Month Well
Dtap, Hib, Pneumococcal, Varicella
18 Month Well
Hepatitis A
2 Year Well
Hemoglobin and Lead
3 Year Well
Hearing, Hemoglobin and Lead
4 Year Well
Dtap, Polio, MMR, Varicella, Hearing and Vision
5-9 Year Well
Hearing and Vision
10-11 Year Well
Tdap, HPV, Meningococcal
12-15 Year Well
Any catch -up that might be needed
16 Year Well
Meningococcal
17-18 Year Well
Any catch-up that might be needed before college
This list is a guideline and will not always reflect what shots may be given at any visit
Featured in Boston Magazine as a Top Doctor since 2016
Hearing and Vision
Hearing tests are a routine preventative care tool used in young children 3 to 9 years of age. It allows the doctor to make sure that the child's hearing is normal for speech development. An ear bud is placed in the ear and the child hears different tones, no action is required by the child but he or she must remain still and not talk or make any sounds. Vision testing is done in the office at the 4 and 5 year well visits. Massachusetts law requires stereopsis testing be done to enter kindergarten and is done by wearing polarized glasses and locating the Letter E on a slide. We also do an acuity test using the letters HOTV.
Hemoglobin and Lead
Hemoglobin is a molecule that helps deliver oxygen to the tissues of the body. If hemoglobin is low you are said to be anemic or have anemia. We check hemoglobin at the 9 month, 2 year and 3 year visits. If your child's hemoglobin is low the doctor has a simple and effective treatment that will help return hemoglobin levels to the normal range. Lead testing is Massachusetts law as most houses are older and may contain lead paint. This is done at the 9 month, 2 year and 3 year visits. A small sample of blood is taken from the finger and sent to the lab. The normal range for lead levels is less than four.