Back to School: How Your Pharmacy Can Help Keep Kids Healthy
As the back-to-school season begins, parents and caregivers are juggling supply lists, lunches, and new routines. One important part of getting kids ready for the classroom is making sure their health needs are covered. Your local pharmacy can be a valuable partner in helping children stay safe, supported, and ready to learn.
Allergy Readiness
If your child has severe allergies, talk to your pharmacy about renewing prescriptions for EPI-Pens and epinephrine auto-injectors. Many kids need extra devices for school, daycare, or after-school activity bags. Pharmacists can check expiry dates, review administration technique, help with refills, and make sure your child’s injector has the right weight-based dose. Don’t forget to stock up on antihistamines as well—they’re an important part of allergy care at school or on the go.
Asthma and Breathing Support
For children who use rescue inhalers, it’s a good idea to have one for home and another for school and extracurricular activities. Pharmacists can review your child’s prescriptions and ensure you have enough on hand. They can also double-check that your child is using the right size aerochamber and mask for their age, since fit is key to effective use.
Immunizations and Vaccines
Back to school is the perfect time to catch up on vaccines. Pharmacists can review your child’s records and flag any booster shots they may need. In addition to routine immunizations, your pharmacy can provide flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines to help protect kids and families through the fall and winter.
Cold, Flu, and Everyday Illnesses
As kids spend more time together, coughs, colds, and other bugs are bound to spread. Pharmacies can help you prepare by keeping children’s cough, cold, fever, and symptom relief products in stock. They can also guide families on when illnesses are likely viral and self-limiting, versus bacterial where medical care may be needed. In some cases, pharmacists can even assess and prescribe for common childhood conditions like pink eye, strep throat, or ear infections.
Bottom line: Your pharmacy isn’t just a place to pick up prescriptions—it’s a health partner for the whole family. This back-to-school season, check in with your pharmacy team to make sure your kids have everything they need to feel safe, healthy, and ready to learn.
PAS is proud to provide families with the Back to School Checklist 2025 to assist caregivers when coordinating there child’s health needs.
