PHOENIX (Aug. 20, 2025) -- In Arizona, August means continued hot temperatures and usually some monsoon storms but also means back to school for grade school, high school and college students alike.
Banner Health reminds parents and students about what to be aware of as school resumes.
Going back to the classroom means more than just making sure your immunizations are up to date, it also means getting back into routine and making sure everyone is getting enough sleep, nutrition and being prepared for the inevitable running nose and scratchy throat that comes with going back to school.
“It can be hard to get back into that routine,” said Shane Rainey, MD, Banner Children’s at Desert pediatrician. “I think it's important to take a step back and remember that education is an atmosphere, it's a life. It's what you're trying to build for your children and really getting them into that routine where they can be successful in school. We want our kids to love school and be lifelong learners.
Dr. Rainey added, “For me, and for a lot of our parents, that's getting back to the basics - sleep, nutrition, and exercise, and really getting back into those routines where we can set them up for success in the classroom.”
Along with that is keeping everyone healthy at home and at school by being prepared for most of the regular illnesses seen at this time of year.
Banner experts say the beginning of the school year is when illnesses spike in school-aged kids and their parents, so having over-the-counter medications on hand is going to help minimize those symptoms. But you should also be ready if it gets more serious, said Rahul Chawla, MD, pediatrician intensivist at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center.
“Ibuprofen - which is also Motrin or Advil - those are your two biggest ones for fever and pain reducing,” said Dr. Chawla. “If it's anything else where you think you might need antibiotics for strep throat or anything else, like that, then you actually need to go to your doctor or urgent care or emergency room.”
Keeping vaccines current helps not only the vaccinated children, but also their friends and everyone around them, experts note. They are also still required under most education rules.
“Most school systems will have very clear guidelines as to what immunizations you need to get,” said Russell Horton, MD, physician executive with Banner Health. “It's a little more structured now. It's been around for so long we're kind of used to it. But there are definitely vaccines that students will be expected to have to return to school.”
Doctors also remind parents to talk to their pediatricians if they have questions about immunizations.
“With all the information that's out there, including misinformation and disinformation, talk to your pediatrician,” said Dr. Horton. “There are also tried-and-true sources, like the World Health Organization. As clinicians, we're always happy to have that conversation to address personalized questions and concerns.”
About Banner Health
Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country and a leader in provider-sponsored health insurance serving 3.5 million people annually across six states. With 33 hospitals and more than 450 additional care sites, Banner’s array of services includes a health insurance division, employed physician groups, outpatient surgery centers, urgent care locations, home care and hospice services, retail pharmacies, stand-alone imaging centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation, behavioral health services, a research division, and a nursing registry. Through its longstanding, innovative relationship with the University of Arizona, Banner’s academic medicine division provides ground-breaking clinical discoveries, advanced life-saving care and educates 1,300 physicians annually. Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, a partnership with one of the world’s leading cancer programs, MD Anderson Cancer Center treats more than 103,000 patients a year. Banner Plans and Networks offers Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial health coverage to more than 1.2 million members. In 2024, Banner Health provided $1 billion worth of community benefits to assist those in need through a range of programs. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health also has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com.
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