{"id":23839,"date":"2026-03-19T10:22:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T14:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/?p=23839"},"modified":"2026-03-19T10:30:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T14:30:05","slug":"spring-primary-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/2026\/03\/19\/spring-primary-care\/","title":{"rendered":"RHHD Encourages Parents and Guardians to Schedule Primary Care Appointments Before Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: <\/span><\/b>March 19, 2026<\/span>
\nMedia Contact:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727,\u00a0<\/span>bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RHHD Encourages\u00a0Parents and Guardians\u00a0to Schedule Primary Care Appointments for Children\u00a0Before Summer<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

RICHMOND, Va.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u2014 The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage families to schedule a wellness visit for children with their primary care provider\u00a0before\u00a0the\u00a0summer months. These visits allow children to receive school-required immunizations and physicals\u00a0before summer travel and activities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vaccines provide essential protection against\u00a0serious diseases that can affect children.\u00a0As of\u00a0March\u00a019, 2026,\u00a0Virginia\u00a0Department of\u00a0Health (VDH)\u00a0has already\u00a0reported\u00a014\u00a0cases of\u00a0<\/span>measles<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0VDH\u00a0reported\u00a0five\u00a0cases of measles in all of 2025.\u00a0<\/span>A safe and effective vaccine that prevents measles is given as part of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine or the measles, mumps,\u00a0rubella\u00a0and varicella (MMRV) vaccine series.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Families can schedule appointments with a primary care physician or one of RHHD\u2019s community partners. RHHD provides resources for families on Medicaid, Medicare, or who are uninsured at\u00a0<\/span>rhhd.gov\/connect-pc<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0Please visit RHHD\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>School Health Hub<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Richmond Public Schools<\/span><\/a>, or\u00a0<\/span>Henrico County Public Schools<\/span><\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Spring\u00a0is a great time for your child to see their primary care provider for a wellness visit,\u201d said\u00a0Richmond and Henrico Health\u00a0Districts\u00a0Director Elaine Perry, M.D. \u201cA primary care provider will make sure your child gets the immunizations and physicals they need for school and sports. T<\/span>aking care of these important visits now means kids will\u00a0have more time for summer fun and will be ready for school in the\u00a0fall.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

School-Required Immunizations<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Code of Virginia requires children entering daycare, public and private schools to give proof of vaccination before enrollment.\u00a0The Code of Virginia\u00a0also\u00a0requires specific vaccinations for\u00a0<\/span>rising\u00a0<\/span>seventh<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>12<\/span>th<\/span>\u00a0graders<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0According to\u00a0<\/span>data from VDH<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0vaccination rates for Richmond City and Henrico County\u00a013-year-olds\u00a0are lower than Virginia statewide rates for the following vaccines:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n